Are we too techno-evolved?

[remetau]

It is kind of scary thinking of boating without a chart plotter or even a GPS, but are we too techno-evolved for our own good? I admittedly could not navigate a long distance right now without a GPS, but I’m getting better at it and hope to be able to use a sextant before long. But wouldn’t some people consider the sextant a technological evolutionary instrument too? Sure we have all this fancy equipment, and I do, but at what cost? How many hours did we have to work for all this? How many people suffered to make what we needed? How many pollutants and chemicals did we put into some river to get us what we desired? Shouldn’t a sailing and cruising life be simpler?

[TQA]

I have done a Transatlantic without GPS and using a plastic sextant but nowadays I love my Garmin 72.

I manage fine without a plotter and radar preferring to keep a running plot going on paper anytime I can not eyeball the next feature and maintain a good lookout. I suppose if I was in some foggy clime I might grow to love radar but in the Caribbean it is redundant.

[tager]

I agree Remetau. I think that the extent of GPS should be to give you some coordinates to plot on a paper chart.

What's really interesting, though, is that a GPS is cheaper than a sextant!

[remetau]

Originally Posted by tager

I agree Remetau. I think that the extent of GPS should be to give you some coordinates to plot on a paper chart.

What's really interesting, though, is that a GPS is cheaper than a sextant!

I know! For a good sextant, how crazy is that?

[svHyLyte]

Do yourself a favor. Occassionally turn your electronics off, or cover the screens, and learn to make do with a hand bearing compass, your main compass and your charts. The experience will come in handy sooner or later.

FWIW...

[Broomfondle]

Nah... embrace the technology. It’s not taking anything away, in fact it makes us what we are. Be enthralled by the design and sophistication of your hi-tech hull, the aerodynamics of the sail, the purr of the engine, whatever. Being at sea wasn’t always fun. In fact until quite recently it was a terrifying plunge into the unknown. I am sure you can’t tame the oceans but with contemporary technologies, some knowledge and a modicum of caution you can play in what used to be the domain of only the hardiest explorers. And it is fun...

[eryka]

Hmmm, I just convinced a boating friend to get an iPod and rip all her CDs to mp3 files. Does tech also work the other way - is a flashdrive worth of jpg photos gentler on the environment than developing film and storing the prints in a set of albums on a shelf? And more to the point, if I can go sailing and take all my music and all my cookbooks and all my photos in my pocket, then its a lot more fun as Broom mentioned.

I found a decent Davis sextant in the dumpster a couple of years ago. It had obviously been used, with handwritten notes on the navigational stars taped to the outside of the box. I navigate, however, with 2 GPSs, paper charts, and binoculars with compass.

[mceveritt]

I agree with both sides here.

Part of what makes us human is our ability to create and use tools. However there is always the concern of relying to much on certain tools and that can lead to disaster.

My belief, like the answer to pretty much every other dilemma in this world, is always in moderation. Meaning, use as much tools/tech as you want as long as you balance that with knowledge of a more basic sort, and never forget where you came from and how you got there.

[Architeuthis]

Originally Posted by remetau

Shouldn’t a sailing and cruising life be simpler?

No.

[sailingdog]

Use the technology you find suitable to you and your way of life...leave all the rest behind. Some will want high-tech communications to keep in touch with loved ones, others will want high-tech entertainment, and others still the creature comforts of a modern life....some will want none of these things and sail on a smaller, simpler boat...