Re: [Paddlewise] Really Decent Compass Units?

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_seasurf.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 18:56:47 -0700
Nick Schade wrote:
> 
> I don't have a favorite compass, but I do have a least favorite. Those damn
> orienteering compasses (Silva et al) are worse than useless on a boat.
> Maybe there is some special trick that they do well when orienteering, but
> even on land I don't like them. [snip]
> 
> BTW, I have an "Aquameter", I'm not sure who makes it, but it works well
> for me.
> 
> At 10:10 PM -0600 6/4/98, Philip Wylie wrote:
> 
> >For the readership at large what compasses would they rate
> >as the best if they could be catagorized to be among the top three?

I also like the Aquameter II. At about $50 US, it ain't cheap!  But, it
is easy to read, with large white numerals against a black background. 
There is a Ritchie model which is comparable in size and features to the
A II, but it uses somewhat smaller white numerals against a blue
background, which I find tougher to read.  It is also a few dollars more
than the A II.

Another desirable feature of the A II is that it comes with a base that
is firmly attached to the yak to which the compass "snaps" firmly.  This
allows the A II to be removed for safekeeping, or to be moved to another
boat (likewise equipped with a snap-on base), saving the cost of another
A II. (I can only paddle one boat at a time.)

I used an orienteering compass for mountaineering for 20 years, and it
worked well enough there.  For maintaining a course on water, however,
that style is definitely inferior.  FWIW, there are "sighting" compasses
made in the direct-reading style, and designed to be held at arm's
length, which serve the orienteering compass' function (taking a
bearing) better than the standard Silva orienteering compass.

-- 
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/
***************************************************************************
Received on Sat Jun 06 1998 - 18:51:28 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:29:57 PDT