Compasses to avoid?

[science abuse]

It's a fairly simple device, but once your over the horizon, nothing is more vital. I have had problems with a Sunto in the past, and thought I might ask here what magnetic compass brands are most reliable and accurate, or which are least reliable.


Many thanks
Eric G.

[Submarine Tom]

The compass "swung" properly is usually the most accurate.

I find the stars to be remarkably accurate.

-Tom

[CDK]

When the bottom membrane of my Suunto cracked and the oil dripped out, I bought a new one. Because there should be at least one magnetic compass on a boat and because removing the old one left two holes that needed to be covered again. But the price was outrageous.

For the equivalent of $15 I bought a waterproof fluxgate compass that also is a clock, a calendar and a stopwatch. It is powered by a lithium battery which lasts for more than a year if you don't use the illumination too often. And it is also more accurate than the Suunto.....

[science abuse]

I do have a couple of good handheld compasses that I use ashore in the mountains and woods. This one needs to be hands-free and easy enough to read from a couple of feet away:
It will be mounted between my legs, facing up, to give me my heading while rowing. I'm a bit of an oar-tugging enthusiast, and am planning an over-the-horizon trip next August (if you're curious, I'll start another thread in an appropriate forum). A GPS will be handy in emergencies, but when I'm tugging away it will be nice to just glance down to keep her true.

[Kay9]

Bigger the card the slower the swing. For a small boat you want the biggest card you can stand. It will swing less in your small boat and make it a lot easier to steer a true (magnetic course). Just remember:
Dead
Men
Can
Vote
At
Weddings

K9

[science abuse]

There should be very little deviance from the craft itself, as it's all UHMW with the occasional bit of aluminum. Off hand, I can't think of anything ferrous that will be along for the ride. Even those who question my sanity say I have big brass ones, not iron.

[Kay9]

Not just ferrous. Also think electronic. IE Phones GPS Radio and such.

K9

[science abuse]

Excellent point. The hull being UHMW also begs the same question about static fields.

[Submarine Tom]

Or window rain spinners!!

[farjoe]

Originally Posted by CDK

For the equivalent of $15 I bought a waterproof fluxgate compass that also is a clock, a calendar and a stopwatch. It is powered by a lithium battery which lasts for more than a year if you don't use the illumination too often. And it is also more accurate than the Suunto.....

Can you indicate type and from where?

[CDK]

It won't do you much good, but here's a picture.
Forgot to mention the thermometer function.

On the back are instructions for calibration and mode switching, all in German. No reference to a manufacturer; I bought it in an Aldi supermarket where it was one of the weekly changing special offers.

[farjoe]

Originally Posted by CDK

It won't do you much good, but here's a picture.
Forgot to mention the thermometer function.

On the back are instructions for calibration and mode switching, all in German. No reference to a manufacturer; I bought it in an Aldi supermarket where it was one of the weekly changing special offers.

thanks...i guess i have to wait until Lidl comes up with something similar. No Aldi around here.

[science abuse]

Have a Harbor Freight?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66484

Three bucks, cheapest I've seen.