This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I like the Plastimo compass mounted on the center of the hatch. It is fully gimballed and has a fixed mounting bracket so that it lays down so you are looking at the business end. easily remove and used as a hand bearing compass or stored. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/plastimo--iris-100-universal-compass--254666 Thanks Doug On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 5:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I have to agree that Doug's recommendation of the Plastimo is the one of choice, but being a little tight with my Boat $ I say look at this one before you buy. http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Compact-Marine-Compass-Bracket/dp/B0054L3188/ref=s... George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails" On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
And, look at the 36% of reviews that give it one star...! Not sure I would trust my boat/life to something like that. Hopefully there is something in between the extremes of $15 and the $150 that is decent. cheers, John S. On 09/10/2015 06:32 PM, George Iemmolo wrote:
I have to agree that Doug's recommendation of the Plastimo is the one of choice, but being a little tight with my Boat $ I say look at this one before you buy.
http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Compact-Marine-Compass-Bracket/dp/B0054L3188/ref=s...
George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
On my M17 i have a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass (the white face model number is V-57W.2) - https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo... this is a 'size appropriate' compass for the M15, M17, S17 and S15. i've put a punch on the S17s (pics attached). -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have
to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co... ). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I love Ritchie, in part because they are about 10 minutes from my house. My last boat had a Ritchie Navigator. Great compass but overkill for an M15 or M17. For my new-to-me M17 I went with their Venture SR-2. If you want a bulkhead mounted compass (I prefer them) for an M17, I think this is the way to go. Probably would not look out of place on an M15 either. https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-mounting-sty... Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 14, 2015, at 5:29 PM, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
On my M17 i have a Richie V-57.2 Explorer Compass (the white face model number is V-57W.2) -
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/research-compasses/compass-by-series/explo...
this is a 'size appropriate' compass for the M15, M17, S17 and S15. i've put a punch on the S17s (pics attached).
-- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have
to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co... ). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky <depth and ritchie V57 port.jpg> <depth port and ritchie V57 starboard.jpg>
I am on a small Lake and really do not really need a compass. I do agree that one with compensating magnets would be better I think you could find a good one in the $50 range. George George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails" On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 3:39 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
And, look at the 36% of reviews that give it one star...! Not sure I would trust my boat/life to something like that. Hopefully there is something in between the extremes of $15 and the $150 that is decent.
cheers, John S.
On 09/10/2015 06:32 PM, George Iemmolo wrote:
I have to agree that Doug's recommendation of the Plastimo is the one of choice, but being a little tight with my Boat $ I say look at this one before you buy.
http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Compact-Marine-Compass-Bracket/dp/B0054L3188/ref=s...
George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have
to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co... ). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design
- Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
U can find the ritche 57.2 for about $55 with some www-searching. :: Dave Scobie On Sep 14, 2015 6:40 PM, "George Iemmolo" <griemmolo2@gmail.com> wrote:
I am on a small Lake and really do not really need a compass. I do agree that one with compensating magnets would be better I think you could find a good one in the $50 range.
George
George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 3:39 PM, John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net> wrote:
And, look at the 36% of reviews that give it one star...! Not sure I would trust my boat/life to something like that. Hopefully there is something in between the extremes of $15 and the $150 that is decent.
cheers, John S.
On 09/10/2015 06:32 PM, George Iemmolo wrote:
I have to agree that Doug's recommendation of the Plastimo is the one of choice, but being a little tight with my Boat $ I say look at this one before you buy.
http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Compact-Marine-Compass-Bracket/dp/B0054L3188/ref=s...
George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails"
On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to
have
to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...
). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design
- Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
David As to your mounting question I am in the process of building a board that is similar to the bottom of my Hatch Board set that will hold all my small boat instruments. Compass, Wind meter, SPOT and Barometer I still have room left over for a gimbaled cup holder for Coffee or H2o. 😀 George George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails" On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
I built a plywood board equal to the bottom two hatch boards and attached a level, clips for lanyard items like Garmin and phone pocket, pouch for stuff and a two cup holder that expands to four cup holder for my m15. Painted it white, expecting to modify to a future nicer version, but it works fine and the nicer version never got made. I figure in case of catastrophe two boards high is better than one, and with stuff up higher, they don't interfere with the mainsheet. I was thinking about mounting a compass on there too, but my lake is really too small to justify a compass.mike hettlerm-15 Annebonny From: George Iemmolo <griemmolo2@gmail.com> To: David Grah <d_b_grah@yahoo.com>; For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:58 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Montgomery 15 Compass Options David As to your mounting question I am in the process of building a board that is similar to the bottom of my Hatch Board set that will hold all my small boat instruments. Compass, Wind meter, SPOT and Barometer I still have room left over for a gimbaled cup holder for Coffee or H2o. 😀 George George "We Can Not Control the Wind But We Can Adjust Our Sails" On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion to have to navigate through fog in unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
On 9/10/2015 7:45 PM, David Grah via montgomery_boats wrote: David, I built a new lower hatch board and added a teak binocular holder. It contained my 7 X 50 binoculars; my GPS; my VHF radio, and in the right hand corner I had a small Grundig radio with antenna that was in the slot of the hatch board, and therefore protected . However I also wanted a compass. I ruled out the normal - cut a hole in the end of the cabin and mount it there. But, then you have a bulge where you want to lean.... That makes relaxed sitting uncomfortable. My solution was to mount a small Ritchie compass on a teak block, with the forward bottom edge of the block rounded off to fit the molding. In that position , the compass was visible to the helmsman P/S, out of the way; easily stowable when not needed. The block assured alignment, or if my foot touched it and moved it it was immediately evident and could be put back in its proper place with my shoe. It worked nicely for me (I also had a good hand held compass available from our big boat) for taking bearings. Connie
This summer, during a week on the Great Slave Lake, I had occasion t have to navigate through fog in .unfamiliar waters with rocks and islands to run into. I had loaded a number of way points into my GPS but not enough to navigate in the limited visibility. I relied heavily on chart and a compass and it all worked out. The compass I carry on our Montgomery 15 is a very simple handheld compass (a Ritchie Navigation SportAbout Hand Bearing Compass http://www.westmarine.com/buy/ritchie-navigation--sportabout-hand-bearing-co...). I worked well enough for us to survive in fog on the big lake but it only would read right if held very close to level to the horizon. As a result, to read it I had to hold it carefully level along with steering and navigating. I'd like to find a better compass option. Ideally the compass wouldn't be permanently mounted so it doesn't take up valuable surface that I might want to lean against at anchor but could be deployed at read easily at all angles of heel when underway. What good compass solutions have the fine people in this group come up with? Thanks! David GrahBishop CaliforniaMontgomery 15 - Sky
participants (8)
-
Conbert Benneck -
Dave Scobie -
David Grah -
Douglas Kelch -
George Iemmolo -
John Schinnerer -
mrh219@yahoo.com -
Stanley Wheatley