Which Handbearing Compass?

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LORDNELSON

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I feel that I should move on from my ex WD prismatic compass to a "proper" hand bearing compass. There seem to be two generally being offered by chandlers - the Iris 50 and the Axium 2, price difference about £17. Is it worthwhile paying the extra and, if so, why? Are there other models, and where should one buy to obtain a good price? Thanks.
 
But yourself a cheap pair of binoculars with built in compass for about the same price. Our local Aldi are still has a few left. I can get a repeatable reading on this to within a degree or so. Very reassuring if watching for a dragging anchor from the beach.

I have the plastimo compass but it's nowhere near as stable as the one in the binos.
 
Consider an electronic hand bearing compass. We have an Iris as well but the old autohelm compass is really useful and it remembers the last 10 bearing, particularly usefull in working out who is on a converging course.
 
The Autohelm is indeed very good, though scarce these days. There is one on eBay at present.
 
Can't use an electronic compass on the chart table, where my iris gets probably more use than it does as a bearing taker. One of the reasons I bought the iris over the axium, the iris card is far easier to read from above in addition to the eye 'scope'.

A slightly less obvious reason to go for the iris may be the neat little wooden brackets which hold it nicely and ready for use. This is definitely not a deal breaker, but there does seem to be a greater secondary market and back up for the iris than the axium.

I have no reason to push you to either, just stating my use and why I chose iris over axium.
 
I like the Plastimo Iris 50. It's easy to use and well damped but the photo-luminescence effect has "worn off" after several years

Anyone know if this can be fixed, by the way?
 
I'll throw a couple of others into this ...

Suunto Commander - I have this and really like it, the mount is strong and also lights the card (it glows for ages when taken away). It has locking trigger so take bearing - lock and read. It's well damped. Acts as steerung and hand compass

Citizen Electronic - amazing machine. Palm sized and accurate. Cheaper than any other electronic I've seen. Not only bearings / direction indicator but also temp etc. Ones I've seen I would suggest are as accurate as the Autohelm and a lot cheaper.

The Plastimo Iris 100 is popular, but not my cup of tea - prefer the upright Suunto.

I like both the Iris 50 and Axium 2 - looking in catalogues both have similar lumi-cards, damped, finding it hard to read what could justify such price difference. Except Axium comes with floating lanyard etc.

Quite a while ago PBO did a test on HH compasses and tbh - I wasn't impressed with results of some of the more usually seen ones ... I'll leave it there !
 
I've been using Axiums since the early 1970s -- the betalight versions and not the Axium 2. I bought my present one in Jan 2000 and it failed (loss of fluid) in 2002, replaced without question by the French manufacturer, and we are still using it. Very pleased with it and would buy the same again unless someone made a strong case for looking at something else. We do quite a lot of night passages and the beta light is a real boon.

I do not consider bins with integral compass to be a replacement for a HBC. Your HBC should be round your neck at all times in a pilotage situation, or a night watch, and if it isn't being used frequently you possibly need to learn how to use it properly. A good HBC is probably the most important and basic bit of kit you can carry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I like the Plastimo Iris 50. It's easy to use and well damped but the photo-luminescence effect has "worn off" after several years

Anyone know if this can be fixed, by the way?

[/ QUOTE ]

How "worn off"? If you try holding it up to an x-million candela spotlight for a few seconds is that sufficient to make it usable?
 
Is it still possible to get the Betalight version of the Axium? Mine is on the verge of giving up (and has a bubble too) and I can't find a replacement. My local chandler tells me that the only version available is the version which needs to be 'shone up' with a torch - is he right?
 
Sestrel Radiant, anyone?
Look at this page from SIRS- from about halfway down they show the beast in full colour!
They're full of good things like radioactive luninous coatings, and they weigh something like a kilogram-and-a-half, and they're painted navy-grey (probably lead-based paint), but they DO give single degree accuracy and you can see them at night!
I used one for a while, and even as a curiosity it's a thingy worth having, but you can't safely put them round your neck or in an oilie pocket any more than you could hand-hold a binnacle compass! I'd hate to know what a new one would cost!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is it still possible to get the Betalight version of the Axium? Mine is on the verge of giving up (and has a bubble too) and I can't find a replacement. My local chandler tells me that the only version available is the version which needs to be 'shone up' with a torch - is he right?

[/ QUOTE ] I don't know but in researching my reply I looked at the beta light website -- www.beta-light.com and they are offering a Mil Spec HBC at €79 plus VAT and postage. Looks good. Maybe someone has seen one at a boat show?

I was particularly impressed by the claim that it is dual use handbearing and traditional compass. Very interesting.
 
I bought a Plastimo Iris 50 for my boat, but found a Betalight compass in the inventory. I find the Betalight easier to use than the Iris 50.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sestrel Radiant, anyone?
Look at this page from SIRS- from about halfway down they show the beast in full colour!
They're full of good things like radioactive luninous coatings, and they weigh something like a kilogram-and-a-half, and they're painted navy-grey (probably lead-based paint), but they DO give single degree accuracy and you can see them at night!
I used one for a while, and even as a curiosity it's a thingy worth having, but you can't safely put them round your neck or in an oilie pocket any more than you could hand-hold a binnacle compass! I'd hate to know what a new one would cost!

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a Radiant - the older unlit version ex navy. It's been badly handled by someone in the past and prism is out of true giving rise to about 5 deg error. The lubber line - a fine wire just under the glass has come loose and the fluid (Isopropanol + distilled water) gets a bubble after a while.

So it's in my hands to repair and try to put back to service.

A full working one in good condition is one of the best you can get - but you have to pay for it !!
 
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I use the Silva 70 UN-E and wouldn't want to be without it.

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Suunto Commander knocks spots of the Silva ... honest ! But the again it was near 2x the price when I bought it years ago.
 
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