Navigation Through the Ages

by Launer, Donald

• ISBN13: 9781574092783
• ISBN10: 1574092782
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-30
• Publisher: Sheridan House Inc

Summary

Sailors have been navigating the seas for thousands of years, and navigational technology has progressed exponentially during that time. This concise yet comprehensive volume from popular Sheridan House author Donald Launer begins with the impressive developments in navigation undertaken by early seafarers and follows the art and science of navigation through the ages to their culmination in the huge advances made by our contemporaries. Launer explores the navigational tools invented by each civilization, and includes generous illustrations to help readers envision the tools used.

Author Biography

Donald Launer has held a US Coast Guard captain's license for over 25 years. He was Field Editor for the yearly Waterway Guide and he is currently contributing editor for Good Old Boat. He is the author of A Cruising Guide to New Jersey Waters, Dictionary of Nautical Acronyms and Abbreviations (Sheridan House), and Lessons from My Good Old Boat (Sheridan House).

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Ancient Navigation	p. 1
The Concept of Latitude and Longitude
Sailing a Latitude
The Polynesians
The Vikings
The Arabs
The Lead Line
Navigation in the Middle Ages	p. 20
Dead Reckoning
China's Contribution to Navigation
The Compass
Our Magnetic Earth
The Astrolabe
The Quadrant
The Cross-staff
The Back-staff
The Ring and the Geometrical Square
The Age of Discovery	p. 48
Charts
Keeping Time
Time and Longitude
The Octant
The Sextant
Measuring Speed and Distance
The Logbook
Telescopes and Binoculars
The Electronic Age	p. 87
Electronic Depth-Sounders
Bathymetric Navigation
Marine-Radio Communications
Radar Early Electronic Navigation Systems
Loran The Fluxgate Compass
Satellites and Today's Sailor
GPS, DGPS, and WAAS
GPS Chart Plotters Wireless Navigation Instruments
Anchor Lights
Navigation and the Environment	p. 150
Fog
Tides
Wind
Currents
Emergency Signaling	p. 177
The VHF-FM Marine Band and Cell Phones Emergency Signaling Devices
Man-Overboard Electronics	p. 177
Index	p. 187
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