At 08:56 AM 4/12/98 +0000, you wrote: >If you don't want to buy and install a deck mounted compass, >the least you should do is make sure you have a rinkydink >one permantently stowed in one of your hatches. I have a pathtfinder compass from REI on a lanyard and is a permenant part of my PFD along with the flares, signal mirror, light, whistle, knife, watch, strobe, and radio. The compass is fluid dampened, and the lanyard (shoelace) is long enough to lay the compass on the spray skirt which works "fair" even in choppy water. OK, the GPS blew a circuit and I traded it in on a tent and backpack. Now I'm looking at a replacement, but the technology is like computers. . . moving so fast that I don't want to spend good money on the obsolete stuff --like the $250 Garmin that was "up-teched" two weeks after my purchase. I'm looking for a decent deck compass that will mount on the peaked deck of my GTS. But the hand-held should be, I think, a back-up IN the PFD. ------------------------------------------------------- George Bergeron, Secretary OSWEGO HERITAGE COUNCIL P.O. Box 1041, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 Web Site: http://www.europa.com/~heritage/welcome.html Email: heritage_at_europa.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Geo. Bergeron wrote: > > I'm looking for a decent deck compass that will mount on the peaked > deck of my GTS. But the hand-held should be, I think, a back-up IN the PFD. The Aquameter II is a "best buy," I think. Big, easy to read, comes with a "snap-fit" to the mounting circle for easy removal when not in use -- to prevent somebody swiping it off your deck, and very accurate, far as I can tell. Both NWOC (http://www.nwoc.com/) and Pacific Wave (http://www.aone.com/~pacwave/no_frames.html) sell it, and I think I saw one at Alder Creek (http://www.aldercreek.com/) in Portland, too. Around $50 US in paddleshops, and has an optional accessory bungie-through-a-pipe-cap deal ($12 US?) that you can custom fit to the crown in your deck and hook to padeyes. If the bungie attachments are undesirable (they are not super secure, and look kinda scummy), the pipe cap can be bolted to the deck. OTOH, you can buy a PVC pipe cap from a hardware store and saw/carve/file/sand to fit the crown of the deck. Saves a couple bucks. Did that with one of my yaks, and liked it better than the Aquameter accessory. Sexy black color. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hey, Dave, thanks for the tip. I think we will be needing four of them, and it is nice to be referred to quality and good price. Cheers, Philip Wylie Dave Kruger wrote: > Geo. Bergeron wrote: > > > > I'm looking for a decent deck compass that will mount on the peaked > > deck of my GTS. But the hand-held should be, I think, a back-up IN the PFD. > > The Aquameter II is a "best buy," I think. Big, easy to read, comes > with a "snap-fit" to the mounting circle for easy removal when not in > use -- to prevent somebody swiping it off your deck, and very accurate, > far as I can tell. Both NWOC (http://www.nwoc.com/) and Pacific Wave > (http://www.aone.com/~pacwave/no_frames.html) sell it, and I think I saw > one at Alder Creek (http://www.aldercreek.com/) in Portland, too. > > Around $50 US in paddleshops, and has an optional accessory > bungie-through-a-pipe-cap deal ($12 US?) that you can custom fit to the > crown in your deck and hook to padeyes. If the bungie attachments are > undesirable (they are not super secure, and look kinda scummy), the pipe > cap can be bolted to the deck. > > OTOH, you can buy a PVC pipe cap from a hardware store and > saw/carve/file/sand to fit the crown of the deck. Saves a couple > bucks. Did that with one of my yaks, and liked it better than the > Aquameter accessory. Sexy black color. > > -- > Dave Kruger > Astoria, OR > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I just want to give you my 0.02$ of opinion. 1) You must have a compass when kayaking on larger bodies of water (and a map of the area). Any compass! 2) It's nice, if not even a must have too, to have a deck mounted compass when kayaking. It's easier to follow a bearing without digging the handheld out all the times (espcl. in rough water). 3) For planing and orientation with and on the map, it is nice to have a handheld compass as well. 4) To make life really comfortable it is very nice to have a GPS. A basic unit in the 100$US range is sufficient for seakayaking. IF you can afford one with mapping capability its even better. BUT you need a compass anyway, since a GPS is not a compass and it might fail (saltwater and electronics are sometimes not good friends). What do I use? Well I carry a mid price range Silva hiking compass (was ~30$CAD), and a deck mounted Suunto Orca. The hiking compass is nice, the deck mounted Orca could use larger and easier to read numbers but for 50$CAD it does a good job. Since it is straped to the deck with bungees I had to carve a base plate for it. But it is easy to remove and set up. However, next time I would take a closer look at the Ritchy kayak models. Their numbers look a bit easier to read. Whatever combination of the above shouldn't cost you in the 100 US$ range or less. As a hiker you might want to look in a model with a aiming mirror, but they are not much more expensive then the ones without (at least those from the brand mentioned above). Cheers Ulli *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Gabriel L Romeu" <romeug_at_erols.com> > The hand held > facilitates taking bearings from the kayak, generally from 2 points > anywhere from a 360 degree axis of the paddler. This may be done with a > deck compass, but is very cumbersome having to rotate and point your > bow. One option to avoid this are compasses similar to the Nexus ( fka Silva) 70UN and 70UNE. These attach to the deck in a mount that allows them to be removed easily and held for taking bearings. The plus side includes: a good handheld design (made for sighting without a mirror). They float if you drop them. Down side includes: they are kinda bulky compared to a flush mount and some folks complain of them coming loose (though this hasn't yet happened to me yet). The standard mount is best for a flat deck though a vee mount is supposedly available for kayaks. I made my own base for the mount out of a block of wood. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_home.com> > From: "Gabriel L Romeu" <romeug_at_erols.com> > > > > The hand held > > facilitates taking bearings from the kayak, generally from 2 points > > anywhere from a 360 degree axis of the paddler. This may be done with a > > deck compass, but is very cumbersome having to rotate and point your > > bow. > > One option to avoid this are compasses similar to the Nexus ( fka Silva) > 70UN and 70UNE. These attach to the deck in a mount that allows them > to be removed easily and held for taking bearings. > > The plus side includes: a good handheld design (made for sighting without > a mirror). They float if you drop them. > > Down side includes: they are kinda bulky compared to a flush mount and > some folks complain of them coming loose (though this hasn't yet happened > to me yet). I have the Silva UN70 which I have not used in quite a while. When I did, I tethered it with a thin piece of chord. The unit has a tiny hole in its handle or base that allows this. This way it can't come loose. And as indicated the unit will float if overboard. Its compass card is highly visible from all angles and the needle dampens in a split second. It makes a great hand bearing compass because of the almost pistol-like grip handle. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
These dual purpose compasses may be used quite well if you have either one of Chuck Sutherland's Nav aid or a grid and compass rose printed on transparent mylar. the plastic base I described on a common transparent compass is necessary to apply readings on a chart, for both distance and bearing calculations. these dual purpose will not perform this function. floating is good in any piece of equipment related to kayaking except to the fishermen I imagine. regards, gabriel ralph diaz wrote: > > From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_home.com> > > > From: "Gabriel L Romeu" <romeug_at_erols.com> > > > > > > > The hand held > > > facilitates taking bearings from the kayak, generally from 2 points > > > anywhere from a 360 degree axis of the paddler. This may be done with a > > > deck compass, but is very cumbersome having to rotate and point your > > > bow. > > > > One option to avoid this are compasses similar to the Nexus ( fka Silva) > > 70UN and 70UNE. These attach to the deck in a mount that allows them > > to be removed easily and held for taking bearings. > > > > The plus side includes: a good handheld design (made for sighting without > > a mirror). They float if you drop them. > > > > Down side includes: they are kinda bulky compared to a flush mount and > > some folks complain of them coming loose (though this hasn't yet happened > > to me yet). > > I have the Silva UN70 which I have not used in quite a while. When I did, I > tethered it with a thin piece of chord. The unit has a tiny hole in its > handle or base that allows this. This way it can't come loose. And as > indicated the unit will float if overboard. Its compass card is highly > visible from all angles and the needle dampens in a split second. It makes > a great hand bearing compass because of the almost pistol-like grip handle. > > ralph diaz -- Gabriel L Romeu http://studiofurniture.com ©©©©© furniture from the workshop http://studiofurniture.com/diary ©©©©© life as a tourist, daily journal http://studiofurniture.com/paint ©©©©© paintings, photographs, etchings, objects *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I am not sure whether you mean the rotating bezel Steve. Actually, I am not sure what you mean not having seen the type of compass you are referring to. Declination is a necessary calculation (adjustment) when you are transferring data to and from the chart. If you are plotting your course and writing down bearings on the chart, you will (of course) compensate for declination so that the reading on your deck compass reads true without the need to perform the mental calculations. The rotating bezel is necessary (or may I change the absolute to 'most accommodating to have any sort of accuracy in') to transfer bearing readings onto the chart unless you are using a 'Nav Aid', parallel rules, or a device I made with a grid and a compass rose on transparency paper with declination compensated for. The true north part of the compass rose is pretty much neglected by my methods. In fact, true north has little relevance unless you have your gps preferences set to it. I wouldn't consider a hand held without a rotating bezel. > > Steve Scherrer wrote: > > > > I would skip the part about looking for a compass with adjustable > > declination/ variation. We teach boaters to NEVER use this feature as it > > will be a different bearing than the Marine compass on your deck, with no > > adjustment options. Don't get confused, don't adjust variation on the > > compass. > > -- Gabriel L Romeu http://studiofurniture.com ©©©©© furniture from the workshop http://studiofurniture.com/diary ©©©©© life as a tourist, daily journal http://studiofurniture.com/paint ©©©©© paintings, photographs, etchings, objects *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Volin wrote: > > Peter Chopelas wrote, > > <snippity> > > When I learned about nautical navigation I was surprised to learn that > > there is no need to ever concern yourself with declination because the > > charts are all set up be able to use magnetic north exclusively (perhaps > > the USGS who makes the land maps could learn something from the nautical > > charts). If you never intend to use the hand held compass for land > > navigation then absolutely you do not need or want to worry about > > declination, it would only serve to confuse you. > > Would you explain your reasoning further, Peter? I know that the compass > rose on a nautical chart shows both true and magnetic, but the hash lines > (?) on these charts are aligned to true north/south, east/west. So it seems > to me that one has to pay close attention to variation on a nautical chart. > Of course, if you have a Nav-Aid, everything is much easier (I have no > connection with the good Dr. Sutherland). A quick and dirty method which avoids this problem is to lay out parallel lines of magnetic north on 3-8 cm separations. This allows taking "good enough" *magnetic* bearings directly off the chart. I have a Weems and Plath device which resembles a monster protractor adapted to using such lines for taking accurate bearings off the chart. It is not very useful in a jouncy cockpit, but it works well the night before a paddle for laying out the bearings you expect to need. I think most of what I do is described in Burch's book. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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