Handbearing Compass

[viva]

Can anyone recommend a handbearing compass? I have had a Suunto one for many years but it is too bulky and I fancy one I can wear round my neck

 

[Graham_Wright]

Can anyone recommend a handbearing compass? I have had a Suunto one for many years but it is too bulky and I fancy one I can wear round my neck

Autohelm.

 

[sailorman]

Autohelm or autohelm

 

[VicS]

Can anyone recommend a handbearing compass? I have had a Suunto one for many years but it is too bulky and I fancy one I can wear round my neck

I have the Offshore Instruments "MiniCompass" ( actually French made and rebadged by Offshore instruments) It was probably the best model of its type ( namely one that could be worn on a lanyard) in the 1980s.

The nearest modern equivalent is I think the Axium http://www.force4.co.uk/585/Axium-Handbearing-Compass-with-Flotation-Strap.html

I did try a Plastimo but found it difficult to read compared with the MiniCompass. Moderm ones may have been improved of course.

The obsolete digital Autohelm has its fans but for some reason was not overly popular. It is important that they are held horizontal or the "dip" can cause errors

I suggest you look at what is available and compare the ease of use / readablity of card/ suitability for your own eyesight before deciding. If you have very funny eyes the digital read out of the Autohelm may be a good choice but they have not been made for quite some years ITYWF

If you buy a secondhand analogue /card type be sure it has photoluminescent illumination , not beta light. Thats the big snag with the Offshore Mini Compass The beta light capsule has a limited effective life

 

[Seajet]

I had an Offshore Mini and it was very good, but got stolen...now have the autohelm digital - very good if kept flat as mentioned -and a Plastimo Iris I find fine - also binoculars with a compass are a godsend with distant objects.

It is worth ' bearing ' in mind that most hand bearing compasses cannot easily be used to look down on or from a distance as a backup steering compass, if that might be an important emergency feature to you.

 

[Highndry]

Each to his own. I really like my Plastimo.

 

[Norman_E]

I have a Plastimo one and an Axium. Of the two I slightly prefer the Axium, but the plastimo one is cheaper and preferred by many people. Try both and see which one you like.

 

[charles_reed]

I've had a number, first one was military issue and, in some ways was the best. Then an Offshore one, great with a tritium capsule so you could always see it in the dark, then a Raytheon one - great for taking and averaging readings, but I was always suspicious of its false "precise" readings. I even used to have an Ebbco sextant to take 3 point and distance-off readings.
Now, if you have a smartphone (Android or iOS) you can download apps which give very accurate bearings.
As, already pointed out, binos with a bearing compass are probably more practical - put the cost of the handbearing compass towards the binos, they're expensive enough. I'd however look @ the Monk Optics one in preference to the cheap "name" brands,

I must confess, that though I have a Plastimo somewhere on the boat in Manitsas Marine, I use the outer graticule on my very cheap Casio watch far more frequently, in cars, out walking or in strange towns, to roughly check bearings. Strangely don't seem to need it much on the boat...

 

[coopec]

View attachment 40730

I bought this new Lensatic hand bearing compass for $A18 which was about half price. I most certainly don't think it is "state of the art" but I would appreciate if anyone could tell me of it's likely limitations.

 

[William_H]

I have a diver's Suunto compass which is designed to be worn on the wrist. It has peep sights over the top and a side view of the card. Ideal i think for hand bearing compass definitely water proof and I think quite cheap. Check out a diving shop. olewill

 

[Gwylan]

Can anyone recommend a handbearing compass? I have had a Suunto one for many years but it is too bulky and I fancy one I can wear round my neck

Plastimo Iris 50 - been a good and faithful servant for many years and very handy when you need it.

 

[VicS]

View attachment 40730

I bought this new Lensatic hand bearing compass for $A18 which was about half price. I most certainly don't think it is "state of the art" but I would appreciate if anyone could tell me of it's likely limitations.

Someone insisted on giving me a similar one. http://simage1.sportsmansguide.com/adimgs/l/2/208766_ts.jpg

I cant say I have really figured out how to use it but I am sure lack of damping would make it useless for the boat anyway.

 

[coopec]

Someone insisted on giving me a similar one. http://simage1.sportsmansguide.com/adimgs/l/2/208766_ts.jpg

I cant say I have really figured out how to use it but I am sure lack of damping would make it useless for the boat anyway.

I picked this up on another thread. Thanks

"Wrong school.

Hand bearing compasses and ship's compasses serve very different purposes. Land based compasses lack the stability / dampening needed on the water.

There are no maps on a boat - I hope; we use charts. A ship's compass is subject to deviation and variation, a hand bearing compass accounts only for variation. True north, magnetic north and compass north are three different things."

 

[nigelmercier]

Plastimo Iris 50 - been a good and faithful servant for many years and very handy when you need it.

Excellent, even with my eyesight. http://amzn.to/1gx2lXI

 

[JumbleDuck]

The best hand bearing compass I have ever used is my old Sowester one, like this

Unfortunately it uses (used) a beta light, which was great at first but is now defunct - the half life of Tritium is 12 years and I have had it for around twice that. Nobody seems to sell small beta lights, so it's now daytime use only. I have a Plastimo Iris for night time, which is OK, but harder to read and less well damped.

 

[Kelpie]

I've got both an Iris 50 and an Iris 100, the latter I bought as a multipurpose compass for dinghy cruising, but it got stolen as a sighting compass for the yacht. Nice and easy to read.

 

[Murv]

The best hand bearing compass I have ever used is my old Sowester one, like this

Unfortunately it uses (used) a beta light, which was great at first but is now defunct - the half life of Tritium is 12 years and I have had it for around twice that. Nobody seems to sell small beta lights, so it's now daytime use only. I have a Plastimo Iris for night time, which is OK, but harder to read and less well damped.

Absolutely no idea if this is of any use to you, but beta lights are sold in tackle shops as bite indicators. Maybe worth a look, assuming you can access the thing?

This is one example, loads of different sizes/colours are available http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/store/ace-betalights

 

[Poignard]

I have had a Plastimo Iris for around 17 years and I find it's very easy to use, except at night because the photo luminescent lighting doesn't work anymore (can it be repaired?).

 

[Uricanejack]

Can anyone recommend a handbearing compass? I have had a Suunto one for many years but it is too bulky and I fancy one I can wear round my neck

I just bought one of those. I like collecting useless old objects.
The plastimo is much easier to see and use.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have had a Plastimo Iris for around 17 years and I find it's very easy to use, except at night because the photo luminescent lighting doesn't work anymore (can it be repaired?).

Try leaving it out during the day. It should pick up enough photons (or whatever they're called) to keep it visible through the night.