Boat Building Forum

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I'm not so sure about that idea
By:Dean Trexel
Date: 6/11/2001, 2:17 pm
In Response To: Compass Idea (Mike Scarborough)

not trying to play the bad guy -- I had that question, too, "why not just mount a small compass close rather than a big one way the heck out there?"

I learned at a symposium that the reason that compasses are put so far out on your boat is that it requires less eye movement and less change of focus of your eye. Apparently, a compass mounted too closely can make the paddler seasick in a fog where you can't see much of the water. There's some kind of wierd disorientation in your brain that goes on in a fog, though I haven't experienced that, and can make the most experienced kayaker lose balance. Not having a horizon to set your brain/inner ear "bearings" as it were, is bad enough, and a close compass and a lot of eye focusing compounds the problem, from what I hear.

Dean

Messages In This Thread

Compass Idea
Mike Scarborough -- 6/10/2001, 12:11 pm
An electronics engineer replies
Pete Croft -- 6/12/2001, 12:35 am
try a ball compass
mike allen ---> -- 6/12/2001, 11:29 am
Re: Compass Idea
daren neufeld -- 6/11/2001, 10:12 pm
keeping an ( old) eye on that Compass Idea
Paul G. Jacobson -- 6/12/2001, 12:22 am
Re: Compass Idea
Doug K -- 6/11/2001, 2:21 pm
&
Doug K -- 6/11/2001, 2:27 pm
Re: &
Doug K -- 6/11/2001, 2:30 pm
whatcha really need is....... :)
Julie Kanarr -- 6/11/2001, 3:40 pm
Re: whatcha really need is....... :)
Scott -- 6/11/2001, 5:19 pm
Re: whatcha really need is....... :)
Julie Kanarr -- 6/11/2001, 5:53 pm
Re: whatcha really need is....... :)
Doug K -- 6/11/2001, 6:43 pm
Re: whatcha really need is....... :)
Ross Sieber -- 6/13/2001, 4:32 pm
Re: whatcha really need is....... :)
Doug K -- 6/14/2001, 10:21 am
I'm not so sure about that idea
Dean Trexel -- 6/11/2001, 2:17 pm
Re: I'm not so sure about that idea
James Neely -- 6/11/2001, 5:57 pm
Re: Compass Idea
John Monfoe -- 6/11/2001, 6:55 am
Re: Compass Idea
Paul G. Jacobson -- 6/12/2001, 12:09 am
Re: Compass Idea
John Monfoe -- 6/12/2001, 8:06 am
Re: Compass Idea
Paul G. Jacobson -- 6/12/2001, 7:01 pm
It works just like you said it would Paul. Thanks *NM*
John Monfoe -- 6/13/2001, 6:40 am
Re: Compass Idea
Shawn Baker -- 6/11/2001, 10:38 am
Link to REI
Julie Kanarr -- 6/11/2001, 9:34 am
Re: Compass Idea
risto -- 6/11/2001, 4:54 am
Re: Compass Idea
erez -- 6/11/2001, 1:15 am
Now that's using you head :) *Pic*
Paul G. Jacobson -- 6/10/2001, 7:08 pm
Re: Compass Idea
Glenn m -- 6/10/2001, 5:17 pm