The New American Practical Navigator: Being an Epitome of Navigation, Containing All the Tables Necessary to Be Used With the Nautical Almanac in Determining the Latitude, and the Longitude by Lunar O

by Nathaniel Bowditch

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

873 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1802

About the author

Nathaniel Bowditch was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book The New American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, is still carried on board every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel. In 2001, an elementary and middle school in Salem was named in his honor.

Father of:
Henry Ingersoll Bowditch
Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch
and grandfather of:
Henry Pickering Bowditch
Charles Pickering Bowditch

Reviews

[Rebecca]

Slightly out of date but the calculation tables are handy.

[Max Fedorenko]

Yo ts GENUINELY got me pondering😭🥀💔

[John Clements]

This is the classic navigator's textbook and reference guide. It is revised every two years, and continues to summarize all of the essential tools a navigator needs. Indeed, the organization of the book is an education in itself; these are the important things. With the latest edition (currently 2019), the book is now available as a free pdf. Printing it all out, though, will doubtless set you back considerably more than just buying a copy. It's readable and meticulous.

[Daniel De Ramos]

Gud

[for-much-deliberation ...]

... a comprehensive manuscript on the art of navigation, also serves as a handbook on oceanography and meteorology related to the field...

the contents include the following, (got this outline from wikipedia):

Part I
Fundamentals, includes an overview of the types and phases of marine navigation and the organizations which support and regulate it. It includes chapters relating to the structure, use and limitations of nautical charts; chart datums and their importance; and other material of a basic nature.

Part II
Piloting, emphasizes the practical aspects of navigating a vessel in restricted waters.

Part III
Electronic Navigation, covers the primary means of positioning of the modern navigator. Chapters deal with each of the several electronic methods of navigation, organized by type.

Part IV
Celestial Navigation, contains techniques, examples and problems and a chapter on sight reduction.

Part V
Navigational Mathematics, includes chapters relating to such topics as basic navigational mathematics and computer use in the solution of navigation problems.

Part VI
Navigational Safety, discusses aspects of the new distress and safety communications systems now in place or being implemented in the next several years, as well as navigation regulations, emergency navigation procedures, and distress communications.

Part VII
Oceanography, contains chapters on practical oceanography of use to the mariner.

Part VII
Marine Meteorology, incorporates weather routing and forecasting methods as well as color plates of the Beaufort Sea States.

[Aries]

The Bible of the Navigators.

No wonder why this book laboured by the mathematician Bowditch become a must in every shelves on every ship. With almost a thousand of pages, of course it is not that handy. But nevertheless, every page is condensed to contain vital information that have practical application on navigation. This book is a recommended to every navigators who wanted just one reference in their study.

[Matthew]

I haven't read this book from cover to cover. Since it is unlikely I will ever be able to spend any length of time on an ocean going ship this book is my chance to live vicariously through those who put a reference work such as this to practical use. Sometimes I will put some music on and read a few pages, then skip ahead or back and read a few more. So much better than a cheesy nautical tattoo.

[William Hood]

There is a ton of useful information in this huge book. I wouldn't use it as a starting point if you are trying to learn celestial navigation, unless you are taking a class. This is a great resource and adjunct to other references and is probably one of the most in depth available. This does not contain any of the tables of ephemera required to do sight reductions.

[Daniel]

Bowditch discovered the line of position.

[Amy]

Actually, this isn't the translation I'm reading, but its close enough :D

[Scott]

1938 edition.

[Royce]

The navigator's Bible.

[Rachel Bayles]

A labour of love.

[Steve Hodges]

The marine reference covering dead reckoning, celestial navigation, and weather clearly, thoroughly and concisely.