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Tel: 01983 611638 or 07831 634799  (Tony)

Although most boats use electronic navigation, you should be able to navigate by reading a chart and using a compass.

Most boats now use electronic instruments such as gps and radar. For the non technical these can be a bit daunting at first, but most equipment can be easily mastered with a little practice. The modern GPS receiver is a very powerful tool for navigation, being accurate to about three metres anywhere in the world, which was unheard of  only a few years ago. You will be simply guided through the functions and facilities found on most receivers will and demonstrate how easy it is with a bit of hands on practice how easy it can be!

To the first time user, the picture presented on the radar screen may be a bit confusing but I will explain what all those blobs on the screen represent. It is important that you use the radar even under good conditions so you can familiarise yourself with how known targets look on the display. As with GPS, many small boats are fitted with radar but it is never used!

Only certified establishments can provide a VHF radio course with a certificate at the end, but you only have to listen on the radio to hear operators that have been through the course making a mess of using the radio. You will be taught the practical things about using the radio they don't teach you!

Small boat radar with LCD display

VHF radio

GPS receiver with electronic charts.

You can have a go at anything - it doesn’t matter if you don’t get it right!. Here are just a few things I can help you with:

Reading Charts
Using electronic navigation instruments
Radar
Marine VHF Radio
Identifying navigation marks
Rules of the road