Conference unifix::sailing

Sorry but I forgot to mention that I want to go to NEW Harbor
thanks

    Your Question concerns me somewhat (I'm also concerned that this
    response could be miss read and make me look like some kind of snobish
    fool - so please take it with positive intentions)
    
    I'm not sure what a "Loran Course" is?  
    Are you looking for co-ordinates of various markers etc?
    Are you asking for a recommended passage route? 
    etc...
    
    You should be able to pick any information you require right off
    your charts & also be able to program the loran yourself.
    Also you need to be able to continue your passage even if the Loran
    drops out on you for some reason.
    
    Consider the ramifications if someone gives you poor/inaccurate
    information - perhaps you run aground - is it your fault for accepting
    this info or is someone else liable for having given it to you?
    
    I humbly suggest that one of two conditions may exist:
    
    1) Either you are un-sure of how to plot your own passage, pick
    off co-ordinates etc.. In which case it would benifit you to either
    take a course or seek out someone to assist you in this effort.
    
    or
    2) You are indeed very capable and may have asked you question wrong.
    In this case I would re-structure what it is you desire for info
    and re-ask the question.
    ex: Has anyone ever run this course before?, Any local knowledge
    I should be aware of?, etc...
    
    I guess there is a third possibility -- "I" have miss read your
    request completly -- In which case I ask that you accept my appology
    in advance.

    			Take care, Fair winds, etc..,
                                                      Lou "Phanta Sea"

re:                -< "Did you ask the right Question?" >-

Wow- I guess I really did ask the wrong question as what I really 
was looking for is any suggested route as the way I have plotted 
seems straight forward but without local knowledge there are 
always unknowns.
I really am looking for 1. Suggested waypoints
			2. Local knowledge
			3. Any other helpful comments

I asked for a Loran course meaning Route suggestions and TD'S.
I already have the Trip plotted but wanted to compare. Oh well
I will be leaving tomorrow weather permitting.
norm

    
    not a "wrong question".
    
    it's a common assumption that you can look at your charts and
    enter the lat/lon of the marks you want to sail to, or even the
    td's if you have a chart with td's marked on it.
    
    the accuracy of the first method depends on the accuracy of
    your lat/lon converter, which varies among lorans.  the accuracy
    of the second method depends on the accuracy of the correction
    factors used (and their existence in your loran).
    
    if anyone thinks these errors are insignificant, then i invite
    you to go to a loran dealer having several lorans hooked up with
    their correct antennaes and simultaneously viewable; the TD's
    should all agree to within 1/10 microsecond, but the lat/lon's
    probably won't unless the lat/lon software has improved in the
    last 18 months or so.
    
    now if you set your loran to the charted position of 1BI off of
    Block Island (i.e. you enter its lat/lon into your loran), you
    might want to be extra sure of the the accuracy of your lat/lon
    conversion so you don't sail yourself onto the BI north reef;
    something a fellow from the coast guard once told me happens
    once every day!
    
    not a bad question, really, especially considering the likelihood
    of fog around block island.
    
       - Jim
    

    I will assume you are asking about coordinates which are dependable,
    and not how to use a one arm protractor...
    
    I have used 1BI north of Block for years as a Loran waypoint. It
    is accurately plotted on the chart (at least my Raynav 550 agrees
    with its plotted location).   There is good water for about .3nm
    all round the marker, but south of that it gets shallow toward
    the island.
    
    There is a bell outside the New Harbor entrance which makes a good
    waypoint since you can usually see from there into the harbor,
    even in a pretty good fog.
    
    Use Brenton Reef off Newport or something similar as a reference
    going into Newport in fog since it lines you up nicely with
    the East Passage.
    
    Avoid heading out in fog in this area, since there is a LOT of barge
    and ferry traffic. Someone almost always gets hit in a big fog.
    
    Walt