no ships compass - am I silly?

[dylanwinter]

the slug came with a massive gimballed and beautifuilly engineered compass that stuck out of a bulkhead

it was obviously from a much larger vessel

after catching the sheets, my knees and my hand on it I soon stopped bringing it out from below and putting it into the bracket.

I started using a handbearing compass and a hand held GPS

The compass now lives in my garage

so I use two gps devices and a hand bearing compass

is there any chance that I might one day sail off the edge


Dylan

 

[sailorman]

the slug came with a massive gimballed and beautifuilly engineered compass that stuck out of a bulkhead

it was obviously from a much larger vessel

after catching the sheets, my knees and my hand on it I soon stopped bringing it out from below and putting it into the bracket.

I started using a handbearing compass and a hand held GPS

The compass now lives in my garage

so I use two gps devices and a hand bearing compass

is there any chance that I might one day sail off the edge of the sea


Dylan

as long as the HH can be used to steer by no probs

 

[capnsensible]

You'll be fine....until it rains eek

 

[Pleiades]

Garage steering compass

You are however well prepared for the next big storm - you will be able to steer a perfect course when your garage blows away, provided of course that you have had the additional presence of mind to be securely harnessed to a suitable stong fixing point.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[johnalison]

It depends on what sailing you do. I get the impession that bouncing off mud banks and dodging the odd seagull is your kind of thing, in which case a steering compass may be a luxury. If you are happy to put up with the chance of having to helm while squinting across a hand-bearing compass when the fog comes down, you're welcome. I think that having a compass to glance at occasionally can be useful, if only for spotting wind-shifts as they happen. Mine also occupies a hole that would look very naked if the compass weren't there.

 

[Boathook]

The edge - be very careful as this is where the wild things are and rumour has it sink boats ......

For your mud hopping a hand bearing is ok. A way of mounting it may be handy for constant use in fog, etc. I suspect that you could make something up with gaffer tape and cable ties !

 

[fireball]

I can't remember the last time I "steered to compass"

It's in the most stupid place ever - on the binnacle in front of the wheel ... How can I see that properly when I'm sat beside the wheel and watching the genoa ... ?

In fact, last time I did try to steer to compass I found that it was too close to me (different boat - but same position) and therefore was difficult to use. Put it further away so you're not constantly shifting your focus from near to far and it becomes much easier ...

 

[SAWDOC]

You are however well prepared for the next big storm - you will be able to steer a perfect course when your garage blows away, provided of course that you have had the additional presence of mind to be securely harnessed to a suitable stong fixing point.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[Salty John]

Dylan, you're dicing with death once again! This is almost as foolhardy as boiling sealed cans on your stove. Without the compass, how will you know where you're going, or where you've been?
You're getting too old to keep taking these foolish risks. Stay at home and build a punt, or something.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

is there any chance that I might one day sail off the edge

Marvin Creamer got round the world without, so I predict you will be fine.

 

[mjcoon]

is there any chance that I might one day sail off the edge

For that you will need a depth sounder with an "infinite" alarm...

Mike.

 

[Pleiades]

Garage steering compass

And what choice of anchor would the panel recommend Dylan fits to his garage should he wish to slow progress downwind at any point on the voyage? I doubt if garages heave too particulalry well..... unless of course it is an average white mass produced sort of flat bottomed garage, in which case it will perform sparklingly in the meerest puff of breeze....

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[dylanwinter]

rain

You'll be fine....until it rains eek

hand bearing compass is waterproof, gps waterproof, helm waterproof.

the good thing about the hand bearing compass is that you can move it to a place on deck where it is close to your eyeline - say when watching the sails

and I wonder - could you really sail better course using a big old compass that you could using a small good quality handbearing compas


provided you had it in the right place and not right on top of the battery compartment for instance

as for the duck punt and garage.... first coat of paint just gone on - garage still in need of repair work

I swore I would never build another boat and here I am having great fun building it small and dirty

very excited about the much expected arrival of oppy rig for test sail after Christmas on local clay pit

Dylan



Dylan

 

[creeksailor]

I have used a handheld as a main compass for a few years now with no probs.

Good luck with the punt. They are spot on for the mudflats and getting in those little nooks or hiding behind that tuft of samphire to watch the birdlife. Sharpen your chisels and use west on your scarf Although they look simple enough to build I was fortunate to have John help me build my punt in his boatshed.



Best.
Tony

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

Tony

OMFG. You own Shoal Waters!!! Thanks for writing a blog about it/her/you.

 

[dunedin]

I can't remember the last time I "steered to compass" .

+1 (I fear we might get some "advice" incoming)

 

[westernman]

We have a steering compass. It only comes out at night when we are well offshore (i.e. only stars/moon as points of reference). The crew on watch look at it from time to time to make sure the autopilot is not playing silly buggers (which up to now it never has).

I can't bear the thought of sailing through the night in the wrong direction.

 

[Seajet]

Dylan,

your Hand Bearing compass is probably not illuminated in any user friendly way to steer by in poor vis'...

I was once on a boat with a bulkhead compass, + HB job, radar, chart plotter & 2 depth sounders ( the latter being much under-rated when combined with a compass ).

The main compass failed very quickly, with the card jammed, but I thought 'I'm a smart-a**e with all the electronics, I'm fireproof'...

In thick fog the electrics failed and I lost the lot, it was a subtly shelving shoreline contour so nav' judging depth by a line on a spanner - while steering by a hand compass up to my eye, and engine on, while keeping a lookout - to find the harbour entrance was out.

Had an unpleasant night at anchor just off a main channel; with a proper functioning illuminated main compass ( and a watch, or ideally a trail log, I do use it ) I'd have been tucked up warm in bed.

 

[Norman_E]

the slug came with a massive gimballed and beautifuilly engineered compass that stuck out of a bulkhead

it was obviously from a much larger vessel

after catching the sheets, my knees and my hand on it I soon stopped bringing it out from below and putting it into the bracket.

I started using a handbearing compass and a hand held GPS

The compass now lives in my garage

so I use two gps devices and a hand bearing compass

is there any chance that I might one day sail off the edge


Dylan

I have seen those old charts made in the days before the earth was round. I think you are quite safe as long as you keep turning left!

 

[webcraft]

.
We fitted a Plastmo bulkhead compass into a spare washboard because we felt guilty that we didn't have an old-fashioned steering compass - but since we did that we have never used it. We use the GPS, chartplotter or Navik to steer. It is however nice to know that we have a proper steering compass should the need arise. There are two wires with a plug on the end stashed away that can be connected to light the compass up at night.

- W