Flush Mount Compass
#3
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Compass would definately be too close if mounted where the Garmin is!
I mounted a VHF about a foot away from a bulkhead mount compass and the compass never moved. Unfortunately, I cut a hole in the panel for the compass before testing out the location so I was stuck. The solution was to pull the radio and remove the speaker magnets - I then sealed up the radio again and mounted an external speaker about 30" away from the compass. It's not perfect, but it moves around enought that the deviations could be corrected by adjusting the compass.
I'm not sure I'd even put a compass in a boat with a GPS and a backup (handheld) GPS. I never really use the compass, and it tought to read in a chop. Maybe going offshore a long distance, it makes a good safety addition, but I could certainly live without it with the GPS.
Good luck,
lc
I mounted a VHF about a foot away from a bulkhead mount compass and the compass never moved. Unfortunately, I cut a hole in the panel for the compass before testing out the location so I was stuck. The solution was to pull the radio and remove the speaker magnets - I then sealed up the radio again and mounted an external speaker about 30" away from the compass. It's not perfect, but it moves around enought that the deviations could be corrected by adjusting the compass.
I'm not sure I'd even put a compass in a boat with a GPS and a backup (handheld) GPS. I never really use the compass, and it tought to read in a chop. Maybe going offshore a long distance, it makes a good safety addition, but I could certainly live without it with the GPS.
Good luck,
lc
#5
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#6
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lciummo - 4/14/2004 10:58 PM
I'm not sure I'd even put a compass in a boat with a GPS and a backup (handheld) GPS. I never really use the compass, and it tough to read in a chop. Maybe going offshore a long distance, it makes a good safety addition, but I could certainly live without it with the GPS.
Good luck,
lc
I'm not sure I'd even put a compass in a boat with a GPS and a backup (handheld) GPS. I never really use the compass, and it tough to read in a chop. Maybe going offshore a long distance, it makes a good safety addition, but I could certainly live without it with the GPS.
Good luck,
lc

#7
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I have to agree with Ave8tr on that one. I would go offshore without a gps but, never even think about it without a compass. It is a better idea to have a fixed mount compass and a pocket compass to check it by.
#8
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Besides the one in the console and a handheld in the ditch box, I like having a good pair of binoculars with a built-in compass. The first mate can easily give me headings to things I can't even see yet. Yeah, so can the GPS, but we both feel better knowing how to get along without it.
#9
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I agree that a good compass is the #1 navagation instrument of all...
However, on this boat, it seems the helm is offset to starboard. Placing a compass directly above the helm (wheel) may produce some distortions, as noted above.
While I'm prejudiced toward centered-helm boats, I think the compass should be placed dead-center on the boat, near where there's apparently a black stanchion. At least you'd get an accurate heading, with the darn thing centered on the boat....just my two bits.
However, on this boat, it seems the helm is offset to starboard. Placing a compass directly above the helm (wheel) may produce some distortions, as noted above.
While I'm prejudiced toward centered-helm boats, I think the compass should be placed dead-center on the boat, near where there's apparently a black stanchion. At least you'd get an accurate heading, with the darn thing centered on the boat....just my two bits.
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As long as the lubber line is parallel to the keel, and the observer is directly behind the compass, there is no error from not having the compass on the boat's centerline.