Put me down as one who uses the main steering compass, the two side deck compasses, a hand held compass and a compass in my binocs often, possibly at least two of them every time I sail.
Maybe it comes from my offshore miles or more likely it comes from my enjoyment of old school sailing/navigating. I have used ded reckoning to check GPS and still carry my sextant when headed outside the sight of land. To be clear, I really enjoy GPS and Calypso's chart plotter. I make great use of the GPS feed of COG and SOG when monitoring the effect of current and leeway. I would struggle to choose just one modern electronic navigation aid if forced to do so but a compass is the most basic nav aid and indispensable. For example; in 6 of 9 Hawaii crossings I have experienced some sort of significant electrical system failure. A compass, paper charts, a sextant (with paper reduction tables), and a small battery powered GPS, in that order were used to make safe landfall. My first 4 Hawaii trips were before GPS. The fancy electronic nav aid on board was a RDF. IIRC myself and the other navigator would have given a left nut for a magical GPS like position after 2 weeks in overcast skies and the smell of fir trees (off Vancouver Island) in the air. As it turned out we were within a few miles of our ded reckoning and made the entrance of the Straits of Juan de Fuca without undue drama. I recommend you keep a compass and the skills to use it if you expect to be voyaging beyond your home waters or in limited visibility. If not, at least watch "Capt Ron" enough times to know where to drop in and ask for directions. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of OldSteveH Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 9:17 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Mounting chartplotter now Compass Deviation Who uses their compass for navigation these days anyways? Holding a course - yes, navigation - not likely. Deviation doesn't matter much for simply holding a course. And if your GPS malfunctions you turn it off, thus removing any compass deviation caused by it. Steve Hood S/V Diamond Girl C&C 34 Lions Head ON ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:28:03 -0800 (PST) From: "Dennis C." <capt...@yahoo.com> To: "cnc-list@cnc-list.com" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Mounting chartplotter now Compass Deviation Message-ID: <1359127683.65331.yahoomail...@web121906.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I have a RAM mike, Nexus display and a GPS mounted near the binnacle compass. ?The magnet in the speaker causes a 5-7 degree deviation in the compass. ?I have an alternate mike clip on a bulkhead below the pedestal when I want to eliminate the error. The Nexus and GPS don't seem to have much effect on the compass. Dennis C. >________________________________ > From: Steve Thomas <sthom...@sympatico.ca> >To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 7:49 AM >Subject: Re: Stus-List Mounting chartplotter now Compass Deviation > > > >I have found?2 small electronic items that had a powerful influence on the compass - a hand held radio and a cell phone.?The effect?was particularly bad when?clipped on to a binoculars holder mounted in front of?the binnacle. That binoculars holder has held all kinds of things that affected the compass and I am more careful with what I put in there now. Screwdrivers, rigging knives, spare or spent AA cells, pliers, - all had measurable effect and are now banned. Aluminum beer cans don't seem to?be a problem and they fit nicely. >? >I agree with all the comments about not worrying too much about your chart plotter, so long as?you?take a thoughtful approach to the?power leads and test your set up. >? >-----Original Message----- >From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com]On Behalf Of Chris Ford >Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 8:39 AM >To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >Subject: Re: Stus-List Mounting chartplotter near magnetic compass (ChrisFord) > > >Thanks all for your ideas on this one; your input will help me find a work-around.? I guess the manufacturers' guidance is there for a reason, even if the reason is CYA!?? - Chris >_______________________________________________ >This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://cnc-list.com/pipermail/cnc-list_cnc-list.com/attachments/20130125/5d 79af03/attachment-0001.html> ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
