Where to buy working sextant?

[Stonius]

There are lots of decorative ones around. Does anyone know where you'd get one to play with for actually taking readings and playing with old skool GPS?

Cheers,
Markus

[Outcast]

If you want the real deal, try these guys:

https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/product-category/navigational-equipment/celestial-navigation-instruments/

They are located in Sydney.. you can buy the cheap plastic ones, Yachties use them, they are functional & inexpensive... or you can buy a beautifully crafted one... providing you are prepared to spend some hard earned... :)

Cheers

[The Mekon]

Interesting. The cheapest plastic sextant would perhaps have an error of 1/10th of a degree - up to 6 miles out. Good for other purposes like measuring heights or horizontal angles.
I had two sextants until a few years ago. An old brass Hezzanith - sold for $600. I still have my Tamaya which has a scale reading to 1/5th of a minute, or 30x the accuracy of the plastic job.

[Outcast]

Agree John,

I wouldn't personally use a plastic sextant... I cut my teeth as an RAN Seaman Officer on an Admiralty Pattern Vernier Sextant. Can't recall the accuracy, depended on the Midshipman taking the sights... LOL

With the cheap price of GPS units these days I can't imagine the average Yachtie even bothering with a sextant these days... Navy still teaches it's use but, no where near as comprehensively as they used to. My first sight reduction was from first principles using Log tables.. groan... :eyepop:

Still have my Astro-Navigation notes & my Ocean Navigation Certificate Sight Book...

[Stonius]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I managed to find one with the aid of your excellent suggestions. Cheers!


Markus