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Deck Compass Recommendations
The principle advantage of a deck mounted compass a
1) You can easily take readings in any conditions without having to take your hand(s) off the paddle. 2) You can verify your heading while underway with nothing more than a downward glance. I don't have any problem doing these things with a hikers compass sitting on my sprayskirt. I suppose in really big seas my hikers compass could get washed aside to where I would have to pause and reposition it. I have never had this happen, but it certainly could. I'm sure that if this was to become a problem I could easily rig something to help keep it in place. Navigating a kayak with a compass is anything but rocket science. Even when using a well dampened marine compass the needle will be swaying from side to side as you paddle. In rougher seas it gets even worst! The compass is only useful for fairly approximate directions. Then you need to try to factor in wind and currents. That is why most of your texts that deal with kayak navigation will recommend that you steer to one side or the other of your target when making a long crossing so you will at least know for certain which way you need to turn to hit your mark when you reach land. Otherwise you might not know if you missed your target to the left or to the right and you'd just have to make your best guess. I do admit, however, that a good marine compass looks really cool on the boat. Scott So.Cal. |
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