Bryant. I cannot see anything on your extensive list of items to be watched and monitored while underway, that would somehow be precluded or compromised by using a computer to tend to primary navigation and pilotage. Are you suggesting that the installation of a computer system / GPS and Autopilot would render the bridge watch immediately dumb and blind? All of your points are well founded but using a computer is no different from using a plotter/GPS combo, just a little safer, more flexible and more user friendly. Our experience indicates that using a computer to do the primary navigation and pilotage GREATLY increases the pilots ability to do all the other things you have listed. It certainly extends the enjoyment of cruising by greatly decreasing the workload and stress on the pilot and thereby increasing the ability to tend to the other stuff you listed. It's hard to see how GPS data failure could be missed with a modern nav program. The GPS icon blinks bright red, the computer starts an audible alarm sequence, you'd have to be asleep to miss it. There is no way that you would "trust you life" to a computer underway. I don't think anyone in their right mind would take a nap and let the computer steer. But it's a joy not to have to constantly attend to the compass heading steering issues but rather just monitor the systems. Joe & Debbie Engel Marine Computer Service, Inc. MV "Freda Fly" 40' Tollycraft Tri-Cabin Portland, OR > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob & Debbie Huddleston [SMTP:huddlestonb_d@email.msn.com] > Sent: Monday, April 13, 1998 7:15 AM > To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com > Subject: Re: Computers & What Works? > > Braynt . Thank you for speaking out. I was beginning to think I was > alone > out here. > -----Original Message----- > From: Bryant Vann <vann@his.com> > To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com <trawler-world-list@samurai.com> > Date: Monday, April 13, 1998 5:33 AM > Subject: Re: Computers & What Works? > > > >>navigation software to tie to our GPS and autopilot. > > > >Hmm. I meant to comment on the autopilot "tie-in" in my previous > post. Having the capability to do this might be interesting (even > useful in an emergency perhaps), BUT, as I have heard several others > on the list comment, it may not be a great idea to use routinely. It > could easily give you a false sense of security and tempt one to tend > to "other matters" underway. Maybe I'm just an old-fashioned nervous > nellie, but I want the bridge watch to stay VERY busy -- checking the > operation of ALL the pieces, constantly monitoring the boat's state > and verifying EVERY course change -- making sure the GPS is locked on, > comparing the GPS with the LORAN, making sure the old-fashioned > magnetic compass agrees with the heading the AP is set on, scanning > the horizon visually for other vessels, looking for large floating > objects (like those containers from the container ships), watching for > rogue waves (and "naturists" on other boats), checking the radar > screen for other vessels, taking frequent bearings on other nearby > vessels to insure safe distances at CPA, comparing the depth sounder > readings with the chart, checking the engine instruments, comparing > the "little boat" on the computer screen with the course line between > the waypoints, keeping a position plot on REAL charts in case all the > electronics "disappear," comparing what the chart "looks like" to what > the real world outside "looks like" to make sure there are no waypoint > input errors, checking the LORAN SOG with the expected SOG and > accounting for any differences, making the periodic engine room > inspections, counting noses on board from time to time to make sure > the crew is accounted for (and, if you're running a US Navy ship, > making sure the crew is fully clothed on deck!), listening for alarms > of all kinds -- shallow water, engine temperature, oil pressure, bilge > pump operation, waypoint alerts, GPS/LORAN "lost-lock" signals... > > > >Speaking of theat last one, ECS software can have a "neat" feature of > going into DR mode if the GPS stops sending data to it. That seems > like a good safety feature if one has the computer seding steering > commands to the AP, BUT if that change were to persist and go > unnoticed, disaster can result. A big cruise ship (wasn't it one of > the Queens?) went aground somewhere around Cape Cod a few years ago > when this very thing happened. Very embarrassing, to say the least. > Tahnk you very much, but I think I'll stick with having an alert watch > passing course changes to the AP and then watching it like a hawk to > be SURE all is well. I LOVE computers, but the idea of trusting my > life to just one (or, worse yet, several in series) without watching > it closely doesn't appeal. > > > Just some more food for thought... > > > >- Bryant