I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point. I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I'm new at all this, but by the looks of your feet, it seems you're doing it right! I just have a big ol red Ritchie compass to the right of the companion way. Today when I was messing about, I went inside to get out of the rain for a second and was wishing I had a compass with me. Jazz On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point.
I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
Ha! Thanks Jazz. I maybe should have also said I wanted to avoid putting something in the back of the cabin so I could be sure to still lean against it in comfort while in the cockpit. With my compass solution, I accomplished this and can even navigate while sitting that way by setting the compass on the cockpit seat aft of me. David Grah From: Jazzy <jazzydaze@gmail.com> To: David Grah <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>; For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:12 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution I'm new at all this, but by the looks of your feet, it seems you're doing it right! I just have a big ol red Ritchie compass to the right of the companion way. Today when I was messing about, I went inside to get out of the rain for a second and was wishing I had a compass with me. Jazz On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote: I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point. I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
Sounds like you inherited a Ritchie Navigator, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Though a tad large for an M17, that is one of the best compasses you can buy; in a completely different league than compasses discussed here recently. Among other features, Navigators can be disassembled and rebuilt so they can last forever. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jazzy" <jazzydaze@gmail.com> To: "David Grah" <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>, "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, March 4, 2016 2:12:58 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution I'm new at all this, but by the looks of your feet, it seems you're doing it right! I just have a big ol red Ritchie compass to the right of the companion way. Today when I was messing about, I went inside to get out of the rain for a second and was wishing I had a compass with me. Jazz On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point.
I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
With my vision I found a 3 1/4 diameter compass card was the minimum I could see from more than 4 feet away. Bought a Ritchie "Venture" for a good price. Those portable ones look like good ideas too especially if you are in your cabin. This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 9:42 AM, <swwheatley@comcast.net> wrote:
Sounds like you inherited a Ritchie Navigator, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Though a tad large for an M17, that is one of the best compasses you can buy; in a completely different league than compasses discussed here recently. Among other features, Navigators can be disassembled and rebuilt so they can last forever.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jazzy" <jazzydaze@gmail.com> To: "David Grah" <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>, "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, March 4, 2016 2:12:58 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution
I'm new at all this, but by the looks of your feet, it seems you're doing it right! I just have a big ol red Ritchie compass to the right of the companion way. Today when I was messing about, I went inside to get out of the rain for a second and was wishing I had a compass with me.
Jazz
On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co... ).
It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo...
mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666
mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point.
I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
How about the Ritchie XP-98W? Any thoughts about this? From: Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, March 5, 2016 1:49 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution With my vision I found a 3 1/4 diameter compass card was the minimum I could see from more than 4 feet away. Bought a Ritchie "Venture" for a good price. Those portable ones look like good ideas too especially if you are in your cabin. This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 9:42 AM, <swwheatley@comcast.net> wrote:
Sounds like you inherited a Ritchie Navigator, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Though a tad large for an M17, that is one of the best compasses you can buy; in a completely different league than compasses discussed here recently. Among other features, Navigators can be disassembled and rebuilt so they can last forever.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jazzy" <jazzydaze@gmail.com> To: "David Grah" <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>, "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, March 4, 2016 2:12:58 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution
I'm new at all this, but by the looks of your feet, it seems you're doing it right! I just have a big ol red Ritchie compass to the right of the companion way. Today when I was messing about, I went inside to get out of the rain for a second and was wishing I had a compass with me.
Jazz
On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 7:10 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co... ).
It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo...
mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666
mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point.
I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
How do you avoid constantly banging your head against anything dangling in the cabin hatch ? Steve M-15 # 335 -----Original Message----- From: David Grah via montgomery_boats Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2016 7:10 PM To: For and About Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point. I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I do "bang" both the compass and the GPS going in and out of the cabin. But they actually easily push out of the way and then snap back into place once I am passed. When not underway I generally will take them both down to avoid the brushing them out of the way, but they often stay when I am lazy. They're sort of like beads in a doorway... David Grah From: Steve Trapp <stevetrapp@Q.com> To: David Grah <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>; For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, March 4, 2016 7:09 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution How do you avoid constantly banging your head against anything dangling in the cabin hatch ? Steve M-15 # 335 -----Original Message----- From: David Grah via montgomery_boats Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2016 7:10 PM To: For and About Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point. I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
On 3/4/2016 9:09 AM, Steve Trapp wrote: Hi David, My solution for our M15 was to mount a Ritchie compass to a teak base that I put at the forward end of the cockpit sole. It was easily visible sitting P/S; it could be stowed; it didn't interfere with leaning against the aft cabin wall. A glance at the compass mounting block showed me if it had changes angle; (it was either flush with the cockpit forward wall or it wasn't) Connie
How do you avoid constantly banging your head against anything dangling in the cabin hatch ? Steve M-15 # 335
-----Original Message----- From: David Grah via montgomery_boats Sent: Thursday, March 3, 2016 7:10 PM To: For and About Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Solution
I thought I would share the compass solution I selected for my Montgomery 15. Last summer we spend a few days navigating in and out of fog on a unfamiliar lake with plenty of rocks and islands to run into, a chart with not much detail, and not many GPS points to navigate by. I used a very simple compass intended, I think for kayaks (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). It worked but only if kept level and, since there were no handy level surfaces nearby, I had to hold it to use it and that complicated my navigational process. Last fall I queired this group for suggestions on better options and got a lot of good ideas. The ones that appealed to me the most were a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... mounted on a drop board and Plastimo compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 mounted somewhere (but also with the ability to take it off and take sightings with it). I ordered both but ended up using the Plastimo mounted with bungie on the back of the sliding hatch. I've only tried it once but am happy with it. I am keeping the Richie because it is a really nice compass and I will probably use for something it at some point.
I like that I mounted the Plastimo in a good spot to easily look at while navigating while at the tiller and like that I can also take it off and lay it on the cockpit bench behind me and navigate looking backward while I am leaning against the back of the cabin (I know it is sort of bad to do this, but still enjoy relaxing like that). I secure the compass with a thin elastic cord through two holes in the hatch and routed around plastic screws and nuts I added to the compass. It stays put and isn't bothered if you bump it going in and out of the cabin. See (hopefully) attached photos. David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
participants (7)
-
Conbert Benneck -
David Grah -
Jazzy -
Lawrence Winiarski -
Steve Trapp -
swwheatley＠comcast.net -
Thomas Buzzi