This is a general questions to all who care to share. I was considering purchasing a traditional compass for my M15. Of course, I would need a nice gimballed compass which would need to be mounted in a location that is visable and out of the way. These requirements appear to be mutually exclusive, however, I don't want to be kicking it or knocking into it while I'm moving around in the cockpit. And mapping a course seems to require a degree of education or experience. I was also thinking of the advantages of a GPS. It doesn't have to be gimalled. Mounting should not be a major deal and a GPS seems to be more user friendly and more versatile than a traditional compass. I am looking for some feed back and thoughts from people who are currently using either a compass or a GPS or both. Thanks in Advance, Skip Campion M-15 #201 ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
a compass is less likely to break than GPS, and the batteries cannot 'run dry'. with that said i use a GPS. i sail in puget sound, an area i've cruised for 30 years, i am able to find my way by dead reckoning. meaning, if my GPS isn't working i'm still OK using paper charts. when exploring the idea of a compass i too was faced with the issue of 'where to put the thing?' (there are some good ideas posted on the monty site.) i also wanted the ability to know my speed (i do have a 'knotstick', but it is a lot of work to use single handed). the GPS provided me with the functions i wanted ... plus the added bonus of allowing me to chart my course (within the limits of GPS accuracy). i also use the GPS for my land-side travels: hiking, hunting and camping in the olympic, cascade and rocky mtns. i'm using a Garmin GPSMap 76. i've not purchased the electronic charts that go with the GPSMap76 as i prefer paper charts (and paper maps). the basic chart information installed in the unit is close enough for my type of sailing (again, i'm sailing in a place i know well). the GPSMap 76 uses 2 AA batteries. i have use rechargables, and have a good supply on-board. i gennerally am able to get 8-10 hours of use per battery charge (this is without using the backlight). as a final thought - i'm still looking into having a compass. it is always a good idea to have 'backup' when boating. this is why, even though we all trust our M-boats to float and get us through all sorts of weather, we have life vests on board at all times (when not at dock or at anchor i'm wearing an inflatable). d. scobie M15 #288 wcampion@aol.com wrote: I am looking for some feed back and thoughts from people who are currently using either a compass or a GPS or both. Thanks in Advance, Skip Campion M-15 #201 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
SKIP ... I use both While I really like my GPS unit is has failed to keep a lock sometimes when it's cloudy. The compass does not fail. I use a "hand held" compass that can be placed in a mount on the boat and then easily removed when I take line of site bearings. So IMHO Use both. Don't "Skip" one or the other... Sorry Had to make a PUN... Great boat that M15. CDF Ranger20 uoting W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com>:
a compass is less likely to break than GPS, and the batteries cannot 'run dry'.
with that said i use a GPS. i sail in puget sound, an area i've cruised for 30 years, i am able to find my way by dead reckoning. meaning, if my GPS isn't working i'm still OK using paper charts.
when exploring the idea of a compass i too was faced with the issue of 'where to put the thing?' (there are some good ideas posted on the monty site.) i also wanted the ability to know my speed (i do have a 'knotstick', but it is a lot of work to use single handed). the GPS provided me with the functions i wanted ... plus the added bonus of allowing me to chart my course (within the limits of GPS accuracy). i also use the GPS for my land-side travels: hiking, hunting and camping in the olympic, cascade and rocky mtns.
i'm using a Garmin GPSMap 76. i've not purchased the electronic charts that go with the GPSMap76 as i prefer paper charts (and paper maps). the basic chart information installed in the unit is close enough for my type of sailing (again, i'm sailing in a place i know well). the GPSMap 76 uses 2 AA batteries. i have use rechargables, and have a good supply on-board. i gennerally am able to get 8-10 hours of use per battery charge (this is without using the backlight). as a final thought - i'm still looking into having a compass. it is always a good idea to have 'backup' when boating. this is why, even though we all trust our M-boats to float and get us through all sorts of weather, we have life vests on board at all times (when not at dock or at anchor i'm wearing an inflatable). d. scobie M15 #288 wcampion@aol.com wrote: I am looking for some feed back and thoughts from people who are currently using either a compass or a GPS or both.
Thanks in Advance, Skip Campion M-15 #201
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Skip, On my M-17 I mounted the compass in the bottom hatch board. It was easily read there, and I had a cord that I could plug into a cigarette lighter receptacle for lighting it after dark. A GPS is nice for giving an exact location. Also, it will give the bearing to your target and the direction you are traveling, but not the direction the boat is pointing. Clarence Andrews Former 17 owner -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+n9ca=comcast.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+n9ca=comcast.net@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of wcampion@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 5:48 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Traditional Compass vs GPS This is a general questions to all who care to share. I was considering purchasing a traditional compass for my M15. Of course, I would need a nice gimballed compass which would need to be mounted in a location that is visable and out of the way. These requirements appear to be mutually exclusive, however, I don't want to be kicking it or knocking into it while I'm moving around in the cockpit. And mapping a course seems to require a degree of education or experience. I was also thinking of the advantages of a GPS. It doesn't have to be gimalled. Mounting should not be a major deal and a GPS seems to be more user friendly and more versatile than a traditional compass. I am looking for some feed back and thoughts from people who are currently using either a compass or a GPS or both. Thanks in Advance, Skip Campion M-15 #201 ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
To me its not a question of either a compass or a GPS. I have a GPS and I love it, but a compass is a "must have" on any boat I own. Jeff Halman 20 "Northwave" ----- Original Message ----- From: <wcampion@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 2:48 PM Subject: M_Boats: Traditional Compass vs GPS
This is a general questions to all who care to share.
I was considering purchasing a traditional compass for my M15. Of course, I would need a nice gimballed compass which would need to be mounted in a location that is visable and out of the way. These requirements appear to be mutually exclusive, however, I don't want to be kicking it or knocking into it while I'm moving around in the cockpit. And mapping a course seems to require a degree of education or experience. I was also thinking of the advantages of a GPS. It doesn't have to be gimalled. Mounting should not be a major deal and a GPS seems to be more user friendly and more versatile than a traditional compass.
I am looking for some feed back and thoughts from people who are currently using either a compass or a GPS or both.
Thanks in Advance, Skip Campion M-15 #201 ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
participants (5)
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cdfusselman＠frontiernet.net -
Chris and Jeff Packer -
Clarence K. Andrews -
W David Scobie -
wcampion＠aol.com