The Lost Art of Dead Reckoning
August 14, 2020
For all the precision of modern technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for the tried-and-true art of dead reckoning.
For all the precision of modern technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for the tried-and-true art of dead reckoning.
Take a stroll down the memory lane of navigation. Many years ago, during what often seems like another lifetime, it was my job as a U.S. Merchant Marine officer to shoot a couple sun sights a day with a sextant, weather permitting. The task was a pleasure, really. It called for a set of physical skills that a guy like me could first learn, then practice, and then finally master in an almost artsy, albeit seriously practical way.
Island time is great, except in an emergency. This medevac service is for boaters who need help fast.
Black streaks, yellow mustaches and rust all require different solutions to keep a boat looking clean.
A Down East icon provides inspiration for this gentlemanly cruiser.
We follow the path of explorers who ran the Northwest Passage over a century ago, but our journey is a lot more fun
We can spend years planning for a bucket-list trip and then life gets in the way. Go now.
Splashing later this year.
Karly and Evan Nietzel—aka YouTube’s @Navigating Nietzels—tailored their careers for remote work after buying a trawler, moving onboard and completing the Great Loop. Along with their pup, Ripley, they’re just getting started.
This aluminum vessel’s throwback design belies its modern systems, all installed for a Great Loop cruise.
The three-stateroom, semidisplacement model has a range of power options and a low air draft.
A solar-power system on our classic trawler lets us spend time moored or anchored with more than enough juice to meet our energy needs.
