American Practical Navigator: An Epitome of Navigation (Bowditch) Volume I 2024 Edition Paperback – May 18, 2024

This is the 2024 edition of the American Practical Navigator: An Epitome of Navigation (Bowditch) Volume I 2024 Edition. As in past editions, dated material was dropped and new methods, technologies and techniques added to keep pace with changes in the practice of navigation. The changes are intended to ensure Bowditch remains the premier reference work for modern, practical marine navigation. Volume I Contains: PART 1, FUNDAMENTALS, includes an overview of the topic of marine navigation and the organizations which develop, support and regulate it. These fundamentals include chapters relating to geodesy and chart datums; modern hydrography; the types, structure, use and limitations of nautical charts; electronic chart display and information systems; and finally a concise explanation and summary of the various navigational publications necessary for prudent marine navigation. PART 2, PILOTING, mainly emphasizes the practical aspects of navigating a vessel in restricted waters, using both traditional and electronic methods. The closely related problems of finding the course & distance between one known point and another, and using The Sailings, are also discussed. PART 3, CELESTIAL NAVIGATION, reflects the renewed interest in the age old art and science of navigation by the stars, planets, moon and sun. The update recognizes the trend to over rely on GPS and electronic navigation by offering the tried and true alternative method in the event of electronic failures. PART 4, INERTIAL NAVIGATION, is often referred to as a sophisticated dead reckoning method. This section starts off with a discussion of gyroscopes and accelerometers. PART 5, RF NAVIGATION TECHNIQUES, explains the nature of radio waves and electronic navigation systems. Chapters deal with several electronic methods of navigation--satellite, Loran, and Radar, with special emphasis on satellite navigation systems. PART 6, ALTERNATIVE NAVIGATION TECHNIQUES, addresses the topic of bathymetric navigation. This comes in direct response to several Bowditch survey responses received by NGA. PART 7, NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY, discusses recent developments in management of navigational resources, the changing role of the navigator, distress and safety communications, procedures for emergency navigation, and the increasingly complex web of navigation regulations. PART 8, ICE AND POLAR NAVIGATION, in the Arctic is of renewed interest to the navigator as ice-free conditions allow shorter sailing distances. PART 9, OCEANOGRAPHY, has been updated to reflect the latest science and terminology. PART 10, MARINE METEOROLOGY, incorporates updated weather information and many new graphics. Read more