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roller plotter or parallel rulers?

18K views 31 replies 23 participants last post by  groggy 
#1 · (Edited)
real men use parallel rulers! or are roller plotters for folks who walk upright?

Sorry for the stupid title, but no-one was responding to the original one.

I'm taking a bareboat class in the near future, and while it's not required, students are encouraged to bring whatever manual navigation tools they have. I think they teach using parallel rulers and dividers.

I eventually hope to take the USGC OUPV/Captain's License test when I get sufficient sea time and the local school recommends the WEEMS & PLATH Parallel Rolling Plotter Model # 106799 Manuf. # 120

Would it be jumping the gun to get the rolling plotter now and learn it in the bareboat class, or should I just show up and see what they have on hand?

It's only $25 anyway, but if thats the tool that is used in the next step of my education it would be a nice thing to have some instruction on.

Any opinions?

:confused:
 
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#31 ·
Even when I had a largish chart table didn't find parallel rules or roller plotters to be worth a damn in real life use. The parallel rules would slip and not transfer the angle properly and the roller plotter would wander off course.

Back when I was full time cruising with a Sextant and Timex I used an aircraft plotter. https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/forever-sectional-plotter-by-sporty-s.html Easy to use with one hand and keep on course. That and a one handed divider were all I needed for DR'ing my way around SoPac https://www.amazon.com/WEEMS-PLATH-Marine-Navigation-Divider/dp/B000IMT0SI One handed use is nearly a necessity in real life boat navigation. One hand for the boat and the other to do what needs done.
 
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