Let's talk compasses

[matt_unique]

I'm deciding on the compass for my Tomcat. I'm leaning toward the Ritchie Voyager (bracket mount).

I'm curious what others have installed?

Thanks

[journey on]

I installed a Ritchie Voyager on Journey On. Good compass. Takes up a lot of dash space. Never hooked up the light, since I don't use it much. Just when we're moored/anchored.

However, here's another thought. A compass is not your primary means of navigation. Its only a backup now. Your GPS gives you your course and waypoints, and the autopilot steers the boat (or even if you do the steering,) to where ever you are going. I do feel you need a compass for reference so you might consider getting the smallest GOOD compass to give you a heading backup. Real estate on a small boat dash is a premium, and smaller compasses are cheap(er.) Don't forget the autopilot. Saves a lot of effort.

Boris

[tsturm]

[Jim and Anne]

Matt_unique,

I'd also vote for the Ritchie Voyager (Combo dial) with the bracket mount. It doesn't take up all that much room and it's an important instrument to have on-board. Your life could depend on it, so don't cheap out.

I was on a trip a few years ago from Portland to Cape Cod in the fog on an Albin that lost all electronics. (Contrary to what some people think, electronics can and will fail. And often when conditions are less than ideal.) Having a good compass and charts, and the knowledge to use them, are essential on any boat.

The old boy scout camping motto, "Be Prepared" applies to boating as well.

Jim

[matt_unique]

My mantra is to be as prepared as possible as well. The compass, charts, and hand-held battery powered GPS are my backup Nav system.

My question was really about size and space. I will get no less than the Voyager and I'm considering the Helmsman but I need to balance compass size with available space.

Thanks for the replies.

[CAVU]

Matt,
I have the Voyager bracket mount and have used it for many years. I have been very happy with it. You will find many opinions on the site concerning whether a compass is even necessary but I like mine and use it constantly with my chartplotter. I don't have an autopilot or electronic compass so I like to use my compass to make initial turns when a new course is called for. This will get me very close to on course for the first minute or so while the plotter settles in on heading.

[colobear]

Like many others I worried about dash space for my compass. The solution for me was to mount it not on the dash but on the right hand leading edge of the overhead shelf in the front of the 22' cabin. I know it is not as good as having it directly in front of me but my compass is a backup and when I look up there to verify headings it is actually quite easy to see. It is also quite a distance from most of my magnetic field generators and stays within 3-4 degrees of the chartplotter heading regardless of direction.

[marvin4239]

I couldn't make my mind up where to mount my compass so I mounted it on a piece of 1/4 inch thick hardwood I had with velcro on it so I could try it in different locations under operating conditions. before I drilled mounting holes.

[Dreamer]

Matt,

Here's another angle on compasses. We used a KVH Azimuth 1000. It's a fluxgate compass and self compensating. It has a NMEA0183 output to provide accurate heading information to your Nav system, in my case, E-80. Compass input is necessary to make MARPA and Chart Overlay work properly and quickly. If you are going to have an Auto Pilot, it probably will come with a dedicated course indicator and this wouldn't be as important.


Anyway, great compass! You can mount it midships and have the display pointing at the helm with a simple adjustment.

[Sneaks]

I have the Voyager. Agree with Boris, it takes a bit of room and in my world would only be needed in emergencies. I have a mark (actually two) on my dash where the compass was calibrated with all electronics off. It now resides in a box with some double sided tape along with my other emergency goodies. Already have two GPS's so the only real eventuality is if some idiot pulls the plug at the Pentagon.


Don

[journey on]

A fluxgate compass comes under the heading of electronics. Actually the autopilot has a fluxgate for heading, doesn't depend on GPS. At least Journey On's does.

While I don't believe in the biggest one, get some kind of magnetic compass. As well as a hand-held GPS, if you're worried.

Boris

[Dora~Jean]

I have a reasonably large, backreading compass, mounted front and center, wouldn't leave home without it! I believe it's a Ritchie. I use it to steer with random glances at the GPS for cross-track error, speed, distance remaining.

[IT-SEA-BIT-C]

keep in mind , if you mount it to port,or starb.,of center line(and actually intend to use it for long streaches),that u line-up a point the same distance port or starb.on the bow ,so u dont run degrees off course,linning up with center of bow . sure some sailors , can explain much better than i can .(but i tried)............john

[thataway]

I am a bit confused by It-sea-Bit-C's.. post. One generally steers by a compass by lining up the lubber line with the compass card bearing. I will take the course off the chart after making the appropiate corrections for variation and deviation. I would not suggest lining up some item with the boat, and taking a bearing that way. It is just not accurate enough. I have always wanted the compass to be as close to being in front of the helms person as possiable to avoid paralax error with the lubber line.
The compass needs to be absolutely lined up fore and aft--as part of the compensation. I prefer to use a Sun compass to do the compensation. Once you lean this technique, it is easy to reswing the compass before each passage--and you can be sure that the compass is properly compensated--or the proper deviation is applied as per the Napier diagram or deviation table you have constructed.

I also have the Ritchie Voyager--but it only has an "apparent 3 inch" compass card--in reality the card is 2 to 2.5". You cannot steer a one degree accurate course with these compasses. The compass divisions are 5 degrees and the lubber lines are a couple of degrees. I am used to at least a 4" card (that is what I grew up steering to) or the 5" Danforth Constillation or 5" Ritchie GlobeMaster. At one point I owned a 12" ships compass in a brass binnacle--a real work of art!.

Before GPS, one had to be able to steer a course which was very accurate, because Dead Reconing was one of the most common modes of navigation.

Recently I purchased a ComNav (Silva/Nixus) 35 degree heeling compensation flux gate compass with a 4" LCD display--which reads digital bearings, analogue bearings, and degrees off course on the display. It was only $40 at West Marine (I suspect it had been reduced from the $500 origional tag, since doesn not seem to be NMEA 0183 output.) Now I have to find room for this on the consule. Since this is self compensating, it should be easy to read and steer too.

[IT-SEA-BIT-C]

Bob,thats what i get for stickin my nose somewhere it shouldent hav been. i thought what i was tryin to say was about a line of position(say an line plotted to next course change )and compass not in line with wheel.PLEASE NO ONE TAKE MY ADVICE ON THIS ONE.i had to break out some books to help me understand your post above.i love to mess with charts , comp. watch, dividers, etc.&love to hear about nav. especially from the sailors.i "m still a begginer though, i would like to think otherwise(its like an addiction for me) for me nothing basic about the basics of nav.i better stop right here.....john