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

by Dennis Fisher (Author) "YOU DON'T HAVE TO OWN or invest in lots of exotic tools to make the projects in this book..." (more)
Key Phrases: latitude hook, pinnule sight, horizon mirror, Elmer's Glue-All, Great Bear, Little Bear (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"... for people who like to work with their hands and appreciate traditional nautical craftsmanship... Each project emphasizes simplicity and reasonable cost and is true to the spirit and fucntion of the original instrument." -- Nautical Collector

"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

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 )

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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: 11.3 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,512 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Marine
  #46 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing > Navigation
  #64 in	Books > Nonfiction > Transportation > Ships > Boat Building

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 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)

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.

8 of 8 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

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.

13 of 15 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 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!