Lesson 5: Navigation Instruments

Lesson 5: Navigation Instruments

AGENDA:

Measurement of Depth
Measurement of Direction
Measurement of Distance
Measurement of Speed

Applicable reading: Hobbs pg. 110-128.

Measurement of Depth

Echo Sounder (fathometer)

Hand leadline

Lead Line

Manual method of
determining depth
Also allows for a
sampling of the
bottom type

Measurement of Direction

Bearing: the horizontal direction of one

terrestrial point as measured from
another, expressed as an angle from 0 to
360 degrees.
There are three references for bearings:
Relative
Magnetic
True

000T / 270R

270T / 180R

180T / 090R

090T / 000R

Measurement of Direction
Visual Bearings can be measured in:
0

- Degrees Relative ( # # # R )
0

- Degrees Magnetic ( # # # pstgc OR M )

0

- Degrees True ( # # # T)
The navigator must convert any of these types of
bearings to True before they can be plotted on the
chart.

Bearing Circle/Alidade

Azimuth or Bearing Circle

Telescopic Alidade

Bearing Circle

Telescopic
Alidade

Measurement of Distance
Radar - Distance is obtained by a radio wave
that is transmitted into the air and returns as
an echo. The time
interval between
transmission and
return can be
converted into
a physical range.
Used for distance (range) only!!
Not normally used for bearings

Measurement of Distance

STADIMETER
Used to determine precise ranges between ships in formation

Making an Observation with the

Stadimeter

Distance is determined by:

distance = height of object / tan (angle)

Plotting Instruments

Parallel Ruler

Plotting Instruments

Parallel Plotter

Plotting Instruments

Parallel Motion Protractor

Plotting Instruments

Compass
Dividers

Plotting Instruments

Nautical
Slide Rule

Operation of Nautical slide Rule

Given two of the following, find the third:

Speed
Distance
Time

Measurement of Speed

Speed over Ground (SOG) = true speed

Speed through the water

SPEED OVER GROUND

Direct output of many
electronic navigation
systems (GPS, Loran)

SPEED THROUGH WATER

Impeller Log
Pitotmeter Log
Doppler Speed Log
Shaft RPM

Measurement of Speed

Impeller Log

Measurement of Speed

Pitometer (Pit) Log

Measurement of Speed

Doppler Speed Log

3 Minute Rule

The Distance in yards that a ship travels in

3 minutes (D) is equal to the Ships Speed
(Spd) in knots multiplied by 100.

D = Spd x 100

6 Minute Rule

The Distance in nautical miles that a ship

travels in 6 minutes (D) is equal to the
Ships Speed (Spd) in knots divided by 10.

SPD
D=
10

REVIEW

What does a fathometer measure?

What does D=Speed x 100 tell you?

QUESTIONS??