AnchorSentinel Version #version# Help
AnchorSentinel is © Copyright 2014, P. Lutus.
AnchorSentinel is free, open-source and is
licensed under the GPL. And there are no ads.
Visit the AnchorSentinel Home Page for updates,
source code and more information.
Introduction
AnchorSentinel is a nautical program with three primary purposes: It provides an accurate position, speed and bearing (true and magnetic) while underway, it stands sentinel against anchor drag while at anchor, and it provides an arrival alarm for a specified travel distance. AnchorSentinel relies on the fact that most Android devices have a built-in GPS receiver able to determine its position within a few meters, adequate accuracy for AnchorSentinel's purpose.For boaters who haven't been in dangerous situations, or who don't anchor very much, I should say that an anchor watch is a very good idea, and an Android device is an ideal platform for this task because it requires very little power, it operates independently of the boat's primary navigation and power systems, and it provides a secondary source of accurate position information in an emergency.
I wrote AnchorSentinel after being in a very dangerous fix in Alaska a few years ago, a story told in detail here. Exhausted after a long, rough crossing, I anchored in a windy bay and dropped anchor, not realizing my anchor chain had gotten tangled during the day's rough conditions and didn't extended to an adequate length when I released it. Then, too tired to exercise good judgment, I fell asleep without setting an anchor watch. By morning I was high and dry on the shore, 18 feet from the nearest water, in bear country.
During my three decades of sailing I've sailed solo around the world, I've been in any number of stupid anchoring situations, but that episode was by far the worst and most dangerous. And I could have avoided it by setting an anchor watch.
That's why I wrote AnchorSentinel. Now my Android device sits on my chart table, gives me an accurate GPS position, speed and bearing while underway, and stands sentinel against anchor drag when I'm anchored. And unlike my primary boat navigation system, my Android device doesn't require a significant amount of power, so I don't have to worry about exhausting my boat's batteries by leaving my device running day and night.
Disclaimer
I've written and tested AnchorSentinel to the best of my abilities, but users of this program should not rely solely on it, or any single source of navigation information, when property or safety are at stake.
AnchorSentinel is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Instructions
The ANCHOR tab controls the anchor sentinel function.
The SETUP tab contains program adjustments and options.
Some Details
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