Current Best Compass?

[Dockhead]

Since we had this discussion, there is a new generation of satellite compasses out, the Furunu SCX20/21, with four separate GNSS receivers:


https://panbo.com/furuno-scx20-scx21...-demo-at-nmea/


If this thing does what it claims to do, it makes other inexpensive (under a boat buck) compasses obsolete.


I was planning to acquire one of this at Thanksgiving in the States, but that trip has been cancelled, so now I don't know. But it's for sure on my list.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by coopec43

I'm about to buy a Plastimo Olympic 135 compass. That doesn't need any adjustment if sailing in a different hemisphere or am I missing something?


Would a Plastimo Olymic 135 compass point to True North or Magnetic North?


It appears I've got some reading to do.
https://media1.svb-media.de/media/sn...2010-03-23.pdf

It will point to magnetic north.

To determine true north, you take the magnetic reading (from the compass) and add deviation and variation.

Note, the deviation and variation may be negative values. The deviation will come from the deviation card and variation will come from the chart.

[Bycrick]

The GPS compasses work just fine. The smaller, cheaper ones aren’t "more accurate" than a good magnetic compass (maybe +/- 2-3 degrees) because of the small distance between the antennas. But there are some more expensive ones that have a longer baseline, which makes them bigger, and some that have multiple receivers that can be mounted fore and aft giving a long baseline which can be accurate to tiny fractions of a degree.

They’re unaffected my nearby magnetic items and don’t require adjustment or calibration. They’re also electronic and subject to the normal "it just doesn’t work anymore" problems of all electronics.

I didn’t throw away my binnacle compass when I bought the GOS compass.

[FlyingScot]

Anyone try the new Simrad HS75? https://www.simrad-yachting.com/simr...-gnss-compass/

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Bycrick

The GPS compasses work just fine. The smaller, cheaper ones aren’t "more accurate" than a good magnetic compass (maybe +/- 2-3 degrees) because of the small distance between the antennas. But there are some more expensive ones that have a longer baseline, which makes them bigger, and some that have multiple receivers that can be mounted fore and aft giving a long baseline which can be accurate to tiny fractions of a degree.

They’re unaffected my nearby magnetic items and don’t require adjustment or calibration. They’re also electronic and subject to the normal "it just doesn’t work anymore" problems of all electronics.

I didn’t throw away my binnacle compass when I bought the GOS compass.

The later sat compasses are more accurate with less baseline. The technology advances.

The in expensive Furuno SCX20 actually has four antennae instead of two, in a compact package, with dynamic heading accuracy of 0.5 degrees.


I did acquire one of these when I was in the States in April, and I'm quite pleased with it.

[ride5000]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Anyone try the new Simrad HS75? https://www.simrad-yachting.com/simr...-gnss-compass/

installed one at the beginning of the season with a big B&G upgrade (h2k-->h5k). so far it's worth the not inconsiderable price tag.