The
level of skill and navigational equipment required will depend
on the type of boat you have, the areas where you go boating
and how far you go from shore. The further from shore you
go, the more knowledge and equipment you need.
Take a Coastguard Boating Education course to help you learn
about navigation.
Always keep an eye on the weather. It can change very quickly
with a sudden reduction in visibility. Finding that you can
no longer see land is a very frightening experience.
Navigational Aids
 Compass
Necessary if you are going any distance from shore, or in
reduced visibility.
 Depth
Finder
This displays the depth of the water and should be switched
on at all times. Keep an eye on your depth finder so you know
when you are getting close to shallow water.
 Tide
Information
You can find high and low water times in your newspaper, in
other marine tables, boating magazines, on Teletext and in the
New Zealand Nautical Almanac.
 Global
Positioning System - GPS
GPS gives you an accurate position, but to use it you will
need to carry the correct chart and understand how longitude
and latitude are marked. The GPS also displays other useful
information, so make sure you have read the manual to fully
understand it.
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