RE: [Paddlewise] Really Decent Compass Units?

The Small-Craft Nav-Aid is the most efficient and easy to use system 
 I've found for taking bearings from a chart while on the water. Much 
 easier than a hand-held compass.
 
 Bill Howard
 
 
 On Mon, 8 Jun 1998 10:35:25 +0100 Colin Calder <c.j.calder_at_abdn.ac.uk> 
 wrote:
 
 > 
 > 
 > I use a Ritchie deck mounted compass, but also carry a silva 'orienteering'
 > style compass. The main design feature of these compasses is that they have
 > a ruler and protractor built into the base plate (That is why they have a
 > rotating bezel, *not* for taking sights of distant objects). While I agree
 > that a deck mounted compass is the best tool for taking bearings from a
 > kayak and holding a course, the silva compass/protractor is extremely useful
 > in a kayak for taking bearings and distances from a chart/map, and is always
 > there for use as a spare compass.
 > 
 > For those of you who don't carry a silva style compass, how do you take
 > bearings from your chart ???
 > 
 > Compass trivia: ever tried to use a silva style compass manufactured for use
 > in the Northern hemisphere in the southern hemisphere, or vice versa? Lines
 > of magnetic force do not run parrallel over the whole surface of the earth,
 > at the poles for example, the magnetic force is *down*. The needle of a
 > compass is balanced to sit horizontally in which ever magnetic zone it was
 > designed to be primarily used in, and for a Northern hemisphere compass the
 > balance is on the wrong end of the needle in the southern hemisphere, where
 > it sits irritatingly against the base plate.
 > 
 > Cheers
 > 
 > Colin Calder
 > 57º19'N  2º10'W
 > 
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 ----------------------
 bill howard
 howard_at_bc.edu
 Boston College
 

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