Can I use my handheld gps..

[Althorne]

as a hand bearing compass to check collision courses, dead reckonings etc in the same way that most people use a conventional handheld like the Plastimo Iris 50.
I have a Magellan Meridian Marine that has its electronic compass and it occurred to me that this would be just as good although not damped quite as well. What are the pro's and con's of using it like this? or shall I stick with the idea of the Iris as a xmas prezzie from my son?

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[masterofnone]

Definately take the boys prezzie. H/H does not give bearing either to or from,, unless you should point the boat in that direction.

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[Solitaire]

Stick with the handbearing compass. Remember that a GPS will need a waypoint to get DTW and BTW. Also if you are stationary the GPS will effectively not function. It will give you your lat and long but don't expect it to do much else untill you start moving again.

In any case, what if your systems go down? No, have a handbearing compass as part of your basic kit. If I may make a suggestion - look at the Axium 2 compass. It is a bit more expensive than the Iris, but it has a beta light in it which is much better for night/low light work - the Iris is crap in the dark! Force 4 are doing them at £42.95 with a frre pouch but shop around. I have both the iRis and the Axium and I know which one I prefer. I use the Axium on all night parts of the Advanced Powerboat course - a superior piece of kit for not much more dosh.

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[gandy]

Althorne, even if your GPS does have an actual compass function, it won't be as good as a Iris 50. You need to be able to sight over the compass and still see the reading. The electronic compass probably won't be as accurate either.

Tony S

ps - I think the other posters are assuming that your GPS doesn't have a compass, and that you're planning to use the GPS "track" .

 

[Althorne]

Thanks chaps......xmas prezzie it is.

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[colvic987]

have a look at the iris 100, it comes in blue or yellow rubber bits, the yellow one is the one with lighting, have used one for the last 4 years...uses an aaa battery. only change it every year....

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