Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings: How to Build and Use 18 Traditional Navigational Instruments [Paperback]

Dennis Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings is for people who like to work with their hands and who appreciate traditional nautical craftsmanship. You don't have to be the master of any craft to undertake any of these projects--from a simple kamal or latitude hook to the more complex pelorus or octant--just a careful and enthusiastic worker.

These 18 projects fall roughly into three categories: decorative, useful, and somewhere in between. Some, such as the astrolabe, are mainly for display. On the other hand, the sounding line is an important and practical tool for small-craft navigation, particularly in the absence of an electronic sounder. The cross-staff falls somewhere in between, equally at home in the den or the ditch kit.

Each of the devices discussed here--with simple, proven building instructions complemented by clear illustrations--has at one time or another been used for the practical business of navigation, and each is worth reviving for its beauty, historic value, or sheer usefulness.

Dennis Fisher has designed these projects with an emphasis on simplicity and reasonable cost. Everything can be scratch-built using easily obtainable materials and tools, and each is true to the spirit and function of the original instrument.

Editorial Reviews

Review

``This is a nifty book that will appeal to a wide variety of yacht owners.#.#.For those who like simple solutions to complex situations and those who like to create their own devices, this book with its straightforward diagrams and comprehensive information would make a delightful gift.'' (Coastal Cruising )

From the Back Cover

Navigation is the story of the evolution of tools, of practical people making the best use of the materials and means at hand. As each generation of mariners sought to answer the question, "Where am I?", the instruments in this book were invented, rediscovered, and redesigned in a diversity that defies the imagination.

Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings is for people who like to work with their hands and who appreciate traditional nautical craftsmanship. You don't have to be the master of any craft to undertake any of these projects--from a simple kamal or latitude hook to the more-complex pelorus or octant--just a careful and enthusiastic worker.

The 18 projects fall roughly into three categories: decorative, useful, and somewhere in between. Some, such as the astrolabe, are mainly for display. On the other hand, the sounding line is an important and practical tool for small-craft navigation, particularly in the absence of an electronic sounder. The cross-staff falls somewhere in between, equally at home in the den or the ditch kit.

Each of the devices discussed here--with simple, proven building instructions complemented by clear illustrations--has at one time or another been used for the practical business of navigation, and each is worth reviving for its beauty, historic value, or sheer usefulness.

Dennis Fisher has designed these objects with an emphasis on simplicity and reasonable cost. Everything can be scratch-built using easily obtainable materials and tools, and each is true to the spirit and function of the original instrument.

Navigate a boat using the same tools as the Polynesian islanders, the Arab monsoon traders, or Christopher Columbus.

• Latitude Hook
• Kamal
• Astrolabe
• Quadrant
• Astronomical Ring
• Sundial
• Nocturnal
• Cross-Staff
• Backstaff
• Dry-Card Compass
• Traverse Board
• Hand Lead
• Heaving Line
• Chip Log
• Weatherglass
• Pelorus
• Sun Compass
• Octant

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070211205
• ISBN-13: 978-0070211209
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Concept. Poor Execution., September 3, 2001

By 

Kevin Hing (St. Petersburg, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings: How to Build and Use 18 Traditional Navigational Instruments (Paperback)

The Good: An excellent overview ancient navigational instruments. In addition to sundials, octants and compasses, Fisher covers such escoteric tools as the traverse board (used to track direction and ship speed), the weatherglass (early barometer), the kamal (arabian navigation tool) and the cross staff (predecessor to the octant).
The Bad: Very crude, hand-drawn illustrations and building plans. No photographs or contemporary illustrations of the actual instruments. Though it is clear that the author has made each of these instrument himself, the book even lacks photos of his own reconstructions. Many illustrations of critical parts are unclear and difficult to understand. The only saving grace is Fisher's excellent descriptions of the parts and the building process.

The Verdict: Though his concept, scope and research are excellent, the failure of the publisher to back Fisher up with quality illustrations, photographs, and professionally-drafted design plans prevents this from being the excellent book it could have been. While it is possible to actually build these tools, the process is more difficult that it should be due to the lack of quality plans.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Medieval Reenactor's Perspective, June 1, 2003

By 

Michael A. Zachary (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings: How to Build and Use 18 Traditional Navigational Instruments (Paperback)

As a medieval reenactor with a nautical persona, I bought this book to get some information on navigational instruments used in the Middle Ages. This book is a gold mine of information on making and using traditional navigational instruments. Although some of the instruments do not fit into my time of interest (Western Europe 1066-1603), most do, and the instructions on making and using them are good. The historical information is spotty,and some information does not agree with other sources that I consider reliable, but this is not intended as a history book, and the information it DOES provide on construction and use fills in a lot of gaps in other sources. This is a must-have book if you want to know how to make and use medieval navigational instruments.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do-able projects and sound history, June 21, 2000

By 

G. Quinn (Atlantic City, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Latitude Hooks and Azimuth Rings: How to Build and Use 18 Traditional Navigational Instruments (Paperback)

This well-illustrated volume contains 18 projects for those interested in nevigation and astronomy. They are not excessively difficult, and the instructions are clear. The author demonstrates how very simple devices can be used in navigation; if nothing else, the "ancient astronaut" crowd should read this to learn how our "primative" ancestors could tell their latitude with just a stick and a string!