Radionavigation Requirements for the Small Boater

Francis W. Mooney

Abstract:	The most numerous maritime navigator in coastal waters of the United States is the small boater. The small boat population is difficult to determine because of overlapping state and federal registration requirements; some boats are registered twice. Similarly, the number of boaters with radionavigation capabilities is hard to estimate because installation of equipment is optional. However, if you visit any marina, or ply the coastal waters, you can readily see that there are enough Loran-e antennas and radomes to support an estimated radionavigation user base in the hundreds of thousands (1). These numbers are orders of magnitude greater than those of the commercial shipping industry. Using boats under 60 feet in length for recreational and commercial applications, these mariners have identifiable navigation and positioning requirements. This paper will first examine platforms, including navigation stations and typical boat equipment. Information on operators and vessel use will then be addressed. Navigation requirements will then be discussed, in predictable, repeatable and relative categories. Characteristics of the two radionavigation systems identified as serving these mariner's needs will then be presented and compared with the boaters requirements. The paper concludes with examination of the minimum performance standards (MPS) for equipments which use the Loran-e and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
Published in:	Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1989) June 27 - 29, 1989 Alexandria, VA
Pages:	21 - 24
Cite this article:	Mooney, Francis W., "Radionavigation Requirements for the Small Boater," Proceedings of the 45th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1989), Alexandria, VA, June 1989, pp. 21-24.
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