Are We Letting GPS Do Too Much Thinking?

How to Use Modern Navigation Technology Without Losing the Skills That Keep You Safe

American Sailing

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by American Sailing

Are You Relying Too Much on GPS?
When Technology Becomes a Distraction
What Does an Integrated Navigator Do Differently?
Become the Navigator, Not the Passenger
Join The Discussion

Are You Relying Too Much on GPS?

Modern navigation technology has changed the way we sail. GPS, chartplotters, tablets, and navigation apps can tell us where we are with incredible precision. But has having all that information made us better navigators, or simply better at watching screens?

In American Sailing’s Integrated Navigation online course, Captain Rick Robey explores how sailors can take advantage of modern navigation technology, all without losing the traditional seamanship skills and situational awareness that keep us safe on the water.

a sailboat underway — Situational awareness isn’t just about knowing where you are — it’s about knowing what’s around you. That large vessel on the horizon doesn’t care what your chartplotter says.

When Technology Becomes a Distraction

Captain Rick Robey has been sailing since 1980 and brings a unique perspective from his 30-year career as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. His approach to navigation centers on a simple philosophy: technology should confirm your understanding of the world around you, not create it for you.

During the course, Rick demonstrates how even sophisticated electronic navigation tools can provide misleading information. Next, he examines real-world maritime incidents where technology, distraction, and situational awareness collided, including the grounding of the Ever Forward in Chesapeake Bay.

The takeaway isn’t to abandon your electronics. Far from it.

It’s learning how to use them better.

A GPS navigation system — Modern chartplotters pack extraordinary capability into a single screen — but an integrated navigator uses them to confirm what they already understand, not to replace the thinking altogether.

What Does an Integrated Navigator Do Differently?

Rick takes sailors from the earliest methods of wayfinding through today’s GPS-driven world, exploring what we may have gained and what we may have lost along the way.

He introduces practical techniques for staying mentally engaged while underway, cross-checking what your electronics are telling you, maintaining navigation redundancy, and recognizing when something simply doesn’t look right.

He also shares a simple rule for maintaining situational awareness aboard your boat. We won’t give that one away here.

Before GPS, navigators relied on handheld tools to plot their position. Understanding these fundamentals is still the foundation of good seamanship.

Become the Navigator, Not the Passenger

Whether you’re coastal cruising, preparing for longer passages, or simply want to feel more confident navigating your local waters, Integrated Navigation will change the way you think about the tools at your helm.

The goal isn’t to sail without technology. It’s to make sure that when the technology is doing its job, you’re still doing yours.

Integrated Navigation with Captain Rick Robey is now available to watch on demand through American Sailing.

WATCH THE REPLAY HERE

Join The Discussion

Sailing Skills and Seamanship

Do You Think It’s Possible to Rely on GPS Too Much?

Posted by American Sailing on September 8, 2026 at 3:55 pm

Maybe you know of someone who over-relied on GPS and ended up in a bad situation. Or maybe that someone was you! What are your thoughts on modern sailors’ reliance on GPS?

https://americansailing.com/articles/are-we-letting-gps-do-too-much-thinking/

americansailing.com
Are We Letting GPS Do Too Much Thinking?
GPS won't save you if you've stopped thinking critically. Learn how to use modern navigation technology without losing the seamanship skills that keep you safe.

Joel replied 2 weeks, 6 days ago 5 Members · 4 Replies
4 Replies

Andrew

Sailor
September 8, 2026 at 5:42 pm

27

Bronze

If i do this seminar do i get the 105?
Cindi

American Sailing Instructor
September 10, 2026 at 8:40 am

28

Bronze

As a PNT (GPS) professional who is also a Master Mariner/Master ASA instructor, my opinion is “yes.” Too much reliance and watching a screen vs using true skills on the water (or hiking on land or general way-finding). Electronic signals should augment, not dominate. Also too is a false sense of security because no matter what constellation provides those signals (GNSS, GPS, GLONASS…), not only are those signals open to spoofing (deliberate corruption), even the Sun burping disrupts the electronic signal-flow. The end result corrupts the receiver data. My advice is yes to study 105, but add in weather and radar, then apply a mixed skillset to navigation which is augmented by electronic signal reception.
Robert

American Sailing Member
September 10, 2026 at 9:21 am

28

Bronze

This issue is not new to aviation. Training has improved greatly, but there are still plenty of pilots who have diminished skills because of this new technology. Pilots at all levels must complete a flight review every two years where, I believe, there must be more emphasis on those skills required without GPS and autopilot technology. Would something like this work in the marine world? Perhaps on a voluntary level?
Joel

American Sailing Member
September 17, 2026 at 6:11 pm

107

Bronze

I wrote an article on this in the early days of Professional Mariner magazine, but the problem goes back a very long way before that. Long before GPS, long before SatNav, long before Transit. The development of black box displays from as far back as when ARPA first came out (we knew it then as NTDS) were the first indication of where human distraction was heading. But it didn’t explode when GPS came out; not even when GPS graduated to DGPS, because we were still plotting on charts. It really exploded when nav plotters came out. People stopped looking out the window and started staring at the pretty lights on computer screens. Dark bridges and pilothouses became insanely bright and night vision essentially went out the window. People even stopped coming up early to let their eyes adjust. Cell phones just made it all go straight to the Nth degree. People walking through busy shopping mall parking lots staring at their phones. The insanity is off the charts now. I’m rather glad I’m retired.