Uncomfortable without compass

[rogerbum]

On the Bartenderboats.com website they have a new displacement modle and the pictures of it show a compass mounted on the cabin roof in front of the helm-ie outside. This should get it away from electroniocs and still be easily visable. the only downside I can see is that salt spray on the windshield might obscure it. I have a bulkhead mount compass from my last sailboat that I'm going to mount in a teak box (actually a wedge shaped box) and give it a try. It will be about 3 1/2 - 4' away from my eyes--closer than it was on the sailboat most of the time so it should be easily visable and it won't obscure any of my forward view. I like steering by compass and wouldn't be without a compass and paper charts. My experience with boats is that things go wrong at the worse times and that sooner or latter they will and do go wrong. Being prepared for that eventuality makes life much easier (and safer)!
Michael

That sounds like an interesting location, especially on the boats without wiper motors or those with the wiper motors mounted near the bottom of the front windows. I know that on some of models of C-Dories (I think the 25's and the TomCats) the wiper motors were moved to the top of the windows so they wouldn't interfere with compasses mounted on the dash. On boats with the wiper motors up high, mounting a compass outside under the brim would put it very close to the wiper motors.

 

[Barry Rietz]

A "magnetic compass" should always be the primary navigation device aboard any vessel doing coastal or offshore work! And this is one piece of gear where you should never compromise quality! Pick one with the largest diameter "rose"(aka dial or card) that will fit your vessel's console. Keep it as far from any magnetic influence as possible. Then have the compass "swung" and "compensated" by a professional. They will provide a "compass card" that will allow for any "deviation" that might be induced by on board influences. If you are cruising long distances out of sight of land, and do not have an "auto-pilot", steer by your compass and it will never let you down!

 

[JamesTXSD]

We do have a compass onboard, and I refer to it as a double-check on the chartplotter... and the back-up chartplotter... and the iPad with Navionics app. :wink: Now for the heresy: I don't have the compass permanently mounted - it sits on one of those dashboard "sticky pads." It holds the compass in the worst conditions we've been in. I've done a compass card with electronics on and off to note any correction on a particular compass point. While not orthodox, this gives me a "fixed" compass (with a mark on the dash to line up) and the ability to move the compass if we need that real estate on the flat part of the dash above the v-berth opening. The only downside of this arrangement is that the lighted function of the compass isn't wired. We also carry binoculars with a compass and the Droid compass app (which always matches up to the handheld compass I use).

I understand that electronics can fail, but experience has shown me that the chartplotter gives me more data and a better course than I can make with a compass and paper charts. I still think it's important to know how to navigate AND be aware of what's happening outside the windows (i.e. not driving the boat like playing a video game with the chartplotter). In pilot training, I was taught to "trust but cross-check" the nav gear... same way I drive the boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[richnkay]

I have to go along with the group that feel tradition and aesthetic appeal are important aboard their craft, along with the fact that there is a practical reason for having what some feel is the "old school" stuff aboard. I like going over paper charts to plan and trip and looking at them during a cruise. I use the mounted compass aboard even while my GPS is up and running. I also have a hand bearing compass aboard because it is something I am use to and have been using for many years. Along the same lines, even though our 12V system and lights are in great shape and we have a 2K Honda generator I also have a brass oil lamp mounted in the main cabin that I like to use, something I have taken from boat to boat for the past 30 years. I guess it's like taking pleasure in spending the time to make a nice tight splice in the end of a 3 strand dock line rather than dipping it into a can of fast drying plastic goop. Age and what you are use to has a lot to do with it. At some point our grand kids will look at GPS and hand held computers as old fashioned.
Rich