How do you use waypoints when crossing the stream without winding up following a curved route?
How do you use waypoints when crossing the stream without winding up following a curved route?
I use routes and the Nav function to follow them probably 95% of the time we are underway. Prior to departure I research and lay out the route. Then while underway you are looking it over again and can make fine tuning adjustments. It's also a very important part of planning many passages where you need to hit certain areas within a tight window of time. I can play with the departure time to get the desired arrival time at a pass where I need slack current, for example.
I think a lot may have to do with whatever charting system you use, and how easy or difficult it is to create and modify routes. The chart plotters I have owned (Raymarine C120, Furuno NN3D, and Furuno TZtouch) were all instruments of torture when it came to creating and editing routes, so I didn't use them. It was when I started using Coastal Explorer that routes because easy and useful. You just click click click with the mouse to drop waypoints along your route, and can double click along an existing route to insert an additional waypoint. I usually do a rough plot of the route first, then go though segment by segment to inspect and tidy it up. Then each segment gets checked again while underway, and any waypoints can be moved by simply dragging them. A mouse or equivalent makes all the difference in the world.
Also, once you have established routes and have run them, they become very handy resources the next time you are in the area. I have a whole bunch of them for various tight passages, and I know they are good routes. And others have given me their routes for passes.
I think a lot may have to do with whatever charting system you use, and how easy or difficult it is to create and modify routes. The chart plotters I have owned (Raymarine C120, Furuno NN3D, and Furuno TZtouch) were all instruments of torture when it came to creating and editing routes, so I didn't use them. It was when I started using Coastal Explorer that routes because easy and useful. You just click click click with the mouse to drop waypoints along your route, and can double click along an existing route to insert an additional waypoint. I usually do a rough plot of the route first, then go though segment by segment to inspect and tidy it up. Then each segment gets checked again while underway, and any waypoints can be moved by simply dragging them. A mouse or equivalent makes all the difference in the world.
Also, once you have established routes and have run them, they become very handy resources the next time you are in the area. I have a whole bunch of them for various tight passages, and I know they are good routes. And others have given me their routes for passes.
How do you use waypoints when crossing the stream without winding up following a curved route?
Baker, I think you quoted the wrong post.
How so?
Because he was asking not suggesting anything?
Homing has caused groundings and rock strikes when the boat veers way off course and the helmsman is not paying attention, just adjusting heading to get to the waypoint.
Yep, though not an issue crossing the stream - the issue then is that you could end up more nose into the stream for the last hour or so!
The stream is the Gulf Stream? Does it run in the same direction all the time? Does the speed change from one spot to another?
Runs north all the time. The edges do shift and can be found on the NOAA weather site. As with all "rivers" the speed will be least at the edges and greatest in the middle - but you have to remember that this is a river that is up to fifty miles wide moving along at 3-4 miles per hour. It is between 2.5 and 4 thousand feet deep. With absolutely beautiful deep royal blue waters.
Because the stream's current runs north the general consensus is do not cross if any winds from the north - meaning wind against tide conditions. Clearly if they are light winds it is doable but anything over 15 knot winds can start to get really uncomfortable, over 20 knots and you are in for a beating. More so because you are running beam on to the seas to get to and from the Bahamas from the US.
The water is warmer in the stream too? And does it make the air warmer too?
Ah now you are getting into a hurricane track conversation and a whole other topic!
I have used my cheap, older pilot (Ravmarineon 5000) on Track/route in a long straight canal (Alligator/Pungo for those who know it) as a test and it kept me pretty well centered for around 8 miles.
Is traveling down the center of a channel (not favoring the starboard side) possibly the result of using an AP on auto routing?