"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm writing a short item this morning about hand held bearing
compasses.

I carry one on my boat, and could find it in an instant. I suspect,
however, that in this age of electro-nav gimmicks I'm now in the
minority.

Three questions:

1. Do you carry a bearing compass?

Yep. It's for an event that rarely happens: A blackout, so all land-based
lights are out. The official nav markers on Lake Ontario use 12v flashlight
bulbs, so they're not much help more than 100 feet away, especially when
completely covered in seagull turds.


2. Whether you carry one or not, do you know why anybody would want
to?

Yes, I know why.


3. Do you have any charts aboard, or are you running depending
strictly on an uninterrupted supply of DC power and counting on 100%
reliability from your electronics for navigation information?

I rely 0% on electronics for navigation. I have, however, navigated Tupper
Lake (Adirondacks) at night, in fog, using the air horn to create echoes off
island cliffs. Count the islands, get home. Ba da bing.