The Art of Being Lost - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Botnst · #16 12-07-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

I wonder if anyone here has taken the USCG Captains exam lately , it used to be a grueling navigation section.

I spent several hours with a captain of 120 ft crew boat recently. He said he had a sextant somewhere on board. But he'd have to get the books out to re-learn how to use it. He goes out to 400 miles.

(He's basically a hot-shot boat. Rig needs something NOW, he's their boy. 4, 550 hp supercharged diesels. Keeps 2 spares at the dock and can change one out in 6 hrs.)

Medmech · #17 12-07-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I haven't but my father got his "Six Pack" Captains license about 10 years ago now (took the BoatWise course I believe) and it was a *****. He wants to get his 100T license in a couple years when he retires to run one of the river tour boats as something to do. My mother desperately hopes he goes through with it!

A couple of his friends that he took the 6 pack course with did just that when they retired. One runs the Fishers Island ferry and another runs a 60 passenger tour/charter boat on the CT River just because they love being on the water and love running a "big boat", they'd probably do it for free if that wouldn't take ammo away from crabbing about Social Security.

I have nowhere near the logged hours needed to go for a "Six Pack" yet but hope to in the coming years as I get more available time on the water.

I took the six pack course many moons ago it was post military so the navigation/map sections were a breeze, it took a bit to learn the day signals but after a week or so of practice of green over white trawling at night I got it down.

For those interested the Army Land navigation manual is available online it a good read and its a great outdoor activity for the family.

Medmech · #18 12-07-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

I spent several hours with a captain of 120 ft crew boat recently. He said he had a sextant somewhere on board. But he'd have to get the books out to re-learn how to use it. He goes out to 400 miles.

(He's basically a hot-shot boat. Rig needs something NOW, he's their boy. 4, 550 hp supercharged diesels. Keeps 2 spares at the dock and can change one out in 6 hrs.)

We've discussed this before but to pass time on the sail boat as a child Dad taught us how to navigate using the Zenith RDF which is what eventually made my military schools fairly easy since land navigation was usually the hardest part of any advanced training. I had to learn the grid system but after that I was the instructors assistant.......eating that cheese.

When I was visiting my Mom she was telling me about the tough land nav course at Fort Drum and there were no fixed points.....as she said that I pointed at the water tower in the middle and asked her if that was "fixed enough".

SwampYankee · #19 12-07-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

For those interested the Army Land navigation manual is available online it a good read and its a great outdoor activity for the family.

Thanks for that tidbit, Howitzer. I'll have to check that out. My kids need some serious breaks from civilization!

Mistress · #20 12-07-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

He had a GPS that was frozen, how about sticking it between his nads to warm it up?

Missing hunter alive after days in woods

December 6, 2007
MADRID, Maine — A missing hunter from Vermont was found in the rugged mountains of western Maine Wednesday afternoon two days after he went missing while deer hunting with friends.

Steven Wright, 53, of Woodford, Vt., was coherent when he was found by a snowmobiler on the side of Jackson Mountain about 15 miles south of Route 4 in the unorganized territory of Township 6, said Maine Warden Service spokeswoman Deborah Turcotte. He was flown to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for treatment after being in the bitter cold and snow for two days.

Wright set out on Tumbledown Mountain in Byron on Monday morning and became separated from two other hunters, Michael Harrington and Barry Bishop of Bennington, Vt., as they were tracking a deer during Maine's muzzleloader hunting season.

A storm that blanketed Maine with fresh snow left 15 inches or more on the ground Monday in the area where Wright was missing. A search began Tuesday, and two planes and two helicopters aided ground searchers.

Wright was found by Donald Eisenhaur, 68, of Madrid, about 11 miles from where Wright and his friends had set out hunting.

Eisenhaur told officials that Wright was wet and covered with ice when he found him, and that his muzzleloader and GPS device were frozen.

Before Eisenhaur went out for a "joy ride" on his snowmobile, his wife told him to keep his eye out for the lost hunter.

When Eisenhaur came across Wright, he at first thought he was a moose on the trail. But as he approached, he saw it was a man, and surmised that Wright had heard his sled's engine and crawled to the trail.

His nads were frozen that's why he couldn't think.

Mistress · #21 12-07-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Thanks for that tidbit, Howitzer. I'll have to check that out. My kids need some serious breaks from civilization!

Swamp- How about celestial navigation?

Dee8go · #22 12-07-2007, 10:31 AM

Star trek?

Dee8go · #23 12-07-2007, 10:56 AM

My GPS came yesterday. To hell with navigating . . . I'll never be criticized for not stopping to ask directions again. Woohoo!

Gigiddy

SwampYankee · #24 12-07-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

Swamp- How about celestial navigation?

I know SeaSchool offers a class, a sailing friend of ours took it. He does a lot of solo sailing up and down the east coast and down through the islands, away from navigational aids. Way over my head! (pun intended

)

kerry · #25 12-07-2007, 11:24 AM

I took a celestial navigation course about 10 years ago. 45 students started the course. 3 people showed up for the final exam. I know 2 of us passed.

Funniest part of it was my attempt to buy a sextant at a pawnshop in Denver. Called all of them unsuccessfully, but this was the best reply:

Me: Do you have a sextant for sale?

Clerk: Sorry sir, we don't have any tents at all.

John Doe · #26 12-07-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

I wonder if anyone here has taken the USCG Captains exam lately , it used to be a grueling navigation section.

Its online and it is pretty simple actually. I've taken bareboat quiz' that were harder.

John Doe · #27 12-07-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Funniest part of it was my attempt to buy a sextant at a pawnshop in Denver. Called all of them unsuccessfully, but this was the best reply:

If you still don't have one do a search for Russian Military Surplus sextants. I got one from Russia in the box with all of the accessories and manuals for $165. Guy said he had 40 of them although this was four years ago. Opened the box when it came and ........it has a swastika on it

It originated on a German Sub and ended up later on a decommissioned Russian sub. Had it recalibrated at a chandlery in New Orleans and the owner of the shop offered me $2K for it. DO NOT buy a surplus one from Japan--unless you can read characters....

John Doe · #28 12-07-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

I spent several hours with a captain of 120 ft crew boat recently. He said he had a sextant somewhere on board. But he'd have to get the books out to re-learn how to use it. He goes out to 400 miles.

(He's basically a hot-shot boat. Rig needs something NOW, he's their boy. 4, 550 hp supercharged diesels. Keeps 2 spares at the dock and can change one out in 6 hrs.)

Oil tankers and cargo ships (at least US flag ships) still shoot every hour for the log.