GPS vs. Charts - What do you use most?

I do my trip plan on C-MAP PC, transfer to my RM- RL80. Then while underway I keep a running course log recording POS every 15-20 minutes. I'll update my POS with anythiing elese I can get to confirm my electronics. My log will have mag compass course, speed, sightings and Lat/Lon. If I loose my electronics, I know my POS within 3-5 miles when out of sight of land.

Paper charts are always at the helm and my POS noted as I advance.

All this recording, plotting checking give me something fun to do while "Otto" drives the boat. And the effort gives me the comfort that I could get my boat home when the juice fails.
 
I plan my trips when I hit the channel. Turn right and go up stream, turn left and go down! :smt043
Larry

PS: Seriously the river is a great place to explore and when traveling in an unknown area you watch your chart like a hawk. We always run the risk of hitting something under the water but do not get lost often!
 
Larry Lyons said:
I plan my trips when I hit the channel. Turn right and go up stream, turn left and go down! :smt043
Larry

PS: Seriously the river is a great place to explore and when traveling in an unknown area you watch your chart like a hawk. We always run the risk of hitting something under the water but do not get lost often!
Click to expand...

I remember worrying about wing dams when boating on the Rock and Mississippi rivers in the Quad Cities. Tows as well.
 
I plan the trip with the admiral first, where does she want to go? After that it is up to me to make sure that we get there and in one piece...to do that I use my GPS, visual awareness, and paper charts together on the fly.
 
SCFinch said:
I plan the trip with the admiral first, where does she want to go? After that it is up to me to make sure that we get there and in one piece...to do that I use my GPS, visual awareness, and paper charts together on the fly.
Click to expand...

Did I read that right? You plan on the fly. :huh:
 
For planning I sit at home and look at my "Marine Atlas" made for this area. It's a great resource. Is a chart book in a sense with a Cruising guide and infomation as well inside.
Once I'm on the water, I simply select the destination and press "Navigate to" then "guide to" and it plots it all for me. That's made a huge difference. In some spots I know the labels and names for points, islands, and other info doesn't show up on the screen (until you dig deeper) so having the atlas at hand helps, because it's all printed there.

Marine Atlas
 
Neat Atlas Todd,
Never seen one quite like it here on the east/gulf coast. We've got some nice cruise/chart books for the coast, but noting quite like it for the inland water ways and lakes. The best one for the inland rivers I've found is Quimby's cruising guide.

https://shared1.fasturl.net/~heartlandb/quimbys-moreinfo.htm
 
chuck1 said:
Neat Atlas Todd,
Never seen one quite like it here on the east/gulf coast. We've got some nice cruise/chart books for the coast, but noting quite like it for the inland water ways and lakes. The best one for the inland rivers I've found is Quimby's cruising guide.

https://shared1.fasturl.net/~heartlandb/quimbys-moreinfo.htm
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's great and what I grew up on when I was a kid. They keep updating it, but it's very handy.
 
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