Handbearing compass

[Koeketiene]

Just been reading an YM article on singlehanded sailing.
Fairly recent one too - 2020.

In the article a handbearing compass was said to be 'essential'.
In all honesty, I don't recall using one since naval college (many, many moons ago) or my YM exam (slightly fewer moons ago).
I do have one aboard, just by the companionway, but it's been unused for nigh on two decades now.
Leaves me wondering just how 'essential' a handbearing compass is these days.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

PS: I do also have a bino with integrated compass. On the very rare occasions I do need to take a bearing, I use that rather than the compass.
Especially as my eyesight is not as good as it once was.

 

[Stingo]

I used mine regularly once the anchor was set to ocassionally check if I was dragging. This only works in waters that only have a small tidal range.
Edit: lining up a stantion + an object on shore works just as well

 

[laika]

Binoculars with an integrated compass can in many cases serve pretty much the same function as a hand bearing compass so sticking with the "why do you need some device which can take a bearing" rather than arguing about the difference between binoculars with an integrated compass and a hand bearing compass....

I'll avoid trying to convince you that non-GPS navigation is fun. It is but if you thought that you wouldn't be asking the question. Spidermoobs has made a good point about bearings when anchoring. Collision avoidance is another popular one (although you can argue AIS does a better job) but I'll drop in GPS inaccuracy. Yes "selective availability" is a thing of the past but all kinds of things can temporarily significantly lower GPS accuracy. Much of the time a few metres is neither here nor there: GPS will take you roughly where you want to go and your eyes can do the rest. Some times though you really do need to pay attention to clearing bearings. Picking your way through the channel islands is a prime example of where you *really* want to reference the rocks to avoid the rocks rather than relying totally on space stuff.

 

[Bobc]

I've got one in the cupboard above the cart table. Can't remember the last time I used it. Must have been at least 10 years ago.

 

[Sandy]

I use mine all the time, but like to use the GPS to confirm my paper navigation. One day I hope to have a set of binoculars with a compass.

 

[Gary Fox]

Under way I feel naked and ashamed without an HBC round my neck. On a buoy or anchored It must be readily to hand.
I assume the non-users have steel yachts with horrific deviation? If not, I am slightly lost for words.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Use mine often but I don’t have ais or binoculars with compass so it’s my go to bit of kit

 

[[3889]]

Used one only last week to confirm the identity of a mark. It was this model though so don't know if it counts, although it's the most accurate compass I've ever used

 

[jimi]

I've got 2 onboard which are never used. I used binos with compass when required but for collision avoidance with big ships I use ais and before that I tended to use a radar bearing

 

[Gary Fox]

Used one only last week to confirm the identity of a mark. It was this model though so don't know if it counts, although it's the most accurate compass I've ever used

Is it a phone app?

 

[Daydream believer]

I have had my Sestral hand bearing compass for 53 years & although I only use it occasionally, when i do I find it invaluable. Particularly Brittainy, the CIs & round to Brest.
I still find it difficult to rely on chart plotters, having been led astray by my last one twice. Once hitting a rock in Ireland & once almost hitting rocks when leaving Roscoff.
A HBC is useful for identifying buoys etc if visiblity is a bit off.
I have binos with a compass, but when fully opened the compass is at such a silly angle that it is pretty useless. My Sestral has a decent card & is easy to read.

 

[Concerto]

I don't have a hand bearing compass. If I need to take a bearing then I estimate the angle using the main ship compass. If I need a very accurate bearing, then the iPhone compass app works well.

 

[Koeketiene]

I used mine regularly once the anchor was set to ocassionally check if I was dragging. This only works in waters that only have a small tidal range.
Edit: lining up a stantion + an object on shore works just as well

My favourite way of taking a bearing when it comes to collision avoidance.
Stantion -> bow of the other vessel

 

[Koeketiene]

Some reactions make me feel like I've been caught swearing in church.

 

[Gary Fox]

Some reactions make me feel like I've been caught swearing in church.

Apologies if I was one I have a very physical sense of my position and direction in life in general, since I was a kid I have always liked maps and compasses, and knowing how they relate to what I am looking at; it is really true that I feel uneasy without an hbc at sea. It seems such an obvious benefit to take bearings, I find it hard to see why others do not.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I take a bearing on prominent lighthouses to check the chartplotter.

 

[john_morris_uk]

My favourite way of taking a bearing when it comes to collision avoidance.
Stantion -> bow of the other vessel

It’s a good method but only works if you’ve got a good autopilot or a good helm holding a steady course. Once you’ve altered course you have the start again whereas the bearing from a hbc carries on telling you if you’re now passing clear or not.

 

[25931]

It’s a good method but only works if you’ve got a good autopilot or a good helm holding a steady course. Once you’ve altered course you have the start again whereas the bearing from a hbc carries on telling you if you’re now passing clear or not.

In my delivery days an hbc was part of my personal kit.

 

[LittleSister]

It’s a good method but only works if you’ve got a good autopilot or a good helm holding a steady course.

And a boat big enough not to be thrown around by the waves/swell or be corkscrewing over them.

 

[Stemar]

I reckon it all depends on the kind of sailing you do. Pottering around in familiar waters, I'd say it's something to have on board, even if it doesn't get used much - like a first aid kit that gathers dust and out of date aspirins until the day you're really glad to have it. Crossing the Channel without radar or AIS, I'd say it's an essential bit of kit unless you're a LOT better than I am at judging the relative speed of that tanker - and the one behind it - and that other bugger that's coming the other way.

Since many who have radar and AIS have them in the same box, that's only one thing to go wrong so, even if you do have them, it's still something to have on board, but binos with a compass do a much better job, and don't have to cost the earth, especially when they're something else to have on board anyway.