For me, the words damage control conjure claustrophobic scenes from the 1981 German U-boat film Das Boot. Begrimed men, stripped to the waist in rising water, struggling to plug gushing pipes that depth charges ruptured, all while the prying ocean tries to entomb them in their fragile biosphere. 

I firmly believe that a good pair of eyes is the most indispensable navigational device currently available, so long as you can see, and there is something to be seen.

E-Cartography is fabulous stuff, but it can be deceptive. Here’s how to avoid the pitfalls.

Electronic plotters, GPS, and AIS are great, but their virtues don’t preclude the actual work of navigation.