I haven't felt a need to use a hand bearing compass for many years
(pre-radar).

Today I needed to take a bearing on a location ashore, from my boat. The
radar was off and I pulled out my old Richie from the locker. I had brought
it over from my last boat and had inherited it from that boats previous
owner. Never really use it or looked it over.

When I took my bearing, it was obvious that it was off by over 45 degrees.
Took the bearing several times, check the way I was operating the compass
card hold/release button, etc.

Went to the work bench and opened the case (two screws). Ah Ha! The (at
least) 10 year old illumination batteries were still in it. Very corroded,
but this was confined to the battery contacts.

Corroded batteries shouldn't cause a bearing error, however while replacing
the batteries I noted a label that required that the batteries be "Non
Magnetic". Gave two mfg'ers part numbers. The batteries I had onboard
turned out to have a dramatic effect on the compass, as did the old ones.

So, not only had I neglected to service the hand bearing compass batteries,
but I (or the previous owner) had installed magnetic batteries.

Sure glad I wasn't taking critical bearing that could have put my boat on
the rocks.

Until I can locate a source for these special Non Magnetic batteries, I will
operate it without illumination. (once the compass card is locked, I can use
a flash lite to read the bearing.)

--
My experience and opinion, FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

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.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I haven't felt a need to use a hand bearing compass for many years
(pre-radar).

Today I needed to take a bearing on a location ashore, from my boat. The
radar was off and I pulled out my old Richie from the locker. I had
brought it over from my last boat and had inherited it from that boats
previous owner. Never really use it or looked it over.

When I took my bearing, it was obvious that it was off by over 45 degrees.
Took the bearing several times, check the way I was operating the compass
card hold/release button, etc.

Went to the work bench and opened the case (two screws). Ah Ha! The (at
least) 10 year old illumination batteries were still in it. Very corroded,
but this was confined to the battery contacts.

Corroded batteries shouldn't cause a bearing error, however while
replacing the batteries I noted a label that required that the batteries
be "Non Magnetic". Gave two mfg'ers part numbers. The batteries I had
onboard turned out to have a dramatic effect on the compass, as did the
old ones.

So, not only had I neglected to service the hand bearing compass
batteries, but I (or the previous owner) had installed magnetic batteries.

Sure glad I wasn't taking critical bearing that could have put my boat on
the rocks.

Until I can locate a source for these special Non Magnetic batteries, I
will operate it without illumination. (once the compass card is locked, I
can use a flash lite to read the bearing.)

--
My experience and opinion, FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Interesting. I've never heard of "non-magnetic" batteries or, for that
matter, "magnetic batteries". Be interested to hear if you find any.

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.

"Gordon Wedman" wrote in message
news:tzGte.74285$9A2.46061@edtnps89...


Interesting. I've never heard of "non-magnetic" batteries or, for that
matter, "magnetic batteries". Be interested to hear if you find any.


Inside the Richie cover, they listed 1 EverReady part number and 1 RaOvac
number.

I had never considered the possibility of any battery, other than the old
zinc cased batteries, being non magnetic. I will restate, that the old
batteries I found in this compass did have a dramatic effect on the bearing
I was taking.. Once removed, the bearings coincided with other known
bearings. BTW. The bearing I was trying to take was 004 magnetic while the
compass, with the old batteries, was reading around 315 magnetic. That's a
lot of deviation.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I'm not on the boat right now but will try to remember to write the numbers
down and do a Google search for them..

Since, personally, seldom use the hand bearing compass, I doubt that it will
be worth the effort or money to purchase replacements that will set in the
locker for years between uses.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Take out the bad batteries. Take compass to store and hold it near
batteries and see if it deflects. Its the steel case around the
battery, not the battery itself that is the problem and some batteries
do not have that steel case.

Steve wrote:
"Gordon Wedman" wrote in message
news:tzGte.74285$9A2.46061@edtnps89...


Interesting. I've never heard of "non-magnetic" batteries or, for that
matter, "magnetic batteries". Be interested to hear if you find any.


Inside the Richie cover, they listed 1 EverReady part number and 1 RaOvac
number.

I had never considered the possibility of any battery, other than the old
zinc cased batteries, being non magnetic. I will restate, that the old
batteries I found in this compass did have a dramatic effect on the bearing
I was taking.. Once removed, the bearings coincided with other known
bearings. BTW. The bearing I was trying to take was 004 magnetic while the
compass, with the old batteries, was reading around 315 magnetic. That's a
lot of deviation.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I'm not on the boat right now but will try to remember to write the numbers
down and do a Google search for them..

Since, personally, seldom use the hand bearing compass, I doubt that it will
be worth the effort or money to purchase replacements that will set in the
locker for years between uses.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Good point. I had not thought about the case.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Take out the bad batteries. Take compass to store and hold it near
batteries and see if it deflects. Its the steel case around the
battery, not the battery itself that is the problem and some batteries
do not have that steel case.

Steve wrote:
"Gordon Wedman" wrote in message
news:tzGte.74285$9A2.46061@edtnps89...


Interesting. I've never heard of "non-magnetic" batteries or, for that
matter, "magnetic batteries". Be interested to hear if you find any.


Inside the Richie cover, they listed 1 EverReady part number and 1 RaOvac
number.

I had never considered the possibility of any battery, other than the old
zinc cased batteries, being non magnetic. I will restate, that the old
batteries I found in this compass did have a dramatic effect on the
bearing
I was taking.. Once removed, the bearings coincided with other known
bearings. BTW. The bearing I was trying to take was 004 magnetic while
the
compass, with the old batteries, was reading around 315 magnetic. That's
a
lot of deviation.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I'm not on the boat right now but will try to remember to write the
numbers
down and do a Google search for them..

Since, personally, seldom use the hand bearing compass, I doubt that it
will
be worth the effort or money to purchase replacements that will set in
the
locker for years between uses.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions