favorite compass

My wife seems to think she will kill me if I don't take a compass on the ocean.
Does anyone have a recommendation and what they like about it.
Saw a couple on-line but not sure about conveniance.
Thanks

use the search feature here for the 'orca compass'. I posted some stuff a bit ago.

I got one and it fits in my drink holder hole.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=2533.0

http://www.backcountry.com/store/SUN0048/Suunto-Orca-Kayak-Compass.html

Thanks Mr. Airey,
I should have searched first as this is a common subject.Got a lot of good out of your thread.
I like the idea of removing the compass when river fishing or just floating, easy to read.
I hope it fits in my OK prowler bee..drink holder as it does in yours. The less exposed the better I think.
( glad there are two bee...drink holders on the prowler)

 The high end type  are great if you have the money but, All you need is something to point you back where you came from in the fog. It's not like your doing competitive orienteering in the hills.
 I picked up one from Big five and It has a secret decoder function for $5.0. I would save your money for a good Radio and GPS.
                                                                                                                    Ernie

In a pinch you can always go to Wal-Mart and pick up a compass/whistle/thermometer/magnifying glass for $4. REI had some cool ones for $6, I think. I just tried each different brand and tested which ones the compass worked best when held at different angles.

I wouldn't rely on it but it's a cool little back-up, it fits in a PFD pocket, and the whistle is another nice little safety feature.

if you stare at a compass in bad weather, you can get seasick faster. so that's one reason I went with the
mount in the cup holder version. you can glance at it as you paddle, keep your eyes up on the horizon.

it was pricey tho.

I would skip the compass and get a GPS, most of which have a compass screen.  A compass is only good if you know where you are and in which direction you want to go.  There was a salmon opener back in the 60's, I believe, where a heavy fog came in and most boats had no radar and there were no GPS's.  They knew they had to head south east, so some boats followed others back in thinking they knew where the Golden Gate was.  They were too far north and ran right into the rocks.  There were a few deaths.  If you are thinking of going out on the ocean, I recommend giving a GPS some careful consideration.

And when your batteries die, or you get a short circuit, then you are well and truly hosed...

Unless you bought a compass first

Thanks guys,
I think the safest is to get the GPS and a smaller compass for a no battery scenario.
(The wife has to go with it as this was her idea in the first place)
 Oh boy..new toy!

Now should I start a new thread on favorite GPS?

Bought this little compass at Wally World for $8 in the closeout section, saw at a couple diff stores.

I have a GPS and a compass in case my GPS batteries die, or it shorts out for whatever reason.

There's been times out at Fort Ross when the fog has rolled in so thick that I had no idea which way the shore was. At the very minimum a compass is good to at least know which direction you're heading. If it comes down to it I'm paddling due east - I might not know where I'll end up, but at least I have the comfort of knowing I'm paddling towards shore and not further out to sea.

if you end up with no compass or GPS, you can follow the swells in. note they sometimes come in at an angle.
I have done this @ davenport.

of course, in so cal, where they have no waves,  , you might not be able to do this.

In a pinch you can always go to Wal-Mart and pick up a compass/whistle/thermometer/magnifying glass for $4. REI had some cool ones for $6, I think. I just tried each different brand and tested which ones the compass worked best when held at different angles.

I wouldn't rely on it but it's a cool little back-up, it fits in a PFD pocket, and the whistle is another nice little safety feature.

  This is how I roll too.