Customer Reviews

Dutton's Navigation and Piloting

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dutton's is well illustrated and clearly written and it covers a lot of ground. However, it is full of technical errors. When I was writing a sailings application I worked the example problems in the sailings section of the book and was distressed to find they were full of mistakes. Later, when I took my Captain's course I spoke about this with the navigation instructor there and he claimed that he never used Dutton's examples because the problems are wide spread. So, I'd suggest reading Dutton's for the prose and then going to Bowditch if you need the math. This is all a bit sad as Dutton's is a text book and into it's 15th edition.

This book is very complete covering all aspects of navigation from simple pilotage to gyro compass. The approach is always didactic and very complete describing f.i. not less than 4 methods of sight reduction for Astro Navigation. Although written for merchant navy, it is also suitable for small craft navigation.

The essentials to celestial navigation are a sextant, the current nautical almanac, and an accurate timepiece correctible to Greenwich Mean Time (Coordinated Universal Time.)

Given those things and some basic instruments and charts, and of course the requisite knowledge and skills to use them, you can find your way on the trackless oceans of the world.

If you lack the knowledge and skills to use the above instruments and objects, you can learn to use them, with the application of the necessary dilligence and intelligence, in either of two volumes, this one and the 'American Practical Navigator.' The latter comes in two volumes, and is published by the U.S. government (Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic Center).

Both volumes are used as textbooks by the United States Naval Academy and the United States Power Squadrons, to teach celestial navigation. I am a full certificate member of the latter organization.

I recommend them to you.

Joseph Pierre, N
Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Etermnity

Dutton's is a good intro for anyone who dreams of being a sailor, or actually intends to do something about it someday. It is arranged in logical style and the material is presented in straightforward and easily understandable terms. Such details as tides, currents & piloting as well as the more esoteric matters of Hyperbolic, Celestial and Bathymetric Navigation are explained. Having finished Dutton's, the actual or would-be sailor/navigator will be ready to pick up a copy of Bowditch and head down to the sea.

How one person can have such a comprehensive knowledge of a subject and still provide the information in a useful and pragmatic format is just a pleasure to read. This text walks you through the history of navigation, practical current application and pitfalls of all aspects of navigation theory and application. It is an easy read, well documented and focused without flare and sidelines. Very helpful, will be a standard reference in my navigational education.

I thought that Dutton's explanation of basic celestial navigation was easier to understand and ultimately to use than the explaination given in the Bowditch American Practical Navigator 2002 edition.

Excellent book for a quick consult and to know more about all nautical navigational issues..very easy to understand, good drawings and smart explanations ...For me the (nautical) bible onboard.

It's cheap and fast than I thought, I hope do more bussiness with Amazon.com. Huang.