jerrytug
N/A
Me neither,but I'm told that you can draw a line on a chart plotter with the cursor,through a spire for example,and it will tell you the bearing of the line. Fiendish stuff
Do you still use a Hand Bearing Compass
- Thread starter LONG_KEELER
- Start date
Me neither,but I'm told that you can draw a line on a chart plotter with the cursor,through a spire for example,and it will tell you the bearing of the line. Fiendish stuff
johnalison
Well-Known Member
I bought my mini-compass in 1972. I have had to stick bits of it together from time to time but otherwise it is in working order, apart from the beta light which is past it's best-by date. It is always to hand but I only use it occasionally for collision avoidance. I don't find it very helpful but a skipper can be held to be negligent if he doesn't use all possible means to prevent collision.
westernman
Well-Known Member
Rarely. Also the GPS is rarely used as well. Don't have a chart plotter. But then I mostly cruise an area I know pretty well.
I sometimes use the compass in the binos and GPS when approaching an unknown landfall so I know I am looking in the right direction.
I sometimes use the compass in the binos and GPS when approaching an unknown landfall so I know I am looking in the right direction.
stav
Well-Known Member
Invaluable bit of kit for all the reasons mentioned, plus especially when slowly closing a buoy in light winds and big tide. Also when ship spotting across the channel can more quickly identify a change in bearing. Thinking about some bunks with compass next.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
A GPS will tell you where you are, it won't tell you where something else is except as a range and bearing
westernman
Well-Known Member
Exactly. When approaching an unknown landfall, GPS so you know where you are, chart to work out where you want to go, and the binos with the compass so you can look in the right direction.
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
I never go sailing without one.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
That's another good one.
Compared to other sports and pastimes, we probably get to use more stuff and use the elements than most.
When I started proper sailing, I was amazed how good an Iris 50 type compass was. I had never seen one before. For such a small thing, it was so clear and easy to use, plus, much more accurate than the scout type of compass. It is even good at night without wires and batteries.
Pretty much instant feedback too when entering wiggilly sand barred river entrances.
I suppose you can call yourself a real sailor when you have used one to clear a submerged rock in a strong tide. Not got the tee shirt yet.
Scillypete
Well-Known Member
Just as others collision avoidance, its the first thing I reach for when spotting another vessel especially at night, within five minutes it will tell me if the bearing is steady or not.
Also handy to check other navigational bearing marks.
Very useful bit of basic kit that won't let you down
Also handy to check other navigational bearing marks.
Very useful bit of basic kit that won't let you down
Gerry
Well-Known Member
Two on board, regularly used. Always one in the cockpit when underway. Collision assessment and take a couple of bearings when anchored to check we are not dragging.
No chartplotter and do not rely on GPS.Probably be labelled a luddite but regularly get the sextant out to keep in practice!
No chartplotter and do not rely on GPS.Probably be labelled a luddite but regularly get the sextant out to keep in practice!
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Yup. Use constantly, assess risk of collision, find waypoint by looking down bearing line, fix by bearing (or two or more) plus depth corrected for tidal height, clearance bearings. Makes navigation close in so easy when dealing with tide, wind, rule of road, crew, etc.
Usually sail 5 days out of seven so get plenty of practice!!!
silver-fox
Well-Known Member
Nope
AMCD300
Well-Known Member
Me neither,but I'm told that you can draw a line on a chart plotter with the cursor,through a spire for example,and it will tell you the bearing of the line. Fiendish stuff
Wow.....
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
I use compass in binoculars to find and identify where things 'should' be , from bearings..
Good for separating out similar seemingly adjacent buoy age too, for same reason..
Good for separating out similar seemingly adjacent buoy age too, for same reason..
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I dont get that. If you use a compass, it is guaranteed to give you the correct bearing
Lining up a part of the boat relies on two things - the boat being on a steady heading, and having ones head in the same position each time the bearing is taken.
Might as well use the compass and be done with it.
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
All you need is a relative bearing. Since when I'm at the helm I stay fairly constant it's no trouble to keep check to see if a ship is bearing steady with a fixed part of the boat. If the boats not on a steady course then your mental bearing will still average out enough to give you a fair idea.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
.
I tend to use the compass in the binoculars more than the HB compass now, but have both and use them all the time. Mostly for collison risk, but also to check anchor drag, to identify land or seamarks from the chart and for clearing bearings.
I remember when I first discovered compass binos for collision risk assessment at night on a long nasty wet night in the Irish Sea from Dublin to Whitehaven. It was a revalation - so much easier in the dark than using the HBC.
- W
I tend to use the compass in the binoculars more than the HB compass now, but have both and use them all the time. Mostly for collison risk, but also to check anchor drag, to identify land or seamarks from the chart and for clearing bearings.
I remember when I first discovered compass binos for collision risk assessment at night on a long nasty wet night in the Irish Sea from Dublin to Whitehaven. It was a revalation - so much easier in the dark than using the HBC.
- W
Sgeir
Well-Known Member
TBH, for daylight sailing on the west of Scotland, there is rarely any need for anything else apart from the ship's compass, the chart(s) and one's eyes. Hand bearing compass is used for collision avoidance (occasionally) and for directions into tricky locations (occasionally).
We don't have a dedicated chart plotter, and would only use the laptop/iPad plotter in fog. The GPS is really only used as a log during daylight hours. For night sailing we would normally prepare a more detailed passage plan with lights and tidal streams accounted for, as well as waypoints plotted.
We don't have a dedicated chart plotter, and would only use the laptop/iPad plotter in fog. The GPS is really only used as a log during daylight hours. For night sailing we would normally prepare a more detailed passage plan with lights and tidal streams accounted for, as well as waypoints plotted.
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
Yes...
Sgeir
Well-Known Member
And another thing..... I've only once seriously used a HBC to check a GPS position which looked odd - it was 0300 and I'd been asleep down below. The weather had changed and I was slightly disoriented; there was nothing wrong with the GPS, just me, but I wasn't happy until I'd confirmed position with a cocked hat.
Incidentally, I've just removed the sextant from the boat as we never use it in earnest, but taking horizontal bearings on three land objects gives an incredibly accurate fix when charted. Unlike the HBC, the sextant is unaffected by sea conditions, and you just don't get the cocked hat effect.
Incidentally, I've just removed the sextant from the boat as we never use it in earnest, but taking horizontal bearings on three land objects gives an incredibly accurate fix when charted. Unlike the HBC, the sextant is unaffected by sea conditions, and you just don't get the cocked hat effect.
