Compass

Ever been lost in the fog? I have, and It sucks!! Luckily it burned off after a few hours and I found my way. It did turn a would be 3 mile paddle into a 12 mile paddle though... This would have all been avoided with a compass. Since that day I've been running GPS/sonar combo units, but the harsh truth is they can fail, batteries die, and so on. That's why a compass is still essential to those of us that venture into big water and/or beyond the site of shore. Even carrying a hand held in your PFD is a better option than none at all.

There's another more infamous story where one of our members was lost in the fog and led to a Coast Guard rescue. I'll spare him further ridicule, but if you use the search function it wont be hard to find 

  I have a combo whistle /compass in my PFD

 And I've used both........

That's a nice clean install.  I also carry a compass/whistle in my life vest.

For those who are interested, do you have a link to that model of compass?

For those who are interested, do you have a link to that model of compass?

Here's a link to it from The Kayak Shed's site. You can find them in either Ritchie's packaging, or in Hobie packaging. They're both the exact same product. Ritchie also makes a vertical mounted compass as well for those who don't have enough bulkhead space to mount the X-21. I know slaty sailor recently put one on his Jackson. Maybe he'll post a pic of that one here too.

http://www.kayakshed.com/hobie-kayak-gear/hobie-ritchie-panel-mount-compass

Yes being lost in the fog sucks.  One of my first lessons in navigation was in the fog.  My dad and I were in a small sabot sail boat in the ocean on a real fogy day.  He had my sail the boat in a circles and then asked me what way we we're supposed to be headed I had to really think about this on (I was about 10 and this was before hand held gps's).
There were 4 things that could help us navigate that day (I think I only got one) the swell direction, the sun (bright spot in the fog), car noise from hwy 101, and the kelp beds.  It pays to be aware of the your surroundings and take mental notes of the swell any noise buoy's etc. and it helps a lot to have a gps and compass.

I too rely on a non electronic compass while in the deep blue.   

I chose the Nightquest LED Deck Compass.  It suction cups down and bungees onto my Revo hatch lid.
Sits up high and fully visible while I pedal towards safety.   

http://www.seattlesportsco.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?IDProduct=705

Do the Ritchie and Nightquest compasses have declination adjustments?

Not that I know of. 

Here's another option.  It isn't as convenient as a bulkhead or deck mounted compass, as you need to pull it out periodically to check what direction you're going, and it isn't illuminated, but it'll keep you going in the right direction in the fog or at night, and it's adjustable for declination.

There were 4 things that could help us navigate that day (I think I only got one) the swell direction, the sun (bright spot in the fog), car noise from hwy 101, and the kelp beds.  It pays to be aware of the your surroundings and take mental notes of the swell any noise buoy's etc. and it helps a lot to have a gps and compass.

Dana's spot on.  Everything you put on your yak has the potential to fail (or be forgotten at the worst possible time). 

-Mark-

Here's another option.  It isn't as convenient as a bulkhead or deck mounted compass, as you need to pull it out periodically to check what direction you're going, and it isn't illuminated, but it'll keep you going in the right direction in the fog or at night, and it's adjustable for declination.

No Pete, it's not adjustable. It would require a little Kentucky windage to be precise, but it'll get you back to something recognizable, or at least dry land.

There were 4 things that could help us navigate that day (I think I only got one) the swell direction, the sun (bright spot in the fog), car noise from hwy 101, and the kelp beds.  It pays to be aware of the your surroundings and take mental notes of the swell any noise buoy's etc. and it helps a lot to have a gps and compass.

Dana's spot on.  Everything you put on your yak has the potential to fail (or be forgotten at the worst possible time). 

-Mark-

Agreed 100%. There's no substitute for just being aware of you environment, and taking cues from nature. It's damn nice to have cheat sheet of sorts to help as long as they're functional though. That's also why I've been mounting the X-21 in my boats. I cant forget it, and chances of it flat out failing minus the lens being destroyed in some crazy series of events is very slim.   

Interesting Dana. 

I feel that heavy enough fog will bounce sound around and make things even more confusing.

Last summer I was wandering around in the fog just north of Depoe and relied completely on my compass for which way I was actually going.  Going by sound alone I would have been 180 degrees off.  I was confident that I heard the shore pounding and Hwy 101 to my right, and nothing to my left.  My compass clearly said I was going south.

I had been using the compass for a while now, and made a point to look at it often in the fog free clear day so I can be confident in what it was telling me.  Sure enough, I ignored what my hearing told me and focused on what the compass told me.  It put my right on the bouy bell where I needed to turn left/east and head for the hole. 

Here's the one I put on my Jackson Bug Tuna. This one is good if you have the room and don't have access to use a locking ring or much vertical bulkhead to use.  The Ritchie website is awesome for figuring out exactly what would work for you.  They have a specific kayak surface mounted one  that will keep you from having to cut a large hole and various sizes/models.  The website also has templates you can print out (make sure to uncheck fit to page when you print) that have the size of the hole you'll need and mounting screw placement, even the size of the pilot holes you'll need for the screws.  It helped me decide which model and where I wanted to put it before I ordered it.

If you are headed out on the ocean I can't think of a better way to spend about $10.00.  A pocket compass when in fog on the coast is priceless.  Just ask anybody who's been out and gotten turned around by the fog.  I'm reminded of the ORC a couple years ago...  If it happens you'd gladly pay 2 - 3 times the price for a used compass just to get back on shore once.  A small price to pay so you know which way is east -

Alan

Here's how you can adjust a kayak compass for declination: suppose that you live and do most of your kayaking in the Portland area, where magnetic north is 20 degrees to the east of true north, and you own the compass shown below.  Draw or tape a line on the face of the compass which is 20 degrees to the left of the original indicator line.  When you attach the compass to your kayak, align the original line with the centerline of your kayak.  If you want to paddle towards true north, turn your kayak until the "N" on the compass lines up with the new line.  Your kayak will be pointing 20 degrees to the west of magnetic north, which is true north.  Do the same thing if you want to paddle due east - line up the new line with the "E" on the compass dial.