Which limitation influenced navigator reliance on dead reckoning despite optimal sextant observations at sea?

💡 Explanation

When voyages lengthened, chronometer errors accumulated as mechanical drift caused inaccuracies, undermining the precision of longitudinal calculations derived from sextant observations because accurate timekeeping is fundamental. Therefore chronometer inaccuracies increased dead reckoning reliance, rather than refraction, compass deviation, or chart limitations which present different navigation problems.

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