do people still use a compass?
- Thread starter troutman
- Start date
I'll agree that jumping from a Catalina 30 to a Pearson 530 has been quite an education. I still have an independent GPS at the nav. station but the ICW has many twists and turns. I wish I could have hade a recording of the VHF radio as five sailboats went aground behind us blocking the channel for a while. We just read the charts and followed the advice of the "On the Water Chartguides". It's a different life than open ocean. I watched a 50+ motoryacht pass me, open the twin engines, and then run aground in 30 kt winds. He was able to back out and get going again, but I wonder how his props were holding up.
I've been told you can learn your boat in about five years, but I'm a slow learner and don't let that get in the way of having fun.
That's why I post so many questions.
All U Get
I've been told you can learn your boat in about five years, but I'm a slow learner and don't let that get in the way of having fun.
That's why I post so many questions.All U Get
That pilot guy that "dissed" having a compass and bragged about all the GPS navigation in his airplane....... Ask him if it's legal for him to take off without a compass.
Cant believe I am still up All U Get.
Now we are making some progress. The post was should I have a compass. Well that is pretty far reaching.. Cruising? Umm you better... practical navigation.. NO WAY. If you have a boat that means you have some extra bucks.. so yep you have GPS and maybe Radar. If you know your waters which scarily some here apparently dont unless they have a compass, you are in good shape.
Dont let them fool you about the "oh I always am looking or crosschecking my compass" I haveam just really not sure but I have heard that before about the "man who drops the winch handle overboard and makes it a major event." here. Its just blowing it up as a story. I may be the next Captain to ground my boat but it wont be because I was looking at the compass...
So old school.
Keep posting the questions for sure. We WILL ALL CHIME IN.
just remember in the end... go with what tickles your ears and where you feel the wind.
That is all that matters.
As for the ICW... a compass... are you kidding me? Charts and a good GPS and some local knowledge... Priceless
Now we are making some progress. The post was should I have a compass. Well that is pretty far reaching.. Cruising? Umm you better... practical navigation.. NO WAY. If you have a boat that means you have some extra bucks.. so yep you have GPS and maybe Radar. If you know your waters which scarily some here apparently dont unless they have a compass, you are in good shape.
Dont let them fool you about the "oh I always am looking or crosschecking my compass" I haveam just really not sure but I have heard that before about the "man who drops the winch handle overboard and makes it a major event." here. Its just blowing it up as a story. I may be the next Captain to ground my boat but it wont be because I was looking at the compass...
So old school.
Keep posting the questions for sure. We WILL ALL CHIME IN.
just remember in the end... go with what tickles your ears and where you feel the wind.
That is all that matters.
As for the ICW... a compass... are you kidding me? Charts and a good GPS and some local knowledge... Priceless
Nope its not Tree
There ya satisfied...
Do I and have I ever used it ...
NOPE
And I didnt brag.. it is required..
Fair Seas and actually take a look at the post if you have time
And it aint my airplane
I'm one of those techy guys. I love gadgets. Especially chart plotters, GPSs, and all the other electronics. I'm a push button kinda guy. Big pause. However, I have charts, sextant, trig log book, etc. oh and a compass on each wheel. I have two. I'm not a belt and braces fellow but I do enjoy taking a fix the hard way and seeing how far I'm off by my GPS. It's fun and keeps me occupied on long hauls. Digital is great but I still wear an analog watch. One of the things I've noticed about my modern nav equipment. I'll take more chances in areas and weather I normally wouldn't have tried without it.
There could be your sign.
a BULKHEAD mounted compass is very helpful to maintain course. especially if no landmarks are in sight.
on a binnacle, its less useful, but I wouldn't want to go far without one. as a backup.
on a binnacle, its less useful, but I wouldn't want to go far without one. as a backup.
I am in this camp, can also help with a tack and for a backup.
Active Capitan just wrote a article about this issue and the conclusion was that paper charts may be a hazard as most sailors do not keep them updated. They also made a case that most sailors who do any serious cruising normally have other backups such as cell phones with gps computers and so on. I normally have2 to 4 iPhones aboard, plus a gps in my radio plus a bluetooth puck gps. It still comes down to what you feel comfortable with.
Link to article titled "The Second Most Dangerous Thing Aboard"
https://activecaptain.com/newsletters/2013-10-23.php
I have a compass and a hand held GPS. I sit in the cockpit with the tiller in my hand and keep an eye on the compass to make sure I have not drifted off course. About every 30 minutes I check the GPS to make sure I'm still on course and to check my progress.
Why would a binnacle mount be less useful?
Is it because you have more difficulty "drawing a bead" through the binnacle to a distant object, than you might with a bulkhead?
With no landmarks in sight, I don't understand your contention.
My nephew asked for a gps for Christmas. I bought him a compass, Cliff Jacobson's Map and Compass and a USGS quadrangle of their neighborhood and a local wildlife refuge.
He was not amused, but happily my brother explained to him that GPS is based on the same principles, which he must learn to use first.
And I am also happy to report that although BSA has adopted geocaching as a merit badge, Boy Scouts still have to learn to navigate the old fashioned way.
He was not amused, but happily my brother explained to him that GPS is based on the same principles, which he must learn to use first.
And I am also happy to report that although BSA has adopted geocaching as a merit badge, Boy Scouts still have to learn to navigate the old fashioned way.
Two points to ponder
Point 1:
It's interesting how when a sailor thinks he has all the answers the sea has a way of reminding him otherwise.
Point 2:
Electricity and salt water are a bad mix. It's only a matter of time.
Point 1:
It's interesting how when a sailor thinks he has all the answers the sea has a way of reminding him otherwise.
Point 2:
Electricity and salt water are a bad mix. It's only a matter of time.
If I were offshore, and the electrical went out or the chartplotter failed or the GPS system went haywire, I'd immediately focus on my compass. If it weren't there, I'd poop.
Also, like another said, when I'm not offshore I watch my compass even though I'm steering and navigating with the GPS. If the GPS quits for any reason, I still know what my heading should be while I arrange alternate navigation tasks.
It can be somewhat compared to the emergency brake on your car. Would you drive a car with no e-brake? My Volvo's right front brake line blew a couple weeks ago, just days after getting its safety sticker. The left front was deteriorated and ready to burst too. There was no collision, because the situation was good enough to make use of the e-brake.
Nobody would ever expect that a Volvo's brake lines would fail, and just after a safety inspection. A compass on a boat falls into the ebrake \ firearm \ flare category with the old cliché: It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Also, like another said, when I'm not offshore I watch my compass even though I'm steering and navigating with the GPS. If the GPS quits for any reason, I still know what my heading should be while I arrange alternate navigation tasks.
It can be somewhat compared to the emergency brake on your car. Would you drive a car with no e-brake? My Volvo's right front brake line blew a couple weeks ago, just days after getting its safety sticker. The left front was deteriorated and ready to burst too. There was no collision, because the situation was good enough to make use of the e-brake.
Nobody would ever expect that a Volvo's brake lines would fail, and just after a safety inspection. A compass on a boat falls into the ebrake \ firearm \ flare category with the old cliché: It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
I always thought a magnetic compass fit in rather well with the whole sailing concept...using nature. Add to that a sextant and a chronometer (still need a bit of technology).
Even the most modern jetliners still have a magnetic compass, Ocean crossing jets also carry a sextant, at least they used to.
Even the most modern jetliners still have a magnetic compass, Ocean crossing jets also carry a sextant, at least they used to.
No more sextants in aircraft. But still a compass. I balance technology with training and skill. And having aided a vessel in distress (that kept trying to read the GPS position when the rescue boat was asking for a landmark in order to setup their approach) I was able to relay "they are 160 off Beavertail". Even on home waters, I use the compass as a reference especially on higher wind days. It is nice to cross check my GPS track to my heading to help solve the real wind triangle.
I teach in both boats (30 years) and planes (18 years) and always instruct my students to use all the resources available (scan your instruments.) I have flown a wet compass approach due to failure of an essential electronics bus. So my point is (and admittedly the long way around,) he that is a prudent mariner will use all the tools to conduct a safe passage, and one of those tools will always be a compass.
I teach in both boats (30 years) and planes (18 years) and always instruct my students to use all the resources available (scan your instruments.) I have flown a wet compass approach due to failure of an essential electronics bus. So my point is (and admittedly the long way around,) he that is a prudent mariner will use all the tools to conduct a safe passage, and one of those tools will always be a compass.
yes, a binnacle compass for wheel steering, is harder to follow IMHO.
you are either looking down, or ahead, but not both at the same time. so I check my heading on the binnacle compass, then try to find something to reference. on the open ocean, its just less precise.
fwiw, during the Ft Lauderdale, Key west race this year we lost all 12v power. So I did need to use the binnacle compass to steer. I ended looking at the heading, then just watched the tell tails. (we had 1 hand held gps chart plotter) and with that we would judge the depth, and when to tack.)
I really missed a bulkhead compass that trip.
-edit: we did have a tacktic on the mast, but I couldn't see it at night. so I needed to shine a light on the compass. I didn't like to do that too much... daytime was a bit better, but the compass was low in respect to the steering position. maybe if the helm that was taller.....
Aside From Navigation & Heading
...for me, a damped marine compass gives me a closer 'rhythm' to my sailing than an electronic heading provided by GPS.
Many (most?) of my crew steer by the electronic read out. I find using the traditional compass provides me a better sense of the boat's motion and allows me to anticipate the motion so as to reduce the steering and rudder drag.
At least I think so, but that might just be 50 years of habit too
...for me, a damped marine compass gives me a closer 'rhythm' to my sailing than an electronic heading provided by GPS.
Many (most?) of my crew steer by the electronic read out. I find using the traditional compass provides me a better sense of the boat's motion and allows me to anticipate the motion so as to reduce the steering and rudder drag.
At least I think so, but that might just be 50 years of habit too
Rick D
You know I always respect your opinions. As to the original post, you know our waters as well or better than I do. Im just saying our original poster might find better use for his funds to buy, fit, and mount a ship's compass than say download a phone app, or a simple survival one that can be purchased at say Cabelllas.
I find myself looking for sealife, visiting with the crew, or anything besides checking for drift or course on my ship's compass. When making a coastal passage (max of say 40 miles off shore) I simply look at the chartplotter or if below, check the laptop readout which displays a map and boat position relative to my destination. The compass is very far down the list of data input when sailing.
Cant imagine trying to make an approach at night to San Diego in the weather, with the kelp, with nothing more than a chart, tide info, and a compass. I would keep searoom and wait for daytime and then take my chances with the oh so common fog.
As for emergencies, if you are cruising on long passages then yep you should exercise due diligence.
Our original poster did not give that information.
Cheers Rick D and see ya soon at Two Harbors I hope!
You know I always respect your opinions. As to the original post, you know our waters as well or better than I do. Im just saying our original poster might find better use for his funds to buy, fit, and mount a ship's compass than say download a phone app, or a simple survival one that can be purchased at say Cabelllas.
I find myself looking for sealife, visiting with the crew, or anything besides checking for drift or course on my ship's compass. When making a coastal passage (max of say 40 miles off shore) I simply look at the chartplotter or if below, check the laptop readout which displays a map and boat position relative to my destination. The compass is very far down the list of data input when sailing.
Cant imagine trying to make an approach at night to San Diego in the weather, with the kelp, with nothing more than a chart, tide info, and a compass. I would keep searoom and wait for daytime and then take my chances with the oh so common fog.
As for emergencies, if you are cruising on long passages then yep you should exercise due diligence.
Our original poster did not give that information.
Cheers Rick D and see ya soon at Two Harbors I hope!
...for me, a damped marine compass gives me a closer 'rhythm' to my sailing than an electronic heading provided by GPS.
Many (most?) of my crew steer by the electronic read out. I find using the traditional compass provides me a better sense of the boat's motion and allows me to anticipate the motion so as to reduce the steering and rudder drag.
At least I think so, but that might just be 50 years of habit too
I'll second that.