New compass on the way

   Placed an order with Hook1 thismorning for my Ritchi compass (Deck mount) Hopefully have it by Wednesday.

I needs to get me one of dem too, badly.  Actually, make that two.  Will definitely get on that before the RCG season opens.

Let me know how you like it Troy.  Is it the compass that costs approximately $35 that can hook up to a battery?

Michael

I am not a huge fan of a lot of boat compasses.  If it strps down how do you shoot your azimuth with it? Trianglate with it, resection, intersection.  I still love my old Army style folding one, complete with reflective mirror (doubles for signaling some one).  When all else fails I can use for a lot of things that something strapped down lacks.  Kayack compass just doesn't break it down far enough, they seem to be a guide and not the best fo tools when if you it, still is uppose better than nothing.

I've never been instructed in navigation or orienteering, but this is simple and works for me.
I didn't use my installed compass much until I started paddling farther out on "Big Blue". Since I was using a FF/GPS I thought that I was dialed in. Then I noticed something screwy, when you try to find your waypoints the delay in the gps signal will have you overcorrecting, making you zig-zag like a drunken sailor, although its fun to watch! So now I line up on my waypoint with my gps and take a compass heading and follow that until I'm close.
If the weather is clear I shoot a line using my yak, I sight through the tip of the bow to a reference point checking the deck compass in between. Then I just paddle to that point of reference while staying on my compass heading. I don't have to stop paddling and its hands free.

    All I care really care about is, when the battery for my FF/GPS dies, (Which it's done to me before) I'll have something other than my dead GPS to point the way to land (Out on the ocean)  99% of the time I'll be using my FF for navigation, up to that tiny 1% when the battery goes south. 

for those really long paddles. I like the deck compass which allows you to just go 'heads down' and paddle for 10 mins and stay on course.

My paddling improved when I installed mine...  Because it made me aware just how much swinging back and forth I was doing as I paddled.

Michael,
  yes it's Advertised at $35, but Hook1 has 10% discount code to use total to my door was $42.13 Compass was $32.95 of that rest taxes & shipping?  Some time after I have it installed I'll wire it so that my FF battery can power it's illumination.
 
 Fishshim I think what you described is called "Dead Reckoning"  I used to know all the navigation terms when I was in the navy, part of our jobs then was to plot recommended course changes for the "Officer of the deck" (OOD) if we detected anything that was approaching the ship on our radar's.  Plotting course & speeds of other ships in our vicinity etc...

Okay far enough, but is there any reason one of the flat plastic ones with some velcro wouldn't get the job done?  Seems like 40 bucks would get me a compass I could use everywhere. 

  For me it would be just one more thing to worry about storing, loosing.  Sure it'll probably have a lanyard for around the neck,  but I'll have enough on with my PFD, (all the stuff that I carry on it) hat, splash jacket.  I don't want to be bothered with having to carry one more item.  I know that when installed, that compass will allways be there, I don't have to pack it, won't have to leash it to me,  and once I get it wired to plug into my FF battery, when it gets dark, I won't have to rely on a head lamp to read it.  I know handheld compasses have their place, (I do in fact have an old metal lenstatic at home in it's olive drab canvase case, and an newer plastic one in my truck.) but while I'm the water, I'll use whats on my yak.

here is the one I installed on the rod pod. It's nice to know its there at all times. Its a ritchie 'kayak compass' I just gooped it to the lid.

....at least have an old-fashioned backup....

This is considered a basic principle of navigation. (not to mention knowing how to use it).

Well the nice thing about a handheld is the ability to do the other things.  While I do have a gps, I still drag a compass with me.  If you have a decent map it is easy to figure out where your at to within a meter, yeah you read that right 1 meter.   Only higher end GPS can give you that level of accuracy every time.  Give me an Artillery compass and I can get more accurate than that ( the major difference is an Artillery compass is measure in mills 6400 in a circle vs degrees which has 360, a much finer degree of accuracy). An artillery compass cost major $$3-400 dollars when I last checked, all are Swiss made (well the better ones are).  But a ten dollar compass will still get you home.

  My compass was waiting for me when I got home today!  Now I need to get a 2" hole saw and look out hull!