TOPIC: Beginners' Marine Navigation - where to start?

'Round my neck of the woods I am never out of sight of both sides of a lake.

But if I wanted to get into self taught beginners' navigation, what would I be looking at for entry level equipment? Just enough so I could pretend that I have to navigate out at back so that if I ever moved into something more advanced I at least have a foundation to work from.

Coast Gurad Auxiliary or Power Squadron classes. Also can advise you on equipment

You're smart to ask. Piloting and Seamanship by Chapman. That's probably required reading for the Coast Guard or Power Squadron classes. It' good to have a copy regardless. Good luck.

I second the Chapmans recommendation. Also, the power squadron course- I think it should be mandatory for all boaters. If you want to get a little more indepth, pick up a copy of "American Practical Navigator" too.

And I will also second the above. Classes and Chapman's. You need to learn basic coastal navigation and dead reckoning. You will need charts (real navigation charts not road maps) a pair of dividers, and a navigation plotter www.amazon.com/Pocket-Navigation-Plotter-Lifetime-Guaranteed/dp/B003TYFPPE , some # 2 pencils, a watch ( any old digital watch is good enough) and a compass. If you buy a hand held compass for taking bearings that would be good but it's not a requirement. www.coastalboating.net/Cruising/Seamanship/Compass/HandBearingCompass.html

Learn to navigate first before you go out and buy a marine GPS unit or chart plotter or any other sophisticated equipment. People navigated around the world for centuries with bad charts, a clock, and a magnetic compass. So you don't need fancy equipment. If you want it later, ok, but it should be an option not a necessity, and definitely not something that you rely on to be your only means of getting from A to B. Batteries die, engines fail and the fog rolls in, and you still have to get home.