GPS is great - take a chart and of course you now have the compass- GPS
batteries always fail when you need them the most. Stupid Mr. Murphy and his
darn law.

"James F. Aguiar" wrote in message
om...
"Michael Daly" wrote in message
...
On 25-Oct-2004, (James F. Aguiar) wrote:

where does one expect to go where they would need a
compass.

Anywhere there's lots of islands for one. If you're paddling
among a lot of islands, they all start to look the same after
a while. A compass and chart will allow you to figure out
which island is which.

You don't need fog to get lost in a crossing either. If your
destination is indistinct for any reason, a compass and chart
will help you sort things out when you get across. A shoreline
with lots of coves and bays looks like one solid line of trees
from a distance.

I only ignore the compass when paddling in very familiar waters.

Mike

Thanks for all the replies....I am new to kayaking but I have owned a
couple of boats, one being a 23 foot sail boat. I learned that a
compass is a valuable asset when out on the water. I am surprized to
hear that so many people are taking on the open waters in kayaks. I
live on the south coast of Ma. and it seems as though paddleing a
kayay out to CuttyHunk Island and then out through the one of the
passages between the Elizebeth Islands into Vineyard Sound is a
typical day of kayaking. That is dangerous waters in a 23 foot sail
boat never mind a kayak.
I recently purchased a WildernessSystems CapeHorn 170. It has a large
4 1/4" circular place on the forward deck for a compass. I chose the
Richie Voyager that fills that spot nicely, however it looks a bit
like an over kill to see such a large compass on a kayak,but at 64
years of age I can see the dial easily without glasses.....Anyway, as
of now I don't have any intentions of going out into Buzzards Bay.
I think the GPS is perhaps one of the best devices available,
especially one with a bluechart such as the Garmin.
Anyway, with a little luck I may be able to survive next summer
kayaking. Jim