The American Practical Navigator

Nathanial Bowditch first published this encyclopedic work in 1802. During the last two centuries over 75 editions, almost 1,000,000 copies, of Bowditch have been published by the US Government. It has lived because it has combined the best technologies of each generation of navigator. This Edition includes the latest advances in electronic navigation and digital charting technology. It also covers nonelectronic navigation such as celestial, plotting and dead reckoning. Bowditch contains numerous tables which have been valued for years by practicing navigators. Bowditch is carried on the bridge of every U.S. Navy ship and should be the mainstay of any serious navigator's library. Paradise Cay and Celestaire's commercial edition of Bowditch is a complete copy of the latest Government edition.

Nathaniel Bowditch

iii

Preface

vii

PART 1 --- FUNDAMENTALS

Introduction to Marine Navigation

1

(14)

Geodesy and Datums in Navigation

15

(8)

Nautical Charts

23

(28)

Nautical Publications

51

(12)

PART 2 --- PILOTING

Short Range Aids to Navigation

63

(18)

Compasses

81

(18)

Dead Reckoning

99

(6)

Piloting

105

(24)

Tides and Tidal Currents

129

(22)

PART 3 --- ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION

Radio Waves

151

(12)

Satellite Navigation

163

(10)

Loran Navigation

173

(14)

Radar Navigation

187

(12)

Electronic Charts

199

(18)

PART 4 --- CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

Navigational Astronomy

217

(44)

Instruments for Celestial Navigation

261

(10)

Azimuths and Amplitudes

271

(4)

Time

275

(12)

The Almanacs

287

(8)

Sight Reduction

295

(22)

PART 5 --- NAVIGATIONAL MATHEMATICS

Navigational Mathematics

317

(12)

Calculations and Conversions

329

(12)

Navigational Errors

341

(4)

The Sailings

345

(18)

PART 6 --- NAVIGATIONAL SAFETY

Navigation Processes

363

(10)

Emergency Navigation

373

(10)

Navigation Regulations

383

(10)

Maritime Safety Systems

393

(16)

Hydrography

409

(16)

PART 7 --- OCEANOGRAPHY

The Oceans

425

(8)

Ocean Currents

433

(8)

Waves, Breakers and Surf

441

(12)

Ice Navigation

453

(28)

PART 8 --- MARINE METEOROLOGY

Weather Elements

481

(22)

Tropical Cyclones

503

(16)

Weather Observations

519

(26)

Weather Routing

545

(318)

NAVIGATION TABLES

Explanation of Navigation Tables

557

(8)

MATHEMATICAL TABLES

Table 1. Logarithms of Numbers

565

(10)

Table 2. Natural Trigonometric Functions

575

(23)

Table 3. Common Logarithms of Trigonometric Functions

598

(23)

Table 4. Traverse Tables

621

(45)

CARTOGRAPHIC TABLES

Table 5. Natural and Numerical Chart Scales

666

(1)

Table 6. Meridional Parts

667

(5)

Table 7. Length of a Degree of Lattitude and Longitude

672

(1)

PILOTING TABLES

Table 8. Conversion Table for Meters, Feet, and Fathoms

673

(1)

Table 9. Conversion Table for Nautical and Statute Miles

674

(1)

Table 10. Speed Table for Measured Mile

675

(1)

Table 11. Speed, Time, and Distance

676

(3)

Table 12. Distance of the Horizon

679

(1)

Table 13. Geographic Range

680

(2)

Table 14. Dip of the Sea Short of the Horizon

682

(1)

Table 15. Distance by Vertical Angle Measured Between Sea Horizon and Top of Object Beyond Sea Horizon

683

(2)

Table 16. Distance by Vertical Angle Measured Between Waterline at Object and Top of Object

685

(2)

Table 17. Distance by Vertical Angle Measured Between Waterline at Object and Sea Horizon Beyond Object

687

(1)

Table 18. Distance of an Object by Two Bearings

688

(3)

CELESTIAL NAVIGATION TABLES

Table 19. Table of Offsets

691

(1)

Table 20. Meridian Angle and Altitude of a Body on the Prime Vertical Circle

692

(2)

Table 21. Latitude and Longitude Factors

694

(4)

Table 22. Amplitudes

698

(2)

Table 23. Correction of Amplitude as Observed on the Visible Horizon

700

(1)

Table 24. Altitude Factors

701

(5)

Table 25. Change of Altitude in Given Time from Meridian Transit

706

(2)

Table 26. Time Zones, Zone Descriptions, and Suffixes

708

(1)

Table 27. Altitude Correction for Air Temperature

709

(1)

Table 28. Altitude Correction for Atmospheric Pressure

709

(1)

METEOROLOGICAL TABLES

Table 29. Conversion Table for Thermometer Scales

710

(1)

Table 30. Direction and Speed of True Wind in Units of Ship's Speed

711

(1)

Table 31. Correction of Barometer Reading for Height Above Sea Level

712

(1)

Table 32. Correction of Barometer Reading for Gravity

712

(1)

Table 33. Correction of Barometer Reading for Temperature

712

(1)

Table 34. Conversion Table for Millibars, Inches, and Millimeters of Mercury

713

(1)

Table 35. Relative Humidity

714

(1)

Table 36. Dew Point

715

(2)

GLOSSARIES

Glossary of Marine Navigation

717

(138)

Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms

855

(8)

Index

863

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The American Practical Navigator

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