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04-15-2016, 02:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: PNW
Vessel Name: EXILE
Vessel Model: HANS CHRISTIAN TRAWLER
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 134
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Using waypoints / autopilot
On several occasions I have plotted waypoint courses thru the San Juan and Gulf Islands, amongst other places. Once underway I often over-ride the AP and modify the waypoints as I have not yet mastered the technique or secret to plotting a course which is practical. Typically I find my waypoint miles off shore which if followed would result in wasted time and fuel. Zooming in to place each waypoint is a challenge as the big picture is lost. Is there a way to plot waypoints effectively? or does everyone deal with this?
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04-15-2016, 02:20 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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Never used a waypoint.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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04-15-2016, 02:27 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,144
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Have often plotted waypoints....and used them both extensively onboard many vessels using autopilot to do searches/planned patterns...plus helicopters doing precise searches.
What are you plotting them on? They should be within meters of what you want.
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04-15-2016, 02:42 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,964
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Miles off? Maybe a tenth or two. You can try using more waypoints nearer to landmarks, depth contours, or picking the lat/lon off a paper chart. MapTech chart kits have key waypoints already plotted.
__________________
Archie
Irish Lady
1984 Monk 36 Hull #46
Currently in Cape May, NJ
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04-15-2016, 02:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: PNW
Vessel Name: EXILE
Vessel Model: HANS CHRISTIAN TRAWLER
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 134
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Perhaps I was not clear. The autopilot takes me precisely to the waypoint, that is not a problem.
My problem is, for example, if I were to steer a course it would be time and fuel efficient. When I place waypoints on the chartplotter I am never able to place them where I would like to go. Perhaps it just takes practice in waypoint plotting to get the desired route.
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04-15-2016, 03:08 PM
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#6
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Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,784
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I don't use way points. I steer the autopilot two ways:
1. I use the heading projection arrow to line it up where I want to go.
2. For longer legs where the projection arrow is too short, I advance the pointer to where I want to end up. Then I read the bearing from the ship to that point. I then set the autopilot's course to match up with that bearing. As I get closer I go back to #1 to fine tune it.
David
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04-15-2016, 03:18 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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What type of plotter do you have? Many makers offer a companion program you can use on your PC then transfer waypoints to your plotter, as well as from other PC programs like OPNCpn, Coastal Explorer, MacENC.
I take it your plotter has a very small screen.
I use waypoints a lot, for a variety of purposes, but other than open ocean, don't like using the GPS based auto-nav function. I liked lining the course up to the next way point and tweaking the AP as we went along.
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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04-15-2016, 03:20 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,144
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If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way.
now...there are plenty of times that it is more work than just dialing in a heading and letting an AP hold a course.
HOW are you setting the waypoints that they aren't exactly where you want them?
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04-15-2016, 04:05 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way.
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My wife much prefers using the increase or decrease in XTE to move the AP wheel in areas of tidal current. Kinda like sailing to hit a mark, drift counts.
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04-15-2016, 04:22 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,266
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When plotting your course zoom in closer then set the waypoint. If you leave the plotter zoomed out, you're wayupoints will be close, but not close enough for precision piloting.
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04-15-2016, 05:22 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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You just need more practice plotting the way points. The boat goes where you tell it to go, you're just not telling it where you really want it to go.
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04-15-2016, 06:37 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
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psneeld says;
"If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way."
Only if you're going in a straight line from point A to B.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
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04-15-2016, 06:41 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
When plotting your course zoom in closer then set the waypoint. If you leave the plotter zoomed out, you're waypoints will be close, but not close enough for precision piloting.
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That's the key! Not only will it put the waypoint exactly where you want it but it also allows a much closer inspection of the course for obstacles, shallow water, etc. Always set your waypoint when zoomed in.
__________________
Done with diesel power boats! Have fallen in love with all electric!
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04-15-2016, 07:02 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BandB
You just need more practice plotting the way points. The boat goes where you tell it to go, you're just not telling it where you really want it to go.
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What B said. As you do it more you will get better at it. I will often edit and move my way point as I get close to the spot and fine tune where I want it. You can also just set a waypoint at your current location.
Just don't be like the PO of my boat. He really liked his waypoints! This is his plotter navcard. Can't see the chart for all the waypoints.
I use waypoints a lot. The waypoints around the waters that I cruise frequently are well refined which makes them very useful.
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04-15-2016, 07:03 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Port Ludlow
Vessel Name: Fiddler
Vessel Model: DeFever 46
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 703
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I plot my waypoints/route, then zoom in and add more for turns, check for hazards, and move others to get closer to where I expected to be. I plan routes at home using Coastal Explorer and save the routes on dropbox. My onboard computer is also connected to dropbox so when I turn it on, it loads the latest route file, that is then read by Coastal Explorer. No using flash drives or wifi syncing necessary. I always have a route on my screen. It comes in especially handy when visibility is reduced, sometimes unexpectedly with fog here in the PNW.
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04-15-2016, 07:06 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Depending on your plotter, I just learned a nice trick that the broker showed me on the sea trial. He spilt his page in half. On the left side is a zoomed in, about 1nm, on the righ side is a panel that is zoomed out to about 12nm.
I have been using this type of chart plotter for a long time but never thought to try it. It is great. Easy to switch back and forth in the active pane. It also makes setting and refining waypoint easy.
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04-15-2016, 08:26 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by manyboats
psneeld says;
"If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way."
Only if you're going in a straight line from point A to B.
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You put another waypoint wherever you don't want to continue in that line. So you have point A to B to C to D to E to F to G to H to I to J to K to L to M.
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04-15-2016, 09:18 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by petdoc4u
Perhaps I was not clear. The autopilot takes me precisely to the waypoint, that is not a problem.
My problem is, for example, if I were to steer a course it would be time and fuel efficient. When I place waypoints on the chartplotter I am never able to place them where I would like to go. Perhaps it just takes practice in waypoint plotting to get the desired route.
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Place your point generally with your plotter zoomed out then zoom in to place it more precisely.
When using an electronic plotter you need to zoom in and out along your intended route to make sure your plotted route doesn't take you through some kind of hazard that may not show up on all zoom levels.
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04-15-2016, 09:29 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,144
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Quote:
Originally Posted by manyboats
psneeld says;
"If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way."
Only if you're going in a straight line from point A to B.
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Duh.....for never using them, you need to commentl?
OP.....just ask around for someone familiar with your chart plotter setup....I am sure they migh t help.
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04-15-2016, 09:48 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by manyboats
psneeld says;
"If you put a waypoint where it needs to be and you set an autopilot to steer there...... there is no more efficient way."
Only if you're going in a straight line from point A to B.
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Ah, Eric, you are always going in a straight line between one way point and the next.
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