Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

[BugsBunnyBoater]

With all the high tec items we have today have most people forgotten or dont know how to use their boats campass.
I know a lot of us have vhf and gps and other items but do we really a bit to much on them.
I know I have never been out of sight of land on my boat but if I had to only use my compass I would be in Trouble.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

My boat does not have one but I would like to add a backlit Ritchie compass after while, I know which direction is which.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

The compass on my boat is out of a cereal box. Works great.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

Does Captain Crunch give marine compasses away in each box?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

A better question would be do you know how to plot a course on a chart and run it with only a compass and stopwatch. A compass without charts and a timer is almost useless. Probably only 1 in a 100, or less, can.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

I boated from Clearwater, FL to Key West, FL by compass only, was 27 miles off shore after naples...

I "thought" I knew what I was doing, but it turns out, you can take a compass heading, and have wind/current move you so you dont end up where you were going...

Instead of key west I arrived in marathon... (at least I wasnt lost at sea )

So to answer your question, no, even with a good compass I wouldn't trust using just that. hehe

 

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

I have to remember that you are not lost until you know you are lost

 

[Ned L]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

I use the compass constantly. Glance at the chart plotter for bouys obstructions etc (just as if it were a paper chart), at the beginning of a run to get my heading & then steer & hold my course by compass. (Everyone should know how to plot a course & adjust for set & drift.) I will admit that the chart plotter is convenient for knowing where I am, and that's where I like to keep it.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

No I can't and I hate to say that!

The compass on my boat looks like it came out of a cereal box, heck, one out of a cereal box might be better than what I have!

It is one of the skills on my list to learn though. I don't boat in an area where I need one yet, but I want to know how to do it all the same. I love electronics but I feel you should always be able to find your way with out them.

Anybody know of any good resources for learning how to navigate on water by compass? Books, CD's, DVD's, online turorials, etc?

Thanks!

 

[KurtG]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

When sailing, we kind of used the compass and triangulation method. No electronics on our boat
Doesn't work so well if you don't have charts...and you end up in a bombing range Don't ask, I was only a passenger at the time.

I'm a fair weather boater now, so always within a few hundred yards of shore.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

I boated from Clearwater, FL to Key West, FL by compass only, was 27 miles off shore after naples...

I "thought" I knew what I was doing, but it turns out, you can take a compass heading, and have wind/current move you so you dont end up where you were going...

Instead of key west I arrived in marathon... (at least I wasnt lost at sea )

So to answer your question, no, even with a good compass I wouldn't trust using just that. hehe

To quote Capt. Ron, "if we get lost we'll just stop and ask directions."

 

[Mark42]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

A compass alone is of limited value. But if you have charts, its priceless.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: Do you or can you use your boats Compass?

We fish the great lakes several times a year and i always use my compass. I have learned to read it well enough to get us back to our dock.