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Coastal
Navigation Using
GPS |
About the course and
instructor…
This
five-session course is designed to teach you how to master the basic elements
of practical coastal navigation using a GPS .
The subject matter covers nautical charts and catalogs, use of
navigation instruments, latitude and longitude, how to calculate a DR position,
how GPS affect a course for current and wind.
Students will also learn to calculate the height of tide at any time and
how to check a compass. This course
prepares the student to properly understand the use of electronic navigational
instruments. Students will be required
to demonstrate their ability to plot their course and predict their time for a
typical trip using a nautical chart, waypoints, routes, and a GPS.
The instructor, Frank Larkin, has held a
25-ton Near Coastal Masters License and has taught nautical courses in this
area for over thirty years. He is
currently active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he is the National
Navigation Systems Division Chief and the District Staff Officer for Aids to
Navigation for First Northern. He has competed with the New England Cruisers
Association where he participates in Predicted Log Contests in
Class Schedule and Syllabus
Session One - Tuesday - June 2 -
7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Handouts: Course Syllabus
Navigation Practice Chart
1 - Nautical Charts
Presentation –Chapter
One
GPS0100 - Understanding the
elements found on a nautical chart. (92 slides)
- 7:00 to 7:45 - [45 minutes]
2 - Navigational Reference
Publications and Almanacs Presentation – Chapter Two
GPS0200 - A quick look
at the important catalogs and almanacs available to the navigator - 7:45 -
8:20 - [20 min]
3 – The IALA-B Aids to Navigation
Presentation – Chapter Three
GPS0300 - An explanation of the IALA-B Aids to Navigation System used in the
4 –How to use the Basic Nautical
Instruments Presentation – Chapter Four
GPS0400 - How to use the paraglide plotter and the dividers - 8:35-9:00
- [25 min]
5 – Latitude and Longitude and Converting
for GPS Use Presentation – Chapter Five
GPS0500 - The most
important element of understanding electronic navigation -9:00- 9:30- [30
min]
6 - GPS Orientation One Presentation
GPS0600 - How
GPS works—Question of Accuracy—Buying a GPS—Intended use—Mounting
capability—Screen size—Waterproof?—Display lighting—12V attachments—Keyboard
size—Older sets—Chart Plotters—Display clutter—Screen capabilities—Remote antennas—Multiplexing
versus Parallel receivers—Sensor design—Used GPS sets - 9:30 – 10:00 –
[30 min]
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Homework for Session One: 1.
Read Chapter One – “Nautical
Charts” and answer the questions on page 33 of “Coastal Navigation using
GPS.” 2.
Read Chapter Two – “Navigational
Reference Publications and Almanacs” and answer the questions on page 58 of
“Coastal Navigation using GPS.” 3.
Read Chapter Three – “The IALA-B
Aids to Navigation System” and answer the questions on page 75. Using red,
green, and yellow pencils, color all the figures in the chapter that have
drawings of aids to navigation. 4.
Read Chapter Four – “How to use
the Basic Navigational Instruments” and answer the questions on page 84. 5.
Read Chapter Five – “ §
Review your GPS Operating Manual to check the input format used to enter latitude and longitude
in your GPS set. Set the input format
to Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds. §
Complete Navigation Exercise One:
LAT/LON on page 96. Use a Navigation Practice Chart to perform this
exercise. Answer the questions on
page 97. 6.
Read Chapter Twelve – “How to Use
a GPS Navigation System on a Small Boat.” |
Session Two - Thursday - June 4 -
7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Handouts: Navigation Worksheets
Trip Logs
Review of
5 - Latitude and Longitude Presentation Review – Chapter Five
GPS0500 -
7 – How to Plot a True Course on a Nautical
Chart Presentation – Chapter Six
GPS0700 - Use of the paraglide plotter on a
nautical chart is explained. - 7:30-8:00 [30 min]
Tools needed:
Paraglide Plotter—Pencil—Navigation Practice Chart, Navigation Worksheet
and eraser.
8 – How to Measure Distance on a Nautical
Chart Presentation
- Chapter Seven
GPS0800 - Measuring and recording the distance
of a leg or a trip. Record the distance on the chart and on your trip log.
8:00-8:30 - [30 min] – Tools Needed –
Dividers, Navigation Practice Chart, Navigation Worksheet, and Trip Log.
9 - GPS Orientation Two Presentation
GPS0900 - Covers Unit of Measure definitions—Depth—Distance—Speed—Temperature—
Horizontal Datum—Course and bearings—Navigation Mode—Waypoint alarm—XTE-Cross
track error alarm—Anchor alarm—Antenna height—Altitude mode.
8:30-9:30 [60 min]
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Homework for Session Two: 1.
Read Chapter Six – “How to Plot
a True Course on a Nautical Chart. §
Complete Navigation Exercise Two – Plotting True Courses on pages 104-106. Use a Navigation Practice Chart, a
Navigation Worksheet, and a Trip Log to record your work. §
Answer the question on page 110. §
Install a Steering Post on your
boat per the instructions in Appendix 1. 2.
Read Chapter Seven – “How to
Measure Distance on a Nautical Chart. §
Complete Navigation Exercise Three – Measuring Distance on page 117. Use the Navigation Practice Chart,
Navigation Worksheet, and Trip Log that you started with Navigation Exercise
Two for Chapter Six. §
Answer the questions on page 120-121. 3.
Complete GPS Task 1 – Review the
keyboard functions of your GPS as explained on page 171. 4.
Complete GPS Task 2 – Set the Unit
of Measure parameters on your GPS as explained on page 171. 5.
Complete GPS Task 3 – Setting the
navigational features on your GPS as explained on Page 174. |
Session Three - Tuesday - June 9 -
7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
10 - Calculating your Dead Reckoning Position Presentation – Chapter Eight
GPS1000 - Using the “60D=ST formula, compute your preliminary
time of travel. Recording the times on a trip log.
Tools Needed: Pencil,
Calculator, Navigation Worksheet and a Trip Log - 7:00-8:00 - [60 min].
11 – Converting a True Courses to a
Compass Course Presentation – Chapter Nine
GPS1100 - Using the TVMDC formula – Tools needed:
Navigation Worksheet and a Trip Log - 8:00-8:30 - [30 min]
12 – The 24-Hour Clock, or Military Time
Presentation – Chapter Ten
GPS1200 - How to add and subtract time—the 24-hour clock - 8:30-8:45 [15 min).
13 –GPS Waypoint Presentation.
GPS1300 - Understanding
and determining satellite status—Entering a waypoint—Validating a
waypoint—Deleting a Waypoint.
8:45-9:30 – [45
min]
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Homework for Session Three: 1. Read
Chapter Eight – “Calculating Your Dead Reckoning Position.” §
Complete Navigation Exercise Four:
Calculating DR Times on page 128. Use
a Navigation Worksheet and a Trip Log. 2.
Read Chapter
Nine – “Converting True Courses to Compass
Courses.” §
Complete Navigation Exercise Five:
“Converting True Courses to Compass Courses” on page 139. Use a Navigation
Worksheet and a Trip Log. §
Answer the questions on pages
140-141. §
Check your compass for built-in
error as explained in Appendix 2. 3.
Read Chapter Ten – “The 24-Hour
Clock, or Military Time.” §
Complete Navigation Exercise Six: “Timing the Six Leg Cruise.”
Use the Navigation Worksheet and a Trip Log. 4.
Complete GPS Task Four –
“Establishing the position setup parameters” on page 176. 5.
Complete GPS Task Five –
“Verifying that your GPS set is operating accurately” on page 178. 6.
Complete GPS Task Six – “Entering
waypoints” on page 181. |
Session Four - Thursday - June 11 -
7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
14 – Taking and Plotting
Bearings Presentation – Chapter Eleven
GPS1400 - Beam bearings—Using the boat’s
compass—Using a hand-held compass—Doubling the angle on the bow.
7:00-7:40 - [40 min]
15 – The Height of Tide at
any Time Presentation –Chapter Thirteen
GPS1600 - Complete a graph of the Height of
Tide for any date using the One Quarter - One Tenth Rule—Height of tide as a GPS
feature. Also, an overhead demonstration of the One-quarter/One-tenth Rule.
8:10 – 8:50 – [40 min] Tools Needed: Graph
Paper—Pencil—Ruler—Tide almanac.
16 – Compensating
Your Course for Current and Other Elements Presentation – Chapter Fourteen
GPS1500 - Current—Wind—Waves—Weight—Attitude—Depth
of water--Predictability of GPS readings. (20 slides) - 7:40-8:10 - [30
min]
17 - Routes Presentation
GPS1700 - Setting up a route—Using a
Waypoint List—Labeling Waypoints and Routes on a chart—Running a
Route—Reversing a Route—The EXCEL Waypoint List. (22 slides) - 8:50-9:30
– [40 minutes]
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Homework for Session Four: 1. Read Chapter Eleven – “Taking and
Plotting Bearings.” §
Answer the
questions on page 158. 2.
Read
Chapter Thirteen – “The Height of Tide
at Any Time.” §
Complete the
Practice Problems on page 209. §
Complete the
Practice Problems on page 213. 3.
Read
Chapter Fourteen – “Compensating Your
Course and Other Elements.” 4.
Complete GPS
Task 7 – “Writing a Waypoint Procedure” and “Verifying Waypoints entered in
Task Six” on pages 184-185. 5.
Complete
GPS Task 8 – “Setting up a Route
for Waypoints established in Tasks Six and Seven” on page 186. 6.
Complete GPS
Task 9 – “Running the Route” on page 191. |
Session Five - Tuesday - June 16 -
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
18 - Completion of Navigation Exercise Project.
Review of the
Navigation Exercise plotting requirements and the answers to questions on
handout.
7:00-8:00 - [60 min]
19 - GPS Review Project
Forum at which any problems that you have had setting your GPS set
can be discussed. Set up of the Instructor’s GPS will be presented. - 8:00-9:00
- [60 min]