T&T: Dead reckoning

[Bucks2 at aol.com]

What? Did Sea Tow go out of business? If I get lost,  broken, run out of
gas/vodka/mixer all I have to do is call and they'll come  running. I
certainly can't be responsible if something electrical broke. That's  out of
my
hands and someone else is responsible for whatever happens after that.  No
one
could have predicted an electrical failure, could they?

None of our "electronic" boaters is responsible for  themselves. The
responsible boater has the backups ready to go. They have a  backup
electronic
device, paper charts, chart books, and they might even have a  log with
descriptions of the last time they were at that location. Compare that  to
the
electronic boater who has a combination chart plotter/radar/depth sounder
all
in one whiz bang unit installed on an automotive wire one size smaller than
needed because the right size marine wire was too expensive.

Does it mean anything when you can buy Unlimited towing  insurance? Is it a
problem when the Tow Boat US skipper knows you by name?  Maintenance,
preparation, self reliance are old antique theories to some  boaters.

I'm still in awe of the twin screw boat that was unable to get  closer than
10 feet to the dock yesterday. Less than 3 knots of breeze and no  current.
After multiple attempts at both sides of the U shaped floats, we  finally
got the stern  close enough to pass a line. One of the fellows  on the dock
who was watching/helping thought I was crazy when I took a wrap on  the bull
rail and had the skipper put the away engine in gear. Of course the  boat
moved sideways and to the dock. He was amazed that worked. So I explained
the
theory to him as we helped the skipper and mate put out their
fenders.......

I sure hope I didn't do those things when I was  learning. I'd like to
think that the classes I took and the time I spent  just watching others made
my
learning curve a little sharper.

Ken


In a message dated 4/30/2009 9:00:51 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
trawlers-and-trawlering-request at lists.samurai.com writes:

Without  a good grounding in DR and paper chart type plotting,   how will
they cope.

Arild


**************Join ChristianMingle.com. FREE! Meet Christian Singles in
your area. Start now!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221673648x1201419171/aol?redir=http
://www.christianmingle.com/campaign.html%3Fcat%3Dadbuy%26
src%3Dplatforma%26adid%3Dfooter:050109%26newurl%3Dreg_path.html)