I think that personal navigation methods depend on how a persons mind
works. Some people are comfortable with gadgets so they rely on them
and are often safer than those who are not comfortable with them.
I happen to be obsessed with geometry and trigonometry so doing
navigation with my hand compass is like a religious revelation when it
works well, as it normally does. My hand compass is my primary
navigation tool and I cannot imagine leaving the dock without having it
next to me. I obsessively take bearings. It is an old Silva
backpacking compass with a foldout mirror, a veteran of many cave
mapping trips, crazy mountaneering trips and sailing for 29 years.
Even when using GPS, I can put it down on my known position and use it
to see a desired course.
My compass is like a talisman, an adult sailors version of a teddy
bear, I tend to think that without it there would be disaster. The
one time I went sailing without it I was so nervous I didnt enjoy it.
Of course, this is all silly and illogical as GPS, radar and such makes
its use superfluous most of the time but it feeds my desire for a sort
of mystical connection with the gods of geometry.
I tried to teach my wife and kids the wonders of the compass but my
wife promptly forgot it all and my kids looked at me like "dad, we know
you're weird but, pleeeeeeeeze".
I imagine that when I get very old, I will tell my son that I am going
to give him my most valued posession and I will hand him my compass
despite the dissapointed look on his face. Maybe he will get something
out of it.

Mark me as another vote for the "classic" Silva with mirror (and NOt
batteries to wear out). I just replaced my old one in preparation for
our upcoming cruise; it was getting a little murky. Bearings are one of
the more useful navigation "tricks" in waters densely populated by
landmasses.

On 20 Jun 2005 10:57:43 -0700, "Frank" wrote:

Mark me as another vote for the "classic" Silva with mirror (and NOt
batteries to wear out). I just replaced my old one in preparation for
our upcoming cruise; it was getting a little murky. Bearings are one of
the more useful navigation "tricks" in waters densely populated by
landmasses.

When in cruising mode on the Great Lakes, it's more pilotage than
straight navigation, and I use the "60 D St." method frequently when
taking bearings to get an even faster idea of how far off I am than
using the GPS and getting a chart fix. As I use a tiller and barely
move when steering, I have little tape "angles" on the deck to show me
a relative 45, 90 and reverse 45 degree angle. I use a handheld Davis
and a stock Plastimo bulkhead mount compasses. I also use the Davis to
take bearings on distant nav aids or ranges to figure out set and
drift as the currents in the Lakes are quite variable and follow no
tide table.

It's often quicker than punching up "XTE" on the GPS. I find with the
GPS, I use it to determine SOG and ETE more than actual positions, but
they are obviously a real boon in the fog.

R.