2006-10-08 04:38:24 · 6 answers · asked by Lincoln48 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
You need a chart. I could give you a heading but it wouldn't tell you where the channel is, where the rocks and islands are or anything else. A GPS would be good too. Enter the coordinates for New Buffalo in the GPS and it will give you a bearing. However, you should also enter the marks along the way to keep track of where you are and where you are going. It's a big lake and you may not want to follow the shore where there are more hazzards. What about fog?
2006-10-09 02:38:51 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to add to points already made:
just entering a waypoint on a GPS doesn't do much good; your GPS will tell you the compass course from Chicago to, say, Detroit is 090 but it wont tell you about rocks shoals land ( like Michigan) that's in the way....a GPS course is only to be trusted when laid out on a chart to see what it runs you into.
There are three types of courses: .true, ie 000 is due north or straight up on a chart, magnetic, allowing for your local magnetic difference ( I have no idea for the Lakes....) and VARIATION, which is the effects of stuff ON YOUR OWN BOAT on the compass...so someone could tell you the magnetic course is, say, 015 degrees, but metal....like a beer can or engine or tool stash or even electric wires, could throw that off by 5 degrees or more.......the only way to find out for your boat is to go out driving around. take bearings with various landmarks on the chart...see what the compass says, write it down, compare to what the chart says it should be for true and magnetic and draw up a table
now the people in your own town who can teach you this, and a lot of other really good stuff that will make boating safer and more fun, and who will do it FOR FREE, are the folks at the US Power Squadron....do a yahoo or google search for the local branch and go take their course.
2006-10-12 08:30:16 · answer #2 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local marine retail store and buy some charts. Also think about purchasing a hand held GPS. If you have a chart you can draw your intended course out before you go, and from the chart you can figure out your compass direction.
2006-10-08 05:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by briconmarine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a map. Or just follow the shoreline, and when you think you are close, stop and ask. If you don't know how to do something like that you have no business driving a boat.
2006-10-08 04:54:16 · answer #4 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well dear, if anyone gives you a heading, they are:
a. not thinking straight
b. as reckless as you seem to be
Go and get some lessons before you set out.
2006-10-09 05:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think perhaps you'd better get a chart mate.
2006-10-08 15:33:37 · answer #6 · answered by Audio God™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋