My boat does not have a compass but I plan to install a Danforth Saturn A149 that I traded for. I plan to use this to keep a heading. Do people still use a compass for navigation or do they use GPS now? I know from scuba diving that you can use a compass for blind navigation when landmarks can not be seen.
do people still use a compass?
- Thread starter troutman
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If they don't they should. Not only is it a prudent navigation technique, and good seamanship, it would be considered a necessity if the eledtronics were to fail. I use mine all the time, including when he GPS is on, for tacking and cross checking.
Yes, the GPS will tell you what heading you should be
on and the compass will tell you where the boat IS headed at that time. Another thing is that the compass is a navigational tool that is independent of the GPS and could serve also to confirm the GPS and as a backup should the GPS fail. You need one.
on and the compass will tell you where the boat IS headed at that time. Another thing is that the compass is a navigational tool that is independent of the GPS and could serve also to confirm the GPS and as a backup should the GPS fail. You need one.
yes. a compass is still in vogue on boats (and elsewhere).... for every number of reasons that they were invented for to begin with.
some people may not use them as much as they used to because of the gps, but for those who think a compass is out of date and out of style and dont have one aboard or know how to use it, is a fool.....
some people may not use them as much as they used to because of the gps, but for those who think a compass is out of date and out of style and dont have one aboard or know how to use it, is a fool.....
Compass a must at the helm
When there is no land ahead, the only way for the helm to hold a course is with the compass.
Then there are the times we need to orient, as well as backup for the GPS. We lost GPS among the rocks of the North Channel. Dead reckoning with the compass kept us off the rocks, and made it possible to pick our passage when islands on the horizon merged into one land mass.
When there is no land ahead, the only way for the helm to hold a course is with the compass.
Then there are the times we need to orient, as well as backup for the GPS. We lost GPS among the rocks of the North Channel. Dead reckoning with the compass kept us off the rocks, and made it possible to pick our passage when islands on the horizon merged into one land mass.
Yes you should have a compass and know how to use it. When I flew all the aircraft had a standard compass + the advanced avionics.
I navigate via GPS. Inshore and off. But I STEER by the compass, mainly because it's much easier to read at a glance.
Wouldn't sail without one..
Also, very hard to get a relative bearing to something from a GPS- As in what's the bearing to that point of land. And is it changing ?
I have a swung, mounted compass, and TWO hand helds aboard
Wouldn't sail without one..
Also, very hard to get a relative bearing to something from a GPS- As in what's the bearing to that point of land. And is it changing ?
I have a swung, mounted compass, and TWO hand helds aboard
Official dis of the compass.
In my airplane I have two GPS and two IRS ses ( Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation)... I have a standby compass and that is what it is.. an emergency data base to monitor... but I havent yet in 32 years of flying and sailing.
Seriously!
Yeah it is on the binnacle. I KNOW how to use it... do I?
Never. And if you people who use your compass havent done a "swing" to calibrate your deviation and variation then you will be the next grounding!
Come on seriously, you people sail by a compass? How about buying a boat that was built after the turn of the century... 1800
I am floored. Think there is some serious BS in these responses.
Sail to where... your jetty, favorite anchorage, compass.... I know Joshua would probably roll over but did you all know that there have been multiple circumnavs without paper charts? Set and drift is a thing of the past. IMHO.
Sheesh... know how to read it yeah but enter the jetty in the fog on your compass... looking at your chart and your ELECTRIC depth finder....
I have three GPS's and a compass... which one loses.
Troutman if you find a free compass on Criag'slist grab it... otherwise put the money towards a half kite! This is just bizaar.
If you run out of all the above options its called Tow Insurance!
In my airplane I have two GPS and two IRS ses ( Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation)... I have a standby compass and that is what it is.. an emergency data base to monitor... but I havent yet in 32 years of flying and sailing.
Seriously!
Yeah it is on the binnacle. I KNOW how to use it... do I?
Never. And if you people who use your compass havent done a "swing" to calibrate your deviation and variation then you will be the next grounding!
Come on seriously, you people sail by a compass? How about buying a boat that was built after the turn of the century... 1800
I am floored. Think there is some serious BS in these responses.
Sail to where... your jetty, favorite anchorage, compass.... I know Joshua would probably roll over but did you all know that there have been multiple circumnavs without paper charts? Set and drift is a thing of the past. IMHO.
Sheesh... know how to read it yeah but enter the jetty in the fog on your compass... looking at your chart and your ELECTRIC depth finder....
I have three GPS's and a compass... which one loses.
Troutman if you find a free compass on Criag'slist grab it... otherwise put the money towards a half kite! This is just bizaar.
If you run out of all the above options its called Tow Insurance!
You had to ask.:cry:Whew, great relief that no one has dissed a compass. Yet.
Dare ya!
All the auxiliary equipment we carry for safety and you can't be bothered with compass and charts ? Around here it's more than a puddle jump when out in Juan de Fuca and Georgia Straight. Try heading a few miles offshore from San Diego and you might just change your mind.
Sounds like a power boater disguised as a sailor :naughty:.
I have many times Ralph and I call NOTTA on your assessment of onboard electronics...
Not sold
I have a compass and a "grab and go bag" should things go bad. A handheld VHF and water....yep of course a GPS.. tadaaah. Not to mention flares, etc.
Still dissing the compass and not changing my mind...
It is a TREX. Now that doesnt mean you cant still use it. Just a choice. Not trying to sway. Just trying to figure out WHY!
And dont call me a "StinkPotter". You dont know me and I am just trying to interject another opinion.
Come meet me on the "can" sometime although from BC that is a haul and an absolutely beautiful place you have up there for sure. You will see. I have sailed from Mexico to the California Islands. No not a crossing but it rates for sure. 26 miles offshore and if anyone chimes in some serious problems can develop when you get up the the Islands west of Catalina... no worries mate.
And safety. Come into this century and you will be fine.
Get your milk and cookies because I have a story. We were just dealing with a problem on the ICW where we needed to travel over some "skinny" water with numerous shoaling areas. The PO of our boat had installed multi-meters at the helm, nav. station, and aft stateroom so as to see wind, depth, and boat speed from these areas. The Sea-Talk link decided it was time to shut down leaving us with no auto pilot, wind instruments, and GPS at the helm.
We were left with the Chart-plotter, depth, and boat speed. While crossing Port Royal Sound with currents and cross winds, I had to steer 15 degrees into the stream to stay on the "Chart Course" A quick glance at the compass let me know the boat's heading.
BTW while digging through the boat to find the auto pilot components, I just happened to pull out the drawers under the rear bunk. Inside the drawer cabinet near the rear wall was the Flux-gate compass. I had been searching for that for three years. Thinking back, I wonder how many times I left tools, batteries, and just plain metal stuff right next to it or even in the drawer. I'm sure the auto pilot will work better once we get the Sea Talk issue figured out.
All U Get
The WHY! is because electronics CAN fail. Electronics DO fail.
I like the fun of electronic toys but I'm not going to short change my safety by choosing to leave my compass behind.
And I don't know what your take on paper charts is, but around here they're mandatory for the waters in which you're currently sailing. With us, it's paper first and electronics second as the backup. I can imagine what my insurance company would say if I didn't have charts on board and I holed the hull while sailing in our northern waters.
Perhaps if you explained WHY you would want to short change yourself on this safety item (compass) you just might win a few converts over to your camp.
Yes All U Getnow think aback and "what was your error of execution?" Its not about having a compass. You didnt know about your boat in a very casual way ( gear stowed and never looked to see where your fluxgate was) BUT you developed a plan from your short sightedness. That is another show because you had (oops) a handheld GPS? Perhaps, you wouldnt have found yourself in your predicament. But as the Captain, you decided the best course of action was to continue... Good choice I think based on your circumstances however... you seemed to know the waters.
Still not sold on the compass...
Ralph didnt say I didnt have a compass. All I said was that it is an outdated way to navigate. If you have a mishap, they are gonna ask ya if they see a radar on your boat and was in on? In your post did you have it on? And what insurance company are you with that demands paper charts? They are gonna ask you what your coordinates were and your position. If you give that off a paper chart.... good luck.
I am just saying about the originator of this post. Do you need a compass on the boat... yes... on the binnacle... NO!
Quote me in your policy please... below.. And once again, if electronics fail and your compass is your option.. you are outdated IMHO> It really says paper first and modern electronics second... WOW..
Then I sail corrected.
And your boat can sink and you can have a heart attack and all the pluthura if things.. but sheesh... tomorrow is another day. Its just a compass
And for that matter, I have found many slipmates on my dock who have radar as a ormanent on their boat who have no idea how to use or interpret what they are looking at. Yep I am an expert at it. Now that is the question isnt it? Those who call on VHF 16 saying they are taking on water and when the Coasties or Vessel Assist ask them the coordinates they say.. ummm what? Could they look at the compass and give a heading yes... would it be helpful...perhaps. Probably not.
Can it get you out of a jam... YES it can. But in this modern era...
Can you navigate with it... absolutely.
Would I go out of the way as this poster says to put one on my boat?
Probably yes... but way down my bucketlist...
OK?
This was a rant... rant OVAH
Can it get you out of a jam... YES it can. But in this modern era...
Can you navigate with it... absolutely.
Would I go out of the way as this poster says to put one on my boat?
Probably yes... but way down my bucketlist...
OK?
This was a rant... rant OVAH