ABL-10

1. Piloting and Navigation ABL-10 Instructor: George Crowl

2. Requirements (1) a. Supervise the proper keeping of a complete deck log for three days of cruising (one cruise or a combination of day cruises). Submit the cruise logs to your Skipper. Or, keep a journal of paddling trips that includes names of participants, access points, waterway description and notable events. Record at least three trips in the journal and submit to your Skipper.

3. Requirements (2) b. Lay a course of at least three legs and execute it using dead reckoning. c. Demonstrate your ability to fix your position by the following methods: taking bearings from two known objects, running fix, and estimated position. d. Establish distance from a known object using “double the angle on the bow” and explain how to set a danger bearing.

4. Requirements (3) e. Enter three waypoints into an electronic navigation device (i.e. GPS, chartplotter) and navigate your vessel to each point. Demonstrate the use of the MOB function of your electronic navigation device. f. Discuss how radar is used in situational awareness and the method of taking a radar fix. g. Explain the use of tide tables, current tables, and light lists, and how to update a chart using the Notice to Mariners

5. Deck Logs a. Supervise the proper keeping of a complete deck log for three days of cruising (one cruise or a combination of day cruises). Submit the cruise logs to your Skipper. Or, keep a journal of paddling trips that includes names of participants, access points, waterway description and notable events. Record at least three trips in the journal and submit to your Skipper.

6. 10a. Deck Log

7. Paddling Journal Names Access points (in, out, spare) Descriptions Events Who, what, why, where, when, and how

8. Paddling Journal Mechanics 3x5 or 4x6 lined notebook Packed in waterproof container (baggie?) Accessible so you can write in it easily Use a pencil (it will get wet, ink will run) Do as much as you can the day before, or on the way there. Write during each stop. Write after the end.

9. Execute Course Using DR b. Lay a course of at least three legs and execute it using dead reckoning.

10. 10b. Execute Course Using DR Plot three legs, totaling about an hour's cruise. Start and end at identifiable points. Use a motor-driven boat. Sailboats under sail make this much harder. A closed course, such as 120°M, 360°M, 240°M is convenient. Pay attention to speed and heading. Determine your error at the end.

11. Fixing Methods c. Demonstrate your ability to fix your position by the following methods: taking bearings from two known objects, running fix, and estimated position.

12. 10c(1). Two-Bearing Fix Take bearings using a hand-bearing compass.

13. Plan a Fix DR ahead to a good time and place for a fix. Select someplace with good bearing cuts (90° is ideal, should not be less than 30°). Select identifiable landmarks (towers, points of land, hill tops, etc.) Orient yourself so you have the right points.

14. Execute the Fix Two bearings within a minute Write the time and bearings down! Convert to true OR use parallel rules with compass circle Plot lines Crossing point is fix

15. 2-LOP Fix (Line of Position) Take two bearings Plot mag bearings backwards OR Apply variation backwards and plot true bearing backwards EXERCISE – What do we plot? SSPR p. 27

16. 3-Bearing Fix Take 3 mag bearings w/handheld compass Convert to true using deck log Plot RECIPROCAL from the actual point Triangle is your position

17. 10c(2). Running Fix Often used to establish distance from an object or a shore. May take a long time. Take a bearing. Take a second bearing. Advance the 1st bearing to the 2nd bearing. GSxT

18. Running Fix Take an initial bearing and time, hold course and speed. Plot initial bearing. Move it along course for amount of time run. Plot second bearing. Wherethey cross is fix.

19. 10c(3). Estimated Position Normal DR position to start Add various vectors Current (set / drift) Heading / speed error Single line of position (LOP)

20. Set and Drift Set = direction Inbound or outbound tidal flow Ocean current movement Drift = speed Set – SE, drift 3 K Set ENE, drift 5 K

21. Estimated Position (EP) DR + Set (135°) and Drift (5K) 1445 080° @ 10K 135° @ 5K 1345 Track over ground 100° @ 13K 1445 EP

22. Special Techniques d. Establish distance from a known object using “double the angle on the bow” and explain how to set a danger bearing.

23. 10d(1). Double the Angle on the Bow Pick any angle, 15°- 45°. Take first bearing, time. Double it. Take time of 2nd bearing. Figure distance traveled from GS. 2nd bearing angle & time is fix. Distance is distance traveled from 1st to 2nd bearing. (Isosceles triangle) GSxT

24. Double the Angle Take an angle off the bow (22.5°, 30°, 45°), start a time, hold your course and speed. When you DOUBLE it, stop your time. Calculate distance run. That is the distance to theobject, and the angle fromyour heading.

25. 10d(2). Danger Bearing Determine the area to avoid. Plot a line (bearing) that keeps you clear. If you need to stay on the LEFT of the line, keep your bearing Not Less Than (NLT) the bearing. If you need to stay on the RIGHT of the line, keep your bearing Not More Than (NMT). NLT 252M

26. Set a Danger Bearing Determine how close you can go to the danger Read the bearing, then set the “danger bearing” Steer between or beyond the bearing SSPR p. 23

27. ABL-10e e. Enter three waypoints into an electronic navigation device (i.e. GPS, chartplotter) and navigate your vessel to each point. Demonstrate the use of the MOB function of your electronic navigation device.

28. Waypoints Waypoints – places you are going along the way! Marker 2 to Redfish to HSC 69 … Coordinates, elevation, description (from list?) GPS provides steering and calculates time to arrival at your current speed 069 HSC 69 002 Mkr 2 018 Redfish

29. Entering Waypoints Enter waypoints from measuring on the chart or from Light List or other references Light List & inland are DD-MM-SS.SS Coastal navigation is done is DD-MM.MMM GPS will accept input in any system, then output in the system you want. Just change the parameters.

30. Cross-Checking Entries You need to have a pre-cleared line on the chart with course, distance and planned speed Check your GPS has similar course and distance GPS time (ETE, ETA) is much less reliable, better to figure it manually Set up your highway screen if you have it Keep your head out of the cockpit

31. Monitoring the Path Monitor distance off course, correct as needed Compute manual ETAs to every turn point Take GPS fixes every 30-60 minutes, plot them

32. MOB Function Most newer GPSs and chartplotters have a MOB (man overboard) button. Push the button and it takes your present position, and gives you steering to go back to it. Don’t try to follow it until you have made the appropriate turn for your situation. Then look for the steering, steer to stop at the MOB.

33. Exercise! Handout Compass GPS Packet (GPS, Quick Start, Instructions) We do ded reckoning on land, with a compass and timing our walks

34. ABL-10f f. Discuss how radar is used in situational awareness and the method of taking a radar fix.

35. Radar Use FIRST – the primary purpose of sea-borne radar is collision avoidance! If a bright spot is getting closer to you and not changing bearing, take avoiding action!

36. Possible Collisions?

37. Radar Bearings

38. Range and Bearing Range and bearing 005°T/2.5NM point of land Dashed lines

39. Multiple Ranges Ranges on nearby land shapes Plot using drawing compass arcs

40. ABL-10g Explain the use of tide tables, current tables, light lists, and how to update a chart using the Notice to Mariners.

41. Tide Tables • Apply to coastal areas only, not to inland waters • Tide tables give the time and height of high and low tides at specific locations • Based on astronomical data (the Sun and Moon) • Tides also vary according to the weather, strong northerly winds will push water out of a bay that has a southern entrance. Weather effect is not predicted in tide tables. • http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html

42. Two Tables

43. Current Tables • Tides cause currents, especially in restricted waterways • Think: Under the Golden Gate Bridge Out Bolivar Roads next to Galveston • Minimum flow: near high and low tide times • Maximum flow: midway between high / low times • Not always true, but a good start • Varying depths, varying speeds. Sea Scouts use 6 feet or so, shallower draft.

44. Two Different Currents • 6 foot depth, Red Fish Island, Morgans Point, both on Houston Ship Channel, 40' deep channel • Current will not apply in 7' water depth 100 yards west of HSC • Redfish Flood 0.7K 341° Ebb 0.7K 154° • Morgan Pt Flood 0.5K 336° Ebb 0.7K 163°

45. Calculating Speed • Maximum speed is displayed in table • Determine time for maximum speed • Determine time for slack water • At 1/3 of the time from max to slack, speed will be 90% of maximum • At 2/3 of the time from max to slack, speed will be 50% of maximum • Interpolate as needed

46. Light Lists • USCG publishes electronically. Google “Light List,” click on your local area • Lists each navigational aid (ATON) that the USCG and private parties maintain. • Unique identifier, lat / long, full description • Coordinates in DDD-MM-SS.SSS • You can put them into your GPS in MM-SS, then switch your base to MM.MMM, the GPS will do the conversion automatically for you

47. Sample Light List • L

48. Local Notice to Mariners • Downloadable from USCG

49. Notice to Mariners • Published weekly by USCG • Identifies changes to Light List, charts, other nautical publications. • Publishes coming changes and activities that affect the water, such as dredging, etc. • Available online, Google “Notice to Mariners”

50. Typical Discrepancy Page • Lt # Description Discrepancy Chart St Dt