compass question

Just by way of example, last summer up here was pretty regularly foggy.  We would go salmon fishing out of trinidad and head out past the whistle buoy to the grounds at 180-225 ft depth, 5 miles or so from the launch.  When it was foggy, which was usually, I put a compass on my deck and pointed it to where I knew the fleet was, adjusted for the current.  In trinidad, knowing your depth is useful for navigation - so much so that location reports are given as latitude : depth (3.5 line at 195 feet is the normal way to call out a location here).  Then you can always find your way back by heading back toward the launch using your compass and listening for the whistle buoy to correct your course when you are back near the shore.

That's a good recent example of how I use a compass.

Just by way of example, last summer up here was pretty regularly foggy.  We would go salmon fishing out of trinidad and head out past the whistle buoy to the grounds at 180-225 ft depth, 5 miles or so from the launch.  When it was foggy, which was usually, I put a compass on my deck and pointed it to where I knew the fleet was, adjusted for the current.  In trinidad, knowing your depth is useful for navigation - so much so that location reports are given as latitude : depth (3.5 line at 195 feet is the normal way to call out a location here).  Then you can always find your way back by heading back toward the launch using your compass and listening for the whistle buoy to correct your course when you are back near the shore.

That's a good recent example of how I use a compass.

thanks crash thats what im looking for, trying to learn dif methods of use.

I use mine to draw circles. Perfect circles.

Offshore in thick fog? Flat ocean? Confusing swell direction? A well tested and trusted instrument to determine the four basic directions is invaluable.

I don't use fish finders, so I have a hand held gps. If that goes bad, the compass is my only way home.

Take a bearing on your way out so you can follow the opposing bearing on the way back. Far from precise, but way better than nothing

You at least know east=shore. All iphones have a compass I believe.

Bingo!  If I am lost or in trouble, all I really want is to get to any shore. Any shore is better than sitting in the ocean.

I was about to post this but Jack beat me to it - pretty much what he said:
For starters, note the position of your launch and as you paddle out, check your compass periodically and make mental notes of your direction. Keep in mind that current may well change direction by the time you head back in.

Take a bearing on your way out so you can follow the opposing bearing on the way back. Far from precise, but way better than nothing

This is key:

As the discussion above indicates, simply assuming without confirming that the shoreline is east of your offshore location in California is a recipe for failure. 

Take a bearing on your way out so you can follow the opposing bearing on the way back. Far from precise, but way better than nothing

nav started at a known point  i,e the launch. we need to beware if your batterie dies the fog rolls in   it may be to late.

A compass is a handy tool, but you need to be able to judge time/distance for best results.
It's comforting to have one as backup if you are out in dense fog and not being able to hear the shore break, or see the sun.
Paddling to a compass heading can shorten the time it takes to go from point a to point b.
Paddling or peddling using a gps boat marker makes you look like a drunken sailor due to the time lag.

A deck mounted compass is also a great tool to improve paddling technique.  It wasn't til I had one that I realized how much I was zigging and zagging with each stroke.

sorry forgot my question.
how are you using them ?

When Mooch was working at Aquan back in 2009 (now CCK) he talked me into buying a Suunto M3 compass. Its real easy to use. 
1. Point the Direction-of-travel arrows (2 arrows left and right of magnifying glass) to your launch point.
2. Rotate the bezel so that the compass RED needle (always point to magnetic north) stays in the middle of the Orienting arrow.
3. When heading back in put the compass in a flat area in your kayak.  Make sure the Point the Direction-of-travel arrows is pointing towards your bow.
4. As you travel keep the Red needle inside the Orienting arrow.  The compass is pointing you to your launch point.

The downside is this compass is not waterproof so I have to keep it inside a waterproof bag.  I still rely on Chartplotter but this is a great back up.

What's not waterproof about that compass?  It looks almost like the one I've had Gooped to my deck for a couple of years. The needle in mine is in some kind of fluid, and the rest is plastic.   Good tips on how to use it though - I'll have to give them a try - before it gets foggy.

There are many types of compasses. Make sure you know how to use the compass you own. I have a Ritchie direct reading compass, used for taking directional reading while sailing. When seen from above, it looks just like any other compass. All the directions are in the correct orientation with respect to one another.



But it is not meant to be read from above like the one FishingAddict posted. It is meant to be read by sighting it on an object. So that if read from above, the directions are all backwards! This is a photo of me sighting a sunset. Note the sun is setting southwest of me, but the "SW" mark is facing me, and not the sun.

There are many types of compasses. Make sure you know how to use the compass you own.

Good point.