Why do I carry a hand compass in my PFD when not on a major trip? - three reasons : - 1. A short day trip down Lane Cove River and around Sydney Harbour might be about 35km passing river junctions, numerous bends and inlets - my sense of direction is lousy and much to my suprise a compass plus laminated street maps have helped once or twice - reference recent trip report in Paddlewise. 2. What do you do when the fog comes down on a short trip? and theres ferries all around? 3. Imagine you were tipped in the water and separated from your kayak -you're disoriented, theres swell, chop (otherwise why would you fall out and get separated), spray, mist or fog and you're lucky if you can see anything but water. I'ld take a leaf out of Lindemans book and look at the compass and mutter keep swimming west! Tell me if this is silly tho' because touch wood I've not experienced it yet and I'm fairly inexperienced so could easily be talking nonsense! 4. Besides its small, takes up no room at all and my Mother in Law (whom I greatly respect) gave it to me! I'm not suggesting that a hand compass is an adequate substitute for a deck compass on major trips but on short trips I think its essential without being "over the top". And I carry it even when I've got a deck compass. All the best, (no sense of direction) PeterO Dave Uebele wrote: >So, in what order do people start adding more gear as you move beyond the newbie stage? If you >say you always bring a compass, when did you start doing that, how far out do you usually >paddle, etc? What is the criteria for something on/in the boat vs on the PFD? Shawn Baker wrote >A bilge pump, deck compass, paddlefloat, and chart will do you little good if you're >floating around in your PFD. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thank you for all the suggestions and tips. A compass was already on the list of things to get, so I really wasn't putting down compasses. Several people have spoken about a compass in the PFD in case you get separated from your kayak and need to spend some time in the water, swimming toward shore. Up in Pacific Northwest, the water is cold enough that this is not really an option. Trying to survive any length of time in the water is risky, hypothermia takes its toll fast. So if I end up in the water, I'm going to be focusing on getting back in the kayak asap. Will having more gear in the PFD make a wet re-entry more difficult? Somewhere the water is warmer, and less protected, it does make more sense to carry a complete survival kit in the PFD. Or in the event I do get separated from the kayak some place close enough to shore to make that a viable survival option. Need to start learning and then practicing rolls. A small compass you can take on walks when on shore is also a good idea. Having a spare in case your deck compass is lost or stolen is probably a good idea. I've tried using a compass while hiking, and my problem is I'm not in the habit of using the compass before I need it, to get a reference direction. Having one in my face (so to speak), on the deck of the kayak means I'm more likely to look at it. I've thought about a small portable GPS as an alternative to the compass, but not sure about spending the bucks, and will I have the same problem I have with the compass, not messing with it until I really need it? As we start going further afield, a marine radio, including marine weather listening ability seems like a good thing. thanks dave -- Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com) Spotted Dog Systems http://sptddog.com/daveu.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I've thought about a small portable GPS as an alternative > to the compass, but not sure about spending the bucks, and will > I have the same problem I have with the compass, not messing > with it until I really need it? A GPS without a magnetic compass is worse than worthless. You need both to make the thing actually useful. If you want to go with only one or the other, skip the GPS and take a compass. Personally, I like to have both. > As we start going further afield, a marine radio, including marine > weather listening ability seems like a good thing. I know I'm glad that I have one now. Richard Walker Houston, TX http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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