Good point! I use my GPS on my M15 all the time, have it mounted just inside the cabin so I can see it from the cockpit, and have it plugged in to my 12 volt system most of the time (though it interferes with the the FM radio sometimes). I have a Magellan Blazer 12, which cost about $100 the last time it was available. I have a nice combination mount and hand-bearing compass too, but I rarely use it.
--Gary Hyde
M15 #235 'Vanilla'
On Sunday, September 7, 2003, at 06:00 AM, Stephen Martin wrote:
I suppose this will be considered nautical heresy, but here goes:
When my wife and I first started cruising about 5 years ago we were careful to calibrate (swing) the compas and make a deviation chart, etc.� Mounted next to the compass was our GPS unit.� After all that we had read about the importance of the compass it suprised us that in 4 years of cruising I don't think we ever looked at the compass once.� We eventually quit taking the cover off.� On the other hand, the GPS was used constantly.
Instead of heading, the GPS gives you your track, which is what you really want to know.� Of course, some of the other benefits are that it gives you true speed (no need for a knot meter, which only gives you relative speed), position, tells you if you're on course, and tells you if your anchor is dragging.
I suppose one could argue that the compass is low tech, doesn't require batteries, and is more reliable.� But I remember making the same argument for holding onto my slide rule.
I still keep it stowed away somewhere in case the batteries die on my calculator.
On our new M15, insead of a compass,�I'm considering either just carrying a handheld GPS or possibly mounting one on the bulkhead.� Of course, I will still keep a small handheld compass stowed away for the day when the batteries die or the satellites fail.� Maybe I will keep it with my slide rule.
Steve Martin,� M15 "Cadenza"
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