Recommend me a compass...

Sire

Sire

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I'm looking for a compass that will serve as a steering compass and that is also removable to use for hand bearings. Maybe folks on here have some suggestions and advice?

Our boat (17' trailer sailer) originally had a Suunto Commander, but that stayed with the ex-owner.

I've looked online, and they are quite pricey, the best I found was here:
http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/hand-bearing-compasses/suunto/commander-compass667691.bhtml

Locally I can get something similar (Plastimo I think?)
like this:
http://www.motonet.fi/web/guest/etusivu#productid=38-7347
But somehow I don't like that quite as much, also I think it would be a bit awkward to read as our cockpit bulkhead slopes quite noticeably. The Suunto's bracket has got the correct angle more or less already built in.

Does anyone have any comments or other (ahem... inexpensive) suggestions?

Thanks!
 
The Bosun compass was a popular grid type steering compass back in the 1970-80s
Nowt wrong with it .... I still use one ... but it is a big gimballed steering compass with a 4" card and approx 8" across its mounting bracket.

Look at the full range offered by Mailspeed marine http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/hand-bearing-compasses.bhtml

I know of no others to consider.

I think I would choose one of the Silva ones.

Don't neglect the advisability of a second compass.

You might also like to look at what is available in the way of car compasses, at least as a steering compass.
I have seen one on a simple swinging bracket that was quite adequate for the 17 foot Lysander it was on. Sailed with it in fact!
 
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zetorpilot said:
I'm looking for a compass that will serve as a steering compass and that is also removable to use for hand bearings.
Click to expand...

I was quite tempted by one of these, once

silva%20compass%20handheld%2070un.jpg


On the whole, though, I would normally prefer to have two different compasses, and I like being able to keep my hand bearing compass around my neck for checking bearings of things - at night, particularly.

If it's of any interest, I've got a Ritchie compass going spare. One of these, I think

10354.gif


Brand new and boxed, though old stock. PM me if you're interested. £30 including postage would do fine.
 
Hi folks

Thanks very much for the replies.

I've had a look at the bosun compass and it does look a bit large for my boat.

That Silva looks very much like what I had in mind - quite a bit cheaper than the Suunto too.

Thanks again

"Z"
 
Lots of dinghy sailors have got rid of perfectly good compasses to use 'TackTick' electronic ones.
So you might get a reasonable used boat compass cheaply, then get a proper handbearing one.
Those Silva ones are OK, but not great at either job.
If you want to do fixes 'the hard way' paying for a good HB compass that works with your eyesight will make it a lot more worthwhile IMHO.
 
Thanks.

I still have the feeling that the Silva will be adequate, after all the previous owner had something very similar.

Remember I'll be sailing on a lake, although rather a large one (1700 square miles). The geography is such that there are few really large open areas and navigation is basically pilotage. There are lots of navigation markers.

Out of interest, how do folks handle variation, deviation and so on for this type of navigation?
In the past, for example when walking in the wilds, I've first compared the compass bearing of something big and straight like a road or the edge of a building, with the map bearing of the same object, and from then on simply applied the same difference to all my bearings.

I presume that this approach is more than adequate for the type of pilotage / navigation I'd be doing on the lake?

Thanks again

"Z"
 
I've always taken the view that deviation will be less than the error in reading the compass, if there are no large magnetic objects on the boat.
Variation is used though.
It always pays to accept that your compass reading is not exact, particular with a bit of chop running. Choosing landmarks to use with this in mind can help.
 
zetorpilot said:
Out of interest, how do folks handle variation, deviation and so on for this type of navigation?
Click to expand...

Hand bearing compasses can be used at different places on a boat, and might therefore have different deviations each time they are used. Generally handled by using them as far away as possible from magnetic materials, then ignoring residual deviation. If the compass is being used as a steering compass, always mounted in the same position, then the boat can be 'swung' in known directions to prepare a deviation table.

Variation is usually specified on marine charts. If you don't know the variation in your locality, then you can get a reasonable estimate from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IGRF_2000_magnetic_declination.gif.
 
zetorpilot said:
Thanks.

I still have the feeling that the Silva will be adequate, after all the previous owner had something very similar.

Remember I'll be sailing on a lake, although rather a large one (1700 square miles). The geography is such that there are few really large open areas and navigation is basically pilotage. There are lots of navigation markers.

Out of interest, how do folks handle variation, deviation and so on for this type of navigation?
In the past, for example when walking in the wilds, I've first compared the compass bearing of something big and straight like a road or the edge of a building, with the map bearing of the same object, and from then on simply applied the same difference to all my bearings.

I presume that this approach is more than adequate for the type of pilotage / navigation I'd be doing on the lake?

Thanks again

"Z"
Click to expand...

Why not buy a handheld GPS instead?
 
I have a Plastimo Iris 100, this comes with a bracket so you can mount it where convenient and lift it out to use as a hand bearing compass. You can also buy extra brackets and have alternative mounting positions. It works well for both steering and taking bearings. The only slight niggle is the lighting which I find just a shade too dim.
 
I've got a Suunto as in the pic.I find it easy to use.The card can be locked,and there is a backlight in the mounting.I use mine for both steering and for taking bearings.When I was looking for another as a spare I waited until one came up on the 'Bay'.We use the Silva ones at work.The 'bowls' tend to fall out an a regular basis,but they do get a lot of 'stick' in their ready use mounting.
Cheers
 
Just to follow up, I ended up getting one of the Silva ones. I found a "new old stock" one on eBay in the UK at a very good price. It's good to know it's weakness (from caiman) - forewarned is forearmed, so to speak ;)

Regards

"Z"
 
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