Navigation lifehack 1: Course rulers to print yourself
They are easy to make, practical to use and can be recreated at any time: self-made course rulers. I drew two course rulers with CorelDraw (there are of course other programmes that can be used to do this) and saved them as PDF files. The compass rose can be printed out on special transparent film. Cut out the printed course rulers exactly and laminate them in a foil pouch using a laminator. Cut out the laminated rulers three to five millimetres apart and pierce a thin hole through the centre with a needle. Insert a thin thread (of your choice, approx. 40 centimetres) through the hole and fasten it with a stopper knot or weld the thread to the film.
A special thermostable transparent film is required for laser printers. Inkjet printers require a special transparent film with a coated rough side.
Gerhard Lackner, Weinheim
Navigation lifehack 2: Mobile holder
Despite navigation apps, it's nice to plan your course on a paper chart and enter your position on the way. On charter boats, the navigation instruments are incomplete or hardly usable. That's why we take our own with us. The basis for our self-made organiser is a crossbar with slots into which the course triangles can be inserted. A clamp is screwed to it, with which the construction can be attached to the edge of the card table, for example. Four pipe clamps are screwed to the crossbar, into which closed pipe sections are inserted at the bottom. These provide space for compasses, pencils and erasers.
Sven Brodowski, Hösbach
Navigation lifehack 3: Tool becomes course ruler
A fragment of a folding ruler with a still-functioning articulated catch can be used in the cockpit as a substitute for an expensive course ruler for navigation "by hand". Courses can be transferred by placing it on the chart rose, positions are determined using the 90-degree position in the joint notch and by placing it at right angles to the edge of the chart. Distances can also be determined at a glance.
Fritz Giger, Oberhofen/Switzerland
Navigation lifehack 4: Favourable cutlery tray
Teak shelves for the navigation instruments are too bulky, heavy and expensive for our liking, which is why compasses and triangles were previously stored loose in the chart compartment on our yacht. By chance, we discovered a perspex rack for make-up utensils in a chemist's shop. This small shelf costs just under four euros and can easily be converted into a stylish cutlery holder. All we had to do was make a small cut-out in the base for the tips of the course triangles.
Markus Theil, Wuppertal
Do you have any advice for other sailors?
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