Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation,
4th: Master the Traditional Skills and
the Latest Technologies (How to
Paddle Series) by David Burch
Confidence And Knowledge Go Hand In Hand
Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation is the authoritative source for
information needed to chart an accurate course in a sea kayak, whether on
open water or between islands or icebergs. Covers chart reading; compass
use; finding and keeping track of position; predicting tides and currents; trip
planning; navigating at night, in fog, and in boat and ship traffic; and the
latest in compact GPS receivers and PDAs, downloadable navigation
charts, electronic charting systems, and Internet sources for tracking
marine weather forecasts. This guide also provides updates on harbor
security restrictions that were instituted after 9-11.

Personal Review: Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation, 4th:
Master the Traditional Skills and the Latest Technologies (How
to Paddle Series) by David Burch
I was lucky enough to be a student of David Burch. I enrolled in a coastal
navigation course offered by The Starpath School of Navigation back in
1987. Dr. Burch is a Rhodes Scholar, has a PhD in physics, is a world
renowned navigator and author of many books. His credentials are
impressive but his teaching skills are more so. The how and why I learned
to navigate are as follows.
My fondest childhood memories took place on my grandfather's Grand
Banks 42 motor yacht. As a boy we cruised the San Juan Islands, British
Columbia, and Alaskan waters. Boating was in my blood! Sadly
grandfather died along with my boating days. When I graduated from
college, I decided to boat again after a long sabbatical. I knew nothing of
boating other than I loved the water. Enrolling in Starpath was hitting a
bullseye to attain my new goal.
The text used in the course was The Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation.
Don't let the title fool you! The lessons learned in this book can be applied
to paddleing a small kayak or skippering a VLCC - Very Large Crude
Container ship. I learned more in six weeks than any class I attended at
Eastern Washington University. I became an expert: chart reader, knew
the difference between small scale and large scale charts, knew all the
chart symbols, how to triangulate my position, the importance of reading
depths, and what compass variation/deviation was. I learned how to find
distance off land: using luminous and nominal ranges of light houses, use
a hand held kamal, or use the height of an object's square root to find
distance. I learned how to: navigate in pea soup fog, paddle or sail in
strong currants, dead reckon, read buoys, navigate at night, and most
importantly to feel confident.
The Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation is to used with books like: The
United States Coast Pilot, Washburn tables, currant guides and tide tables,
The Coast Guard's Light List - just to name a few. All are packed away in
my navigation bag along with tools like a parallel ruler, spreaders, and
hand held bearing compass. I don't just rely on GPS! Boat yards are full of
damaged hulls, bent shafts, and broken motors, caused by people who
don't spend the time to learn to navigate. Boating is knowledge intensive.
Too many depend on GPS and end up in trouble because they haven't
bothered to learn the basics. One can either learn to navigate or become
familiar with the emergency channel 16 on a VHF radio. There is no
excuse for damaging a boat and putting passengers lives in danger!
After completing the course work, I successfully paddled the San Juan
Islands in Washington State - what a blast! We avoided tide rips, took
advantage of currents, and made it to every port "safely." I loved using my
new knowledge and was confident out in the "big water." Now we have a

25' sailboat that we take out on the west side of Vancouver Island - the
Pacific Ocean! Without David's book, I would have forfeited countless
experiences. The book is readable, to the point, and above all
NECESSARY. I can't recommend this book more. I have a large library of
boating books but The Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation is the one I refer
to most. It's illustrations, thoroughness, and scope are unsurpassed.
Check out Starpath's other books too. They will serve to better anyone's
boating career...
- Ken Fritz author of The United States Radio Directory: A Traveler's
Favorite Companion 2008-2009
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