Elaine, Some people recomend that you mount the compass way up front so that you can see it while your eyes are on the horizon. The other alternative for your problem is to put the compass right on your spray skirt. This would make it harder to steer by compass while eyes are fixed ahead, but it would work all right. Part of good compass technique is to orient yourself to the motion of the water, and use the compass to check that you are staying on course. You could sew/seam and seal a couple of D-rings to each side of the front of your skirt and tie the bungies of one of the new suunto deck compasses to the d-rings. attatching the compass to the spray skirt means you will automatically take it with you when you get out of the boat too! What about mounting the compass under the brim of your hat? Whatever you decide you ought to try it out on familiar water before you go. I like to pretend that it is foggy from time to time and see how good a course I can keep. Good luck! Nick Lyle *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks, Nick. The idea of putting the compass on the spray skirt sounds doable, at least, a lot easier than a deck mount. How much does one have to pay for a reasonably good compass, and what should be looked for? I don't have kayak shops around, just places like West Marine. Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elaine Harmon wrote: > > The idea of putting the compass on the spray skirt sounds > doable, at least, a lot easier than a deck mount. How much does one have > to pay for a reasonably good compass, and what should be looked for? I > don't have kayak shops around, just places like West Marine. Small quarrel here with sprayskirt location for compass -- tougher to maintain course when you have to keep looking down, then back to the horizon(?) in front of you. In addition, in really thick fog, should you *have* to paddle in it, vertigo leading to seasickness is a strong likelihood. It will help if you do not have to swing your head down. Re: a good compass: Aquameter's Sailor II is my choice. About $50 US, and you can mail order the dude from NWOC (http://www.nwoc.com/), Alder Creek (http://www.aldercreek.com/), or Pacific Wave (http://www.teleport.com/~pacwave/). All these are in the Pacific Northwest, but shipping would only be a few dollars. To attach, you might need Aquaterra's bungie-mount ($12 US, I think), although for less you can make your own out of an end-cap for 4-inch PVC pipe (hardware store), a couple snaplinks, and 18 inches of bungie. I have the Sailor II on two singles and a double. Killer visible, and easily snaps off for theft prevention or impact avoidance. Also, lower profile than that Silva one which has been discussed here, IIRC. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Re: a good compass: Aquameter's Sailor II is my choice. About > $50 US, I use the Sailor II also. I've been very happy with it. I see Shipstore.com has them on sale for $34, but they don't seem to have the bungie mount. http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/RUL/RULA121.html I mounted mine on a round piece of stock that I then fitted to the top of my deck, but this may be easier on a wood kayak than fiberglass or plastic. http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/scanned/kroll2-19.jpg Woody *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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