Hand Held Compass

[Kawasaki]

In My recently aquired MBM (small but perfectly formed) there is an article about handheld compasses.
Nothing dramatic in that per se

The question I would like to put forward

Do you use one
Do you have one aboard
Would You know how to use one and what would you use one for?

Snot a test

Mostly thinking
Bit like the MBM article

If One has used one to get One out of the mire at anytime

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yes I have, on board, and use it for fun on long passages sometimes to plot fixes on paper chart. Its fun to compare pencil line fixes from HBC intersects with gps, kills the time and impresses my friends.

Ps. Also have used it to set portable sat dish up

 

[Kawasaki]

and impresses my friends.

Yeh!
Der get yer Sextant out as well
I have one
But it might as well be a frying pan
Good innit

 

[Mike k]

Yes i have one but must admit i think i need to read up on its uses, it mainly sits in its little holder beneath the helm-i have used it to check that i am not drifting at anchor but thats it.

p.s Kawasaki still got the mag and still appreciate your effort

 

[sailorman]

In My recently aquired MBM (small but perfectly formed) there is an article about handheld compasses.
Nothing dramatic in that per se

The question I would like to put forward

Do you use one
Do you have one aboard
Would You know how to use one and what would you use one for?

Snot a test

Mostly thinking
Bit like the MBM article

If One has used one to get One out of the mire at anytime

Yes use one a Autohelm Personal Compass, i believe Snooksie has the same too

 

[Poignard]

I use mine for:

• Collision avoidance
  
• Getting onto a transit when only one leading mark can be seen
  
• General pilotage
  
• I have GPS but often take 3-point fixes so that I don't lose the skill

 

[vas]

have one, inherited from my father.
not in the boat though, in my office at home.
Used it to setup my home sat dish 9yrs ago, that's the last I've seen it. Now that you mentioned I'll go hunting for it...

v.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yeh!
Der get yer Sextant out as well
I have one
But it might as well be a frying pan
Good innit

Ha, ha As I said use HBC only the odd time for fun. Like the rest of us it's probably eyeball nav or gps plotter most of the time

 

[henryf]

Yes.

"Charge it up" by shining the torch onto it every now and again to make sure the luminous bit still works and as everyone else does use it every now and again to keep my eye in with a 2 or 3 point fix.

Not massively relevant when cruising somewhere like the Solent at 20 plus knots. Last used it many years ago when chugging back on 1 engine after an oil hose gave way on the Phantom 42 to relieve the boredom.

A handy bit of kit as are the parallel rule and dividers which do get used for a long passage plan but the hand held compass' lack of use is probably testament to the reliability of chart plotters these days.

Henry

 

[Malabar]

Only sure way establishing if another vessel is going to collide with you - take a series of
bearings with your hand-bearing compass. If the bearing remains constant then a risk of collision exists.

Also very useful when running across the tide. Take a bearing on a "headmark" and adjust course so the bearing does not change.

 

[timgriffin]

In My recently aquired MBM (small but perfectly formed) there is an article about handheld compasses.
Nothing dramatic in that per se

The question I would like to put forward

Do you use one
Do you have one aboard
Would You know how to use one and what would you use one for?

Snot a test

Mostly thinking
Bit like the MBM article

If One has used one to get One out of the mire at anytime

Yes
Yes
Yes
not got into the mire yet
Tim

 

[mikegunn]

One of the most useful instruments on board. Particularly at night.

I made up a simple UV LED torch (UV LED+resistor+battery) which I use to regenerate its luminosity, without the risk of losing my night vision.

 

[gjgm]

Yep I have one,right to hand at the helm.
I have never found a use for it.

 

[prv]

As well as the uses already mentioned, I use it to help spot buoys or landmarks a long way off. If I know the bearing of it from the chart, I can use the compass to know where to look.

Pete

 

[DAKA]

I had one on my last boat and never used as it was downstairs.

I decided I needed one with me so I turned one into a wristwatch with trendy velco strap , very handy to use.

I wore it a few times and played with it and then put it away, not worn it for 4-5 years.


I also keep a hand written log of course, distance to next WP,speed made good etc

Combined I see it as an important bit of safety kit ready for GPS failure.

 

[Searush]

I have 2, and have used them for fixes, for collision avoidance, back bearings, leeway checks & as part of the anchor watch regime, but not much recently. This is partly because I tend not to sail unfamiliar waters that much & partly because of the simplicity of using leccy-troniks.

As Uncle Tom Cunnliffe says "You'll regret not having the basics available & knowing how to use them if the volts failed" - or summat like that, so yes, paper charts, HB compass are available, if only brought out for a bt of fun now & then.

Incidentally, for collision risk, I tend to line up a stanchion or shroud against the oncoming ship. provided I stay in the same place (at helm usually) & on the same course it gives me a good general check. I accept that the HB is more accurate, but I don't care about being accurate - I want to miss the bloody thing by a mile, not the width of my spinnaker (or not, as in the recent Solent incident)

Damn, I forgot, there is a 3rd compass in my reserve "best" pair of nockyulars too.

 

[peterandjeanette]

About 12 years ago I bought a Sealine F33 from Lake Windemere and had it brought down to the Thames by road.
First trip down the tideway we nearly ran aground on the mud flats. Turned out the previous owner had fitted two speakers under the instrument panel just below the compass. Not a problem on Windemere but very upsetting in the Thames estuary.
Used the HBC to find my way back and produced my own deviation graph. The main compass was 45 degrees out on certain headings.
Had the main compass swung as soon as possible after repositioning speakers.

Also used the HBC for Day Skipper and Yachtmaster training/exam.

Not used much since except to check the main compass in every boat I am required to helm so keep it handy.

Not easy to use when bouncing along at 25 kts but now I've slowed down I may use it much more. (Also the new boat has a dedicated holder for a HBC.)

 

[Philiz]

Do you use one
Do you have one aboard
Would You know how to use one and what would you use one for?
If One has used one to get One out of the mire at anytime

Not in anger
Yes
Yes, use it to hold the corner of yer chart down or position fixing, or taking bearing off other vessels
No

 

[Philiz]

I have 2,

Show off!

 

[benjenbav]

Do you use one YES
Do you have one aboard YES
Would You know how to use one and what would you use one for? YES. FOR CROSS REFERENCING OBJECTS TO CHARTS. WORTH DOING IMHO TO KEEP IN PRACTICE ETC
If One has used one to get One out of the mire at anytime NOT SURE I'VE EVER USED IT AS THE SOLE METHOD OF DE-MIRING; MORE FOR CORROBORATION

As others have said.