I recently purchased a C-250, and it is stock. I'd like to add a compass but am not sure what type I should buy. What is the common type used on this boat? I really like the flush mount ritchie compasses with blue dials, but not sure if this would look funny with the compass mounted flat on top of the cabin. For example: http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Ritchie+SS2000+W+Super+Sport+Compass.html Thanks, Kurt
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Compass
Check the C25/250 web site, it is really good...post your question there: http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/
Check the C25/250 web site, it is really good...post your question there: http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/
Compass vs. GPS.
When we bought our first boat, a 95 Hunter 26, I bought a very nice compass. I think it was in the range of $450 and found that I really never used it or needed it. Out next boat was a 38 footer that we cruised on for 2 years. It came with 2 basic GPS units and after 6 months we upgrades to a chart plotter. A GPS not only gives all compass functions, it also gives speed, estimated time of arrival, distance travelled and distance to go. There are probably 5 other functions I'm forgetting. They start at $200 and a very nice one can be had for less than $500. A little more and you can get a chart plotter. I would recommend that you look at these little guys before buying a compass as they offer so much more for the same price and are portable. Ray
When we bought our first boat, a 95 Hunter 26, I bought a very nice compass. I think it was in the range of $450 and found that I really never used it or needed it. Out next boat was a 38 footer that we cruised on for 2 years. It came with 2 basic GPS units and after 6 months we upgrades to a chart plotter. A GPS not only gives all compass functions, it also gives speed, estimated time of arrival, distance travelled and distance to go. There are probably 5 other functions I'm forgetting. They start at $200 and a very nice one can be had for less than $500. A little more and you can get a chart plotter. I would recommend that you look at these little guys before buying a compass as they offer so much more for the same price and are portable. Ray
GPS no substitute for Compass
While I agree with Ray that a GPS is handy to have aboard, I wouldn't go so far as to say that a GPS can be substituted for a compass - it's a little like saying "I don't need to bring my glasses aboard, I've got radar" A GPS can crap out due to the failure (or proper functioning!) of a $.25 fuse, or any of a number of other reasons. GPS only gives you a true compass reading if you are moving. A stationary gps unit shows no accurate reference to direction of another object (lighthouse, radio tower) for determining your position on a chart. A lot of C25 and C27 owners opt for a bulkhead mounted compass in the front of the cockpit. Any compass should be positioned in clear view of the helmsman. Good Luck - and first things first - get the compass and then consider a GPS. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
While I agree with Ray that a GPS is handy to have aboard, I wouldn't go so far as to say that a GPS can be substituted for a compass - it's a little like saying "I don't need to bring my glasses aboard, I've got radar" A GPS can crap out due to the failure (or proper functioning!) of a $.25 fuse, or any of a number of other reasons. GPS only gives you a true compass reading if you are moving. A stationary gps unit shows no accurate reference to direction of another object (lighthouse, radio tower) for determining your position on a chart. A lot of C25 and C27 owners opt for a bulkhead mounted compass in the front of the cockpit. Any compass should be positioned in clear view of the helmsman. Good Luck - and first things first - get the compass and then consider a GPS. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Compass before GPS
Kurt, you are on the right track. At Ease gave you good advice. Ray, I don't know where you sail, however If you have only one instrument on your boat it should be a compass.You should never go without a compass if you are going to sail in an environment that takes you out of sight of land, has fog or heavy mist on occasion or heavy rains (anything that obscures your view) or if you intend to sail in areas that you are unfamiliar with. Perhaps you always sail where you can see familiar landmarks, but then why do you need a GPS? GPS is a great invention. I have a hand held and a chart plotter. That said, several experiences indicate that you can't depend on them 100% of the time. However, I can depend on the compass as long as it is properly compensated (relatively easy to do on most fibreglass boats) and provided you keep extraneous magnetic influences away (speakers, objects that attract magnets). Anything that depends on good batteries can fail. I have chartered 2 boats that were equiped with GPSs that did not work correctly. My own hand held GPS was working as verified by taking bearings with a hand bearing compass (my own as well). I, and others, have noted that GPS readings, which are normally very accurate, may, very occassionaly, start to read several hundred feet off. I don't know why this, however if you are in hazardous unmarked, unfamiliar water you had be ready to take bearings on whatever landmarks are available. This past summer I saw my course line on my chart plotter show me going over land which was 200 to 300 feet away. My handheld said the same thing. You need to know how to navigate using a paper chart and a compass without a GPS if you are in unfamiliar territory (or you can't see familiar landmarks or navigational aids). That said, if you need to prioritize expenses, after a good compass and depth sounder I would have a GPS on board. You don't need a chart plotter. One that gives Lat and Long, together with paper charts is all that is necessary.
Kurt, you are on the right track. At Ease gave you good advice. Ray, I don't know where you sail, however If you have only one instrument on your boat it should be a compass.You should never go without a compass if you are going to sail in an environment that takes you out of sight of land, has fog or heavy mist on occasion or heavy rains (anything that obscures your view) or if you intend to sail in areas that you are unfamiliar with. Perhaps you always sail where you can see familiar landmarks, but then why do you need a GPS? GPS is a great invention. I have a hand held and a chart plotter. That said, several experiences indicate that you can't depend on them 100% of the time. However, I can depend on the compass as long as it is properly compensated (relatively easy to do on most fibreglass boats) and provided you keep extraneous magnetic influences away (speakers, objects that attract magnets). Anything that depends on good batteries can fail. I have chartered 2 boats that were equiped with GPSs that did not work correctly. My own hand held GPS was working as verified by taking bearings with a hand bearing compass (my own as well). I, and others, have noted that GPS readings, which are normally very accurate, may, very occassionaly, start to read several hundred feet off. I don't know why this, however if you are in hazardous unmarked, unfamiliar water you had be ready to take bearings on whatever landmarks are available. This past summer I saw my course line on my chart plotter show me going over land which was 200 to 300 feet away. My handheld said the same thing. You need to know how to navigate using a paper chart and a compass without a GPS if you are in unfamiliar territory (or you can't see familiar landmarks or navigational aids). That said, if you need to prioritize expenses, after a good compass and depth sounder I would have a GPS on board. You don't need a chart plotter. One that gives Lat and Long, together with paper charts is all that is necessary.
Depth guage mount location
Wow, thanks for all the great advice. I am a first time boat owner and its nice to have experienced sailors to turn to. That other forun is really nice, thanks At Ease. Based on your inputs I purchased a compass and depth finder. Ray, thanks for the advice on the GPS, i will definately look into getting a chart plotter. Can I mount this in the cockpit, or is it better to have installed in the cabin? On a related note, the depth finder I bought is a through hull unit. Where is the ideal place to mount this? Aft of the keel, off center a few feet? How close can I mount the compass to the depth finder without effecting compass accuracy? FYI this is the compass and depth sounder I bought: http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Humminbird+HDR+600+Depth+Sounder+IH+White.html http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=4058&catalogId=10001&classNum=489&subdeptNum=137&storeNum=14 Thanks again, Kurt
Wow, thanks for all the great advice. I am a first time boat owner and its nice to have experienced sailors to turn to. That other forun is really nice, thanks At Ease. Based on your inputs I purchased a compass and depth finder. Ray, thanks for the advice on the GPS, i will definately look into getting a chart plotter. Can I mount this in the cockpit, or is it better to have installed in the cabin? On a related note, the depth finder I bought is a through hull unit. Where is the ideal place to mount this? Aft of the keel, off center a few feet? How close can I mount the compass to the depth finder without effecting compass accuracy? FYI this is the compass and depth sounder I bought: http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Humminbird+HDR+600+Depth+Sounder+IH+White.html http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=4058&catalogId=10001&classNum=489&subdeptNum=137&storeNum=14 Thanks again, Kurt
Sailing area makes a difference.
Malcom, I agree with you about the use of a compass, if your sailing area is large enough to allow you to be out of the sight of land. My experience has been that most trailerable size boats do not see that type of water. Also Kurt's posting made me think he would be sailing in fresh water. As for my sailing experence, well, we just returned home from 2 years of blue water cruising aboard our 1990 Island Packet 38. On that boat we had 1 chart plotter, 1 hand held GPS and a nav table GPS. Also there were 2 compasses. Therefore I thought Kurt would be better served with a GPS. Additionally, I found that most of the time I needed a compass reading the boat was moving, thus the GPS was functional. Either way, the choise is Kurt's and I just wanted to give my thoughts about what other equipment can be used for this task. Ray
Malcom, I agree with you about the use of a compass, if your sailing area is large enough to allow you to be out of the sight of land. My experience has been that most trailerable size boats do not see that type of water. Also Kurt's posting made me think he would be sailing in fresh water. As for my sailing experence, well, we just returned home from 2 years of blue water cruising aboard our 1990 Island Packet 38. On that boat we had 1 chart plotter, 1 hand held GPS and a nav table GPS. Also there were 2 compasses. Therefore I thought Kurt would be better served with a GPS. Additionally, I found that most of the time I needed a compass reading the boat was moving, thus the GPS was functional. Either way, the choise is Kurt's and I just wanted to give my thoughts about what other equipment can be used for this task. Ray
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