NOTICE: The information contained within this document is copyright © U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary No attempts to add, modify or delete information contained within this document shall be made. If errors are discovered, please contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s National Training Department.

Basic Coastal Navigation Chapter 4 Navigator’s Tools & Instruments Approved USCG Auxiliary - Department of Education Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Navigator’s Tools 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Accuracy Depends On Good Quality Tools: Good Technique Buy the best quality you can afford. Plated, stamped steel perish quickly in marine environment. Good tools, good care = long life. Good Technique Use the right tool for the purpose. Practice using the tool. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Plotters Draw straight lines. Measure angles with respect to longitude. e.g. Measure directions Many types. Choose according to personal preference. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Plotting Tools Parallel Rules Course Plotter (Compact) Three-Arm Paraglide Course Plotter Course Protractor Three-Arm Protractor Vecta Rose (Compact) 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

More Plotting Tools Chart Protractor Triple Parallel Rules Protractor Triangles 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Dividers & Compass Dividers Drafting compass. Measure or mark off distances on a chart. Pointed both arms. Drafting compass. Used for swinging an arc. Compass Dividers 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Watch or Clock Reliable time piece essential: 24 Hour display helpful. Dead reckoning navigation. Running a search pattern. Identifying light patterns. 24 Hour display helpful. Stopwatch a useful function. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Nautical Slide Rule Used to solve problems in time - speed – distance. If you know two variables, you can solve for the third. Alternate: solar or battery powered calculator. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Binoculars and Hand-held Compass Locating ATONS, Landmarks Use 7 X 50 Hand-held Compass Visual bearings on ATONS or landmarks to establish LOP. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Depth Sounder & GPS Depth sounder: GPS: Help prevent groundings. Aid in position-finding. GPS: Position finding. Advanced navigation-related computations. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Sextant Classic use for celestial navigation. Also useful for measuring horizontal and vertical angles e.g. Distance off from vertical angle. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Other Tools Electronics: Lo-Tech Stuff Optical Range Finder Radio Direction Finder Radar Loran C Optical Range Finder Lo-Tech Stuff Paper Pencils Erasers Pencil sharpener Magnifier 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

References: Nautical Chart NO. 1 Explanation of nautical chart: Symbols Abbreviations Terms 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

References: Tide & Current Tables Predictions of tidal events: Tides Tide differences Tidal currents Tidal current differences 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

References: Notices to Mariners Updates and corrections: Charts. Hazards to navigation. Available on-line. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

References: Computer Programs Tide & tidal current predictions Charts Real-time chart plotting Voyage planning Vessel management 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Other References Coast Pilot Light List Cruising guides Written descriptions and navigational advice regarding waterways. Light List Tabular compilation of ATON locations and descriptions. Cruising guides Commercially produced waterway descriptions and cruising advice. 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Your Most Important Tool PREPARATION 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

End of Chapter 4 13 DEC 04 Basic Coastal Navigation - Chapter 4 Copyright ©2004 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.