New group member and new owner of a Compac 16/2

[Bosunmate]

Greetings, I bought a 1986 CP 16/2 a couple of weeks ago.  It's in pretty good shape and I look forward to sailing it when I get her rigged up like I want and wx permitting.  I will sail it mostly at Lake Murray and Lake Greenwood, SC.  It has been around 35 years since I've sailed.  Back then I sailed the lower Chesapeake Bay with my Catalina 22. 

One of the items I would like to install is a compass.  I'm interested in a bulkhead mounted unit although I'm open to any type suited for a CP16.  I have a hand held bearing compass and a basic GPS although I want a decent compass for those foggy mornings I tend to attract.  Any recommendations? 

I just retired again, first was 25 years ago from the Coast Guard and a couple of months ago from being a River Towboat Captain pushing barge tows on the western rivers (Mississippi river system) and the ICW.  So navigating a boat is in my blood, I've got to have a compass!  I know I will end up sailing out on the bays of SC/NC  next summer.

Some day I will figure out how to post a picture of my boat.

Best Regards

Patrick
Semper Paratus

[Tim Gardner]

Welcome, Patrick!  After towing the line on the Miss'ippi for so many years, you must already know that north is into the current.  Who needs a compass on Lake Murray?  Use your phone map app.

TG

Glad yoi made it on here.

[Bosunmate]

Thanks Tim!  Your right that I might not need a compass on Lake Murray, but I'm planning on a trip to the coast at some point.  I've operated in shut out fog for long periods over the years so I will be prepared for the next time.  I will be using my hand held gps unit for speed and bearings.  But the old time sailor in me will have back up navigational aids.  So I'm looking for the right compass for this CP16.

Best regards,

Patrick
Semper Paratus

[Finbar Beagle]

Bosunmate,

I use a teak binocular holder placed on a companionway teak dropboard.  All stock parts.  The compass can be jammed into the binocular/cup holder by removing the plastic surface mount and I still have access to climb into/reach into the cabin.
Also, if I do not need the compass, it will hold 2 adult or other beverages.

It also helps keep water out of cabin in heavy weather or broaching.  I can't say that I ever had ability to test this...

Can take pics if interested.

Regards,
Brian

[brackish]

I kinda understand.  Have not had the cover off my bulkhead mounted compass in two years but it, and some paper charts, are tucked away just in case.  Have a really nice GPS chartplotter that does get used when moonless night sailing or fog comes in on my home lake, and when I tow to new areas. 

Welcome to the group.  You can get a lot of very good information here.

[Bosunmate]

Thanks for the welcome!  Brian, please send me/post pictures of your compass/beverage holder.  I'm looking for any ideas. 

Thank,

Patrick
Semper Paratus

[bruce]

Patrick,

I'll  post because I had similar feelings as you do when I was setting up my boat in 2011. I haven't logged the sea time the you have, but I was a deck officer in the Navy for five years, with three years as ship's navigator on a frigate, including a circumnavigation of South America. I knew I'd be mostly daysailing, but I had to have a compass.

Com-Pac will sell you a bulkhead compass for the 16 for $392. I don't know the brand or model.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xtfxq40jvl9esw9/AADHttjwMACdw5Voo2NYBoLVa?oref=e&preview=CP+16+2018.pdf

I know you have a hand bearing compass already, but my compromise was the Plastimo Iris 100, a hand bearing compass with a bracket to mount it securely to the boat, and a card big enough to see from across the cockpit. Additional brackets can be purchased, and a LED lit version is available. Nicely gimballed and dampened, it can be oriented upright or lying down. Markings are in 5 degree increments, which for steering a small boat isn't limiting IMHO. It lacks compensation adjustments, as you'd expect, but I keep mine away from electronics, motors, and large iron objects, as best I can, and have found the accuracy to be OK. Sailing VFR I rarely use it, but it's there.

[Bramble]

Welcome aboard.
On my 23 I had a bulkhead mount which worked great, but sun damage was an issue.  For my 16, I purchased a Ritchie compass at a nautical consignment shop.  It was the model with gimbals like you'd dash mount on a power boat.  I mounted this on a swing arm so when it is not in use I can swing it back into the cabin out of the sun & out of the way. 
mike

[Bosunmate]

Patrick,

I'll  post because I had similar feelings as you do when I was setting up my boat in 2011. I haven't logged the sea time the you have, but I was a deck officer in the Navy for five years, with three years as ship's navigator on a frigate, including a circumnavigation of South America. I knew I'd be mostly daysailing, but I had to have a compass.

Com-Pac will sell you a bulkhead compass for the 16 for $392. I don't know the brand or model.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xtfxq40jvl9esw9/AADHttjwMACdw5Voo2NYBoLVa?oref=e&preview=CP+16+2018.pdf

I know you have a hand bearing compass already, but my compromise was the Plastimo Iris 100, a hand bearing compass with a bracket to mount it securely to the boat, and a card big enough to see from across the cockpit. Additional brackets can be purchased, and a LED lit version is available. Nicely gimballed and dampened, it can be oriented upright or lying down. Markings are in 5 degree increments, which for steering a small boat isn't limiting IMHO. It lacks compensation adjustments, as you'd expect, but I keep mine away from electronics, motors, and large iron objects, as best I can, and have found the accuracy to be OK. Sailing VFR I rarely use it, but it's there.

Thanks!  This just might be what I'm looking for.  I like being able to move it to other brackets when not being used. 

Patrick
Semper Paratus

[Bob23]

Hi Patrick and welcome aboard! Although I am the unofficial collector of the $5000.00 membership fees here, I'm choosing to waive your fee just because. Don't let it get around or everyone will want a refund!!

  While I don't have nearly the sea hours you have, I do feel a good compass is a basic necessity on any sailboat. On my 1985 23, I have a large Ritchie (me thinks) bulkhead mounted compass which works perfectly. It came with a sun cover which protects it from the many hours of NJ sunshine when not in use.

  I'd rather have a permanently mounted compass rather than one on a swing arm. An arm is just another thing waiting to trip on or get broken off. My GPS is mounted on a swing arm because I don't use it all the time. I did manage to catch myself on it this past summer, broke it off and had to repair it. Hey, it happens.

  I also enjoy my Ritchie rowing compass that I use on several rowing craft that I like. In addition to steering the boat from point A to point B when you can't see where you're going, it helps in rowing in a straight line.

Cheers!!
Bob23 in NJ


 

[bruce]

Here's the bracket with the compass removed, fairly snag resistant. Mine's mounted with 3M Dual Lock tape, so no holes in the gelcoat, plenty secure. Older photo, before I upgraded the halyard cleats to Spinlocks.

[Bosunmate]

Hi Patrick and welcome aboard! Although I am the unofficial collector of the $5000.00 membership fees here, I'm choosing to waive your fee just because. Don't let it get around or everyone will want a refund!!

  While I don't have nearly the sea hours you have, I do feel a good compass is a basic necessity on any sailboat. On my 1985 23, I have a large Ritchie (me thinks) bulkhead mounted compass which works perfectly. It came with a sun cover which protects it from the many hours of NJ sunshine when not in use.

  I'd rather have a permanently mounted compass rather than one on a swing arm. An arm is just another thing waiting to trip on or get broken off. My GPS is mounted on a swing arm because I don't use it all the time. I did manage to catch myself on it this past summer, broke it off and had to repair it. Hey, it happens.

  I also enjoy my Ritchie rowing compass that I use on several rowing craft that I like. In addition to steering the boat from point A to point B when you can't see where you're going, it helps in rowing in a straight line.

Cheers!!
Bob23 in NJ

Thanks Bob!  I was just about to send the money in!  I will now use it to buy a lucky sandwich.

Best Regards,

Patrick

[Bosunmate]

Here's the bracket with the compass removed, fairly snag resistant. Mine's mounted with 3M Dual Lock tape, so no holes in the gelcoat, plenty secure. Older photo, before I upgraded the halyard cleats to Spinlocks.

Thanks for the photo, this is the way I will most probably go.

Patrick

[carry-on]

Just seems right to have a compass. Generally sail where the wind allows, but when sails are trimmed, I like to steer a course. Always admired the replenishment helmsman who could steer to 1/2 degree while some deep draft was trying to draw suck your ship ever closer.
My 16 came with a bulkhead mounted compass with a Plastimo cover. The hole in the bulkhead is four or five inches in diameter. I would have been reluctant to create such a hole, so glad it was there.

[Bosunmate]

Just seems right to have a compass. Generally sail where the wind allows, but when sails are trimmed, I like to steer a course. Always admired the replenishment helmsman who could steer to 1/2 degree while some deep draft was trying to draw suck your ship ever closer.
My 16 came with a bulkhead mounted compass with a Plastimo cover. The hole in the bulkhead is four or five inches in diameter. I would have been reluctant to create such a hole, so glad it was there.


"Just seems right to have a compass". Well said! 

Thanks,

Patrick