Does anyone on here use a compass on their kayak?

[yakscientist]

Just wondering if anyone has a compass mounted on their kayak, and if so, how is it set up? And what brand/model did you get? I'm going to put one on my next kayak, and maybe even my current one, and wanted it to be mounted out of the way in case I go to stand up or something. Thanks in advance for the help!

[Mark]

Just wondering if anyone has a compass mounted on their kayak, and if so, how is it set up? And what brand/model did you get? I'm going to put one on my next kayak, and maybe even my current one, and wanted it to be mounted out of the way in case I go to stand up or something. Thanks in advance for the help!

I do not. But my VHF radio has GPS and a compass. Many of the sea kayakers use a globular compass mounted on the decks of their boats. In fact, many sea kayaks come with an indentation on the deck ready for a compass. The compasses I've seen are probably as large as a baseball and easily viewed from the cockpit. I imagine they could be mounted on a fishing kayak and seen seated or standing.

[J.A. Veil]

I carry my old Boy Scout Silva compass in my Plano tackle tray (the compass is over 50 years old but still works). I have never had to use it. It is there as a safety measure and does not take up much space.

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[DOGFISH]

If you take your phone, just get a compass app.

[J. Rentch]

Most Fish Finders have a compass as part of its program

[ronaultmtd]

I used to...don’t any more...my electronics is invaluable to me, especially when the fog rolls in and you can’t see fifty feet...like has been stated in this thread...cell phone apps, gps, etc. pretty much make compasses obsolete...Asked about my equipment...pretty standard Kayak outfitting...Hummingbird 798ci HDI SI combo side imaging sonar, chart plotter, with RAM one inch ball dog bone mounting kit for Hummingbird GPS unit, Berley Pro side imaging transducer cover, Hobie Outback Mirage Drive Kayak with optional square hatch kit, turbo fins and sailing rudder, YakAttack aluminum rail mounting system with backing plates, Yak Attack Carbon Visipole, Hobie electrical battery kit and holder, 9ahr 12 v AGM battery, YakAttack anchor trolley, custom pvc rocket launcher rod rack...rods and reels are 7’ medium action spinning rods with 2500 series Shimano reels, lures are modified with single in line replacement hooks with barbs filed off...I practice mostly catch and release..lol...that is a mouthful of useless information..

[yakscientist]

Yeah I'm always one who likes backups on top of backups so I was trying to have something just totally independent of my electronics and phone...should they all fail. Maybe it's best to just carry a handheld one in my drybag like I always do and check every so often that it actually works. Thanks everyone

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[Slobber Bob]

Maybe it's best to just carry a handheld one in my drybag like I always do and check every so often that it actually works. Thanks everyone

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That's what I do. I haven't needed it yet, but it's there just in case.

[BamaYakFishing]

Between the Navionics app on my phone and my Navionics chip in my Hummingbird Helix 5 DI, I hope I never have to use the compass imbedded in the whistle I have attached to my PFD, lol.


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[kevinfry]

A few years back I was fishing with Ron, Ictalarus Bill and Chexone in the fall fog. I went off on my own, thinking I could navigate with just depth finder and hearing a guy mowing on shore........sadly, the guy finished mowing and I was on a big flat where water was same.deoth in every direction. I also had no radio......if I had a compass all would have been fine......... eventually i accidentally bumped into the guys paddling home, but I was "lost" for about 2 hours. Cursing that guy for not following up his mowing with some extensive weedeater work.
I now always carry compass in the yak though I only use it in emergency

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[ronaultmtd]

Kevin, we saw that you were headed in the wrong direction and we came after you...the GPS was indespensible that foggy day...everything was socked in and it was impossible to see any landmarks...we were not about to leave you out there...

[kevinfry]

Yeah thanks to you I now have Ff with GPS but I still always carry a compass given the fickleness of batteries

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