Compass position on Tiki 21

[Ian Bamsey]

Where is the best place to mount a compass on a Tiki 21? 

I need to plan for this, so what type of compass would you choose, where to mount it, and how many?

I'd like to stick with one if possible, but don't have enough experience to know if this will work out when sailing on a Tiki 21.

This is for inshore, coastal cruising. Not Rory style adventures. 

Thanks, Ian

[kim whitmyre]

Ian, the skipper's line of sight comes into play here...You want the compass in line with a point forward that the skipper can use to effectively "point" the vessel. If the compass is centered, for example, and the skipper sits offcenter, problems arise due to the introduced angles. Modern electronic compasses get around this issue, at a cost of increasing complexity. Since I switch helm from port to starboard, I made the decision to install 2 compasses. A piece of solas tape or some other mark on the forward beam directly in line with the aforementioned line of sight, then let's me point the boat.

[kim whitmyre]

Excuse the poor ipad drawing!

[Ian Bamsey]

Thanks Kim for taking the trouble.

So from your diagram (below), you have your two compasses fixed to the platforms and two makers on the forward beam. You sit either side and look across your compasses, aligning you, the compass, and the marker?

[Robert Hughes]

Here's a pic of where it is on my T26.  If you get the right sort of compass it doesn't affect the accuracy significantly if you view it from slightly off-centre.

You need one where the lubber line is close to the degree scale.  With mine, viewing it from one of the hatchways only makes a couple of degrees difference and you can't steer a course that accurately!

I also carry a hand-bearing compass to sight nav marks for position fixing, and as a spare.

[Ian Bamsey]

Thanks Robert that's helpful and really illustrates the question well as on the T26 you have some convenient vertical surfaces in the centre. Not so easy on the T21. 

[Kristian Paulsson]

Hi,

I have one compass but two holders, so I just move the compass to what ever side I am sitting on. That way it's always in the line of sight. The holders are on the "floor".

/Kristian.

[kim whitmyre]

I use the same compass: the 70une. Just 2 of them. Yes, Ian, you got it.