Category Archives: Navigation

Why Don’t Ships Have Headlights?

Posted on July 7, 2022 by captnmike

Recently a friend sent me an interesting link to a video on Why Don’t Ships Have Headlights? I found the video interesting even though I teach this subject in boating safety classes, the videos author also has many other videos … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts | 1 Comment

Building an Aids to Navigation Demonstration Display

Posted on December 11, 2016 by captnmike

This is an Aids To Navigation (ATON) display demonstration board I made, there are flashing LED’s to demonstrate selected ATON’s in the Elliot Bay area around Seattle Washington. There are 27 Aids represented from just south of the Alki Lighthouse … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

New autonomous surface vehicles to deliver shoaler depth measurements for NOAA nautical charts

Posted on August 27, 2015 by captnmike

Great news from NOAA for anyone boating in shallow water. If you look closely at any U.S. coastal nautical chart, you’ll likely find that the areas closest to the shore, shoals, and rocks do not have updated depth measurements. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts | Tagged | 3 Comments

Free 2015 Coast Guard Light List

Posted on January 22, 2015 by captnmike

The U.S. Coast Guard has just released the 2015 Light Lists in PDF format for all volumes except Volume V (Volume V is only published in even years).  The Light List Volumes are available as a free download or in … Continue reading →

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Navigators Piloting and Charting Reference Card

Posted on August 23, 2014 by captnmike

The Navigators Piloting and Charting Reference Card puts the commonly used coastal navigation formulas and symbols on one handy card for easy reference.  This card helps prevent mistakes when tired, or when doing your Navigation Class homework. Even with today’s use … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

21st Century ATON’s & Waterway Safety

Posted on June 11, 2014 by captnmike

Tuesday June 3, 2014 I attended the Future of Navigation Listening Session in Seattle. This was a chance for Puget Sound boaters to find out about recent Aids to Navigation changes and hear about changes on the way and for … Continue reading →

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More TVMDC – Practice Problems – Correcting and un-correcting the compass

Posted on January 22, 2014 by captnmike

Correcting and Un-correcting a compass is still a useful skill.  Paper charts and plotted course lines are still in use, even with today’s Cell Phone Apps and GPS Plotters.   If you take a Navigation or Piloting class that lasts … Continue reading →

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NOAA’s paper nautical charts get a needed update – literally

Posted on December 10, 2013 by captnmike

Paper nautical charts hold a special spot in a sailor’s heart – and in the chart table. The October announcement that the federal government will stop bulk lithographic printing of nautical charts brought some understandable angst to boaters – but…

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