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| Grounding can be avoided quite easily with a Chart Plotter & good Lookout |
As a Naval Officer I was taught that Navigation is 90% planning and 10% execution. We didn't have Chart Plotters or even GPS back then in the late 70's and early 80's. We had to rely on charts and take fixes every 6 mins before deciding how to get back on track or to alter course to the next track. Before setting off to a destination, the entire route had to be planned and all the dangers along that route marked in bold and given a wide berth.
As a result we had very few grounding incidences if any. Ship handling, Seamanship and Navigation was considered an art back then. Today's technology has advanced these art-forms bringing incredible efficiency that I never could have imagined. Having been brought up the old fashioned ways, I feel privileged to be able to use the current Chart Plotters, Fleur, digital radars and colour sounders for navigation.
Hence it does puzzle me that a boat equipped with all these modern marvels can still end up on the rocks. I feel that a little preparation will help tremendously in avoiding a grounding. Looking at today's Chart Plotters, it is near impossible to ground, unless one is not looking.
I would urge all boaters to have at least 2 Chart Plotters at the helm station. The little it costs these days will save lives and a huge salvage bill.
Wishing you many more happy boating days..... See you on the water .
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