Is GPS Obsoleting the Sextant?

[teshannon]

Originally Posted by gershel

TESHANNON
How are you learning? Many years ago I tried teaching myself, but was unsuccessful. Back then, there was a retired delivery skipper teaching it at night at a local school, just outside of Phila. That was wonderful. I've searched for something similar recently, to refresh myself, but no luck. Just wondering what you're doing.
Marc

Marc,
Right now my plan is to try to teach myself but am not sure if I'll be successful. I once tried to teach myself to play the fiddle and failed miserably. Learning how to use a sextant is probably just as hard but I'll give it a shot first. Just started reading a couple of books. If that doesn't work then I'll look for an instructor in the Philly area. Do you by any chance know of one?

[gershel]

TESHANNON
No, wish I did. Maybe try checking some adult evening schools?
Good luck, Marc

[camaraderie]

CD...Bite Me!

[tjaldur]

I believe sextants will be obsolete the day fuses are obsolete. It has happened to me that fuses have blown and that I have, for a shorter of longer period of time, been without current. I think that this may happen again. Therefore I still use paper- charts, compass and sextant. I have even printed out, by means of Microsoft excel, a sine and cosine table for each 1/10° between 0° and 90°, in case my pocket calculator looses current, so that I can solve the celestial triangle by calculating with pen and pencil.

Celestial navigation is not hopelessly difficult. It is, after all, a question of solving the sides and angles of a triangle. Two points are known, the (North) pole and the position of the sun (or any other celestial body) the third point, you own position, is assumed by dead reckoning.

[AdamLein]

Are airplanes and cars making sailboats obsolete?

Nobody needs a sailboat. I can't think of any reason for somebody to use a sailboat that isn't also a reason for somebody to use a sextant:

1) Sailboats are fun (for some people). Sextants are fun (for some people).
2) Sailboats are a new skill to master; so are sextants.
3) Sailboats are a show of wealth; so are sextants.
4) Sailboats connect us to our traditional roots; so do sextants.
5) Sailboats don't fundamentally depend on modern technology; neither do sextants.
6) Sailboats bring us closer to nature; so do sextants.
7) Sailboats help you get from point A to point B; so do sextants.

It's astonishing to me that anybody on this forum can think that sextants are becoming obsolete.

[Boasun]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

Are airplanes and cars making sailboats obsolete?

Nobody needs a sailboat. I can't think of any reason for somebody to use a sailboat that isn't also a reason for somebody to use a sextant:

1) Sailboats are fun (for some people). Sextants are fun (for some people).
2) Sailboats are a new skill to master; so are sextants.
3) Sailboats are a show of wealth; so are sextants.
4) Sailboats connect us to our traditional roots; so do sextants.
5) Sailboats don't fundamentally depend on modern technology; neither do sextants.
6) Sailboats bring us closer to nature; so do sextants.
7) Sailboats help you get from point A to point B; so do sextants.

It's astonishing to me that anybody on this forum can think that sextants are becoming obsolete.

This man has spoken with the voice of King Neptune. But #3 Isn't always true.

[sailaway21]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

Are airplanes and cars making sailboats obsolete?

Nobody needs a sailboat. I can't think of any reason for somebody to use a sailboat that isn't also a reason for somebody to use a sextant:

1) Sailboats are fun (for some people). Sextants are fun (for some people).
2) Sailboats are a new skill to master; so are sextants.
3) Sailboats are a show of wealth; so are sextants.
4) Sailboats connect us to our traditional roots; so do sextants.
5) Sailboats don't fundamentally depend on modern technology; neither do sextants.
6) Sailboats bring us closer to nature; so do sextants.
7) Sailboats help you get from point A to point B; so do sextants.

It's astonishing to me that anybody on this forum can think that sextants are becoming obsolete.

Adam has posted what should be the last word on the subject. An excellent post that gives due to each side. Modern sailing itself reminds me of an old saying about the Porsche 911 sports car. "The ultimate execution of a fundamentally bad idea." For those not familiar with the breed, the bad idea was hanging the engine out the back of the car.

[Plumper]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

Are airplanes and cars making sailboats obsolete?

Nobody needs a sailboat. I can't think of any reason for somebody to use a sailboat that isn't also a reason for somebody to use a sextant:

1) Sailboats are fun (for some people). Sextants are fun (for some people).
2) Sailboats are a new skill to master; so are sextants.
3) Sailboats are a show of wealth; so are sextants.
4) Sailboats connect us to our traditional roots; so do sextants.
5) Sailboats don't fundamentally depend on modern technology; neither do sextants.
6) Sailboats bring us closer to nature; so do sextants.
7) Sailboats help you get from point A to point B; so do sextants.

It's astonishing to me that anybody on this forum can think that sextants are becoming obsolete.

Lots of things that are obsolete are still fun. Black powder, cannons, biplanes, sailing ships, film cameras, sextants.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by Plumper

Lots of things that are obsolete are still fun. Black powder, cannons, biplanes, sailing ships, film cameras, sextants.

How very true!! ...and mix them all together and you have the makings of a great movie.

[k1vsk]

An archaic debate, such as this, is usually a pretty good indication of the answer...