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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:50:11 -0700
I had to replace the deck compass on our double.  Was surprised to find out 
Aquameter is out of business and their Sailor II is no longer made by Rule 
(rule acquired Aquameter).

Found a good one from Ritchie that is actually better than the Aquameter 
(their XP-99: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP81107956.htm ), but it 
is kinda spendy and a little higher profile.  A friend is also in the game 
for a deck compass, but the XP-99 is too steep for her.

I looked for the Suunto Orca, but can't find anyone who sells it any more. 
Is it gone, also?

The only low profile "entry level" deck compass I could find is the one 
from Seattle Sports: http://www.rei.com/product/752705  This looks to be a 
good value at 25 bucks.  Anybody have experience with this one?

Is there anything else out there in this price range or a little more, also 
low profile?

Thanks for the help.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Jennifer Pivovar <jpivovar_at_headwinds.org>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:39:33 -0400
On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:50 -0700, "Dave Kruger" <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
wrote:
... 
> I looked for the Suunto Orca, but can't find anyone who sells it any
> more. Is it gone, also?
...
Hi Dave,

I think Outdoorplay (.com) has the sununto still available - 
no affiliation, just an occasional customer

Jennifer
-- 
  Jennifer Pivovar
  jpivovar_at_headwinds.org
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From: Bradford R. Crain <crainb_at_pdx.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:47:40 -0700
Just out of curiousity Dr. Dave, how much do those various compasses cost?
(I can't define spendy or steep.)

Bradford R. Crain

Subject: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?


>I had to replace the deck compass on our double.  Was surprised to find out 
>Aquameter is out of business and their Sailor II is no longer made by Rule 
>(rule acquired Aquameter).
>
> Found a good one from Ritchie that is actually better than the Aquameter 
> (their XP-99: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP81107956.htm ), but it 
> is kinda spendy and a little higher profile.  A friend is also in the game 
> for a deck compass, but the XP-99 is too steep for her.
>
> I looked for the Suunto Orca, but can't find anyone who sells it any more. 
> Is it gone, also?
>
> The only low profile "entry level" deck compass I could find is the one 
> from Seattle Sports: http://www.rei.com/product/752705  This looks to be a 
> good value at 25 bucks.  Anybody have experience with this one?
>
> Is there anything else out there in this price range or a little more, 
> also low profile?
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> -- 
> Dave Kruger
> Astoria, OR
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:19:38 -0700
Bradford R. Crain wrote:
> Just out of curiousity Dr. Dave, how much do those various compasses cost?
> (I can't define spendy or steep.)

Ritchie XP-99:  ca. $65  (no mount)

Brunton 58:  ca. $65 (includes mount; ready to go);  thanks Jennifer! 
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=7443

Sailor II:  ca. $70 (EBay; no mount; I use the end cap for some 4-inch ABS 
sewer pipe; same arrangement serves the XP-99)

Sunnto Orca:  $45 - $55  (ready to go)

Seattle Sports SeaRover:  $25  (ready to go; harder to read) 
http://www.rei.com/product/752705

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:52:44 -0700
On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 9:19 AM, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:

>
>
> Seattle Sports SeaRover:  $25  (ready to go; harder to read)
> http://www.rei.com/product/752705
>
> My Nimbus Telkwa has a nifty compas mounting waaayyy up in the pointy end.
This is an advantage in that you can keep your eye on the compass course
without continually shifting your vision down to a compass that's close to
you. My problem was that the compass I mounted up there was so hard to read
that I never could see the readings properly.

Too close also presents problems.

I think I would like a compass mounted well forward but with BIG course
markings on it.

But frankly, any more I just use a GPS.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:33:25 -0700
Craig Jungers wrote:

> I think I would like a compass mounted well forward but with BIG course
>  markings on it.
> 
> But frankly, any more I just use a GPS.

Ditto on both.  When (not if) the GPS craters, I want the charts and the 
compass ready to go.

BTW, Craig, of the ones I detailed, the only one with markings large enough 
for we oldsters is the Ritchie XP-99.  It is a well-made compass, 
specifically for kayaks (no compensation, of course).  And, there is an 
*outer* bezel you can rotate so the heading you want to maintain is on the 
lubber line; this makes holding that heading is a much easier job -- both 
scales have to match -- lining up any identical pair of numbers does the 
job, even if your eye is off the lubber line a bit.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Low Profile Deck Compass?
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:48:01 -0700
On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 11:33 AM, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:

>
> Ditto on both.  When (not if) the GPS craters, I want the charts and the
> compass ready to go.
>

I just break out the *other* GPS.  :P

I'm still pretty partial to using charts but learning to deal with those
presented on electronic displays.


>
> BTW, Craig, of the ones I detailed, the only one with markings large enough
> for we oldsters is the Ritchie XP-99.  It is a well-made compass,
> specifically for kayaks (no compensation, of course).  And, there is an
> *outer* bezel you can rotate so the heading you want to maintain is on the
> lubber line; this makes holding that heading is a much easier job -- both
> scales have to match -- lining up any identical pair of numbers does the
> job, even if your eye is off the lubber line a bit.


That does sound like a good compass. After years of following compass
courses I suspect I just do it automatically; it's ingrained. But it's much
easier to line up something. Eric Hiscock, who, with his wife Susan, circled
the earth numerous times in several versions of "Wanderer" used a compass
that glowed in the dark and had the ability to indicate by two adjustable
lines where to steer. He and Susan hand-steered most of those
circumnavigations; their only relief was when they were in the trades and
could rig wing-and-wing sails with the sheets connected to the boat's
tiller. Then they both got a full night's sleep every night. LOL.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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