Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 04 April 2009, 15:33   #1
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
How close can the radio be to the compass

I want to move the position of my radio because I can't see it when I'm out and about on the RIB. How close can the radio be to the compass?

Attached some pictures to show what I mean.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	arrow.jpg
Views:	290
Size:	48.8 KB
ID:	41678   Click image for larger version

Name:	radio.jpg
Views:	264
Size:	47.9 KB
ID:	41679  
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 16:45   #2
Member
 
m chappelow's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: yorkshire
Boat name: little vicky
Make: avon ex RNLI
Length: 3m +
Engine: tohatsu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,310
alot depends on the particular compass ,the radio and the other equipment and accesorys on the boat ,it may be a trial and error .but i would try keep anything away from the compass,one of my biggest navigatonal mistakes and in a really bad fog [pre gps days]was that i placed the aux engine in the bow of my boat not thinking even though it was over 1.5 metres away from the compass it set it out by 10 deg ,i have used my hand held near mine and it only seems to fluctuate a few deg only whilst transmitting so even the batterys dont effect it normally ,i know of people that have left a torch on the console and thats put the compass out by a lot .
__________________
m chappelow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 16:58   #3
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
It is a problem. I could do with moving the compass away from the console which is obviously impossible. Due to an implant I have, I effect the compass. If I stand too close it changes by a couple of degrees.

I was thinking of moving the compass down to under were the radio is now but it isn't the ideal place to use.
D'oh!
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 18:17   #4
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: cookoo land
Boat name: tba
Make: ribcraft 595
Length: under 3m
Engine: Suzi 140
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 316
You could go the whole hog and have your ships compass 'swung' by a professional. Assuming that is, your compass has the required internal magnets to do the job. You would end up with the 'best' result available, (and a deviation card for what cannot be swung out) but make sure you don't move any kit to another place after it's been done! Not sure about the effects of your own internal magnet, but always wise to carry a hand bearing compass for a cross check amongst other things
__________________
BassBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 18:37   #5
Member
 
chewy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
I'd leave it setup as it is. Unless your getting it swung in which case you could stick it more or less wherever you want?
__________________
chewy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 18:47   #6
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Thanks for the help lads. Think I will leave it where it but angle it up towards me and make a cover.


Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy View Post
I'd leave it setup as it is. Unless your getting it swung in which case you could stick it more or less wherever you want?
I've got into allot of trouble doing that mate
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 19:14   #7
Member
 
chewy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
Bad Mr Singleton!
__________________
chewy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 19:37   #8
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
I really don't know what you mean old chap

On the original searider console, where do you have the compass on there. Looking at Matt H's latest creation it must be a hand held?

__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 19:41   #9
Member
 
Hightower's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Fareham
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,866
I had my Compass next to the Radio in my last two boats. In my situation I think there was minimal deflecsion. Trouble is there is so much in consoles that can affect a compass it's difficult to give you any sound advice.

My theory is that even if the compass is out a little 10 - 15 degrees it shouldn't make that much difference on a RIB unless things are dead calm. It's usually too difficult to use a compass in most sea states.
__________________
Andy

Looks Slow but is Fast
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club.
Hightower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 21:51   #10
Member
 
m chappelow's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: yorkshire
Boat name: little vicky
Make: avon ex RNLI
Length: 3m +
Engine: tohatsu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,310
i have even know a compass to be accurate ,then switch on the nav lights at dusk and out goes the needle by 5 deg especially if the switch and wiring is near it ,and i would agree with Hightower keeping a boat on course within 10 deg unless its dead calm .
__________________
m chappelow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 April 2009, 23:02   #11
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
You've both got a good point. And considering the type of cruising I'll mainly be doing. What do ya think then lads? Move the radio, compare compass readings with a handheld and adjust as much as possible? And I'll try and stay away from the bugger
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 08:29   #12
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,622
JSP - I wouldn't compare to a handheld - how will you know the H/Held is any more accurate (especially if you are holding it). If you want to test the accuracy of the compass I would travel slowly along a clear transit on a calm day and compare reading to the chart. Ideally do the same in a different area (so eliminating local geological effects) and at roughly 90 degrees to the first time.

I thought one of the issues with radios and compasses was that they could swing when the speaker was in use (recieving) so even a professional will not be able to compensate for that sort of intermittent effect.
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 09:30   #13
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Portsmouth, UK
Boat name: Jelly Fish
Make: Quicksilver 3.8XSHD
Length: 3m +
Engine: Mariner 25MEFI
MMSI: 235905473
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 130
This is from the Precautions section of all the Icom radio manuals:

KEEP the transceiver at least 1 m away from the ship’s navigation compass

The speaker in the radio has a magnet, similarly, there is a magnetic field from the handset, these fields are there regardless of whether the set is on, off, receiving or transmitting.

All bad news for navigation.
__________________
Geoff
geoffs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 11:36   #14
JSP
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southport
Boat name: Qudos
Make: 5.4 Searider
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yam 115 V4
MMSI: 235068784
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,930
Cheers Polwart and Geoffs.

I was thinking of someone else using the handheld so I could determine how much I effected it but as you've pointed out Polwart, not the best way. Will use your sugestion

Geoffs, thanks for the info. The radio isn't a meter away at the moment. Can't you buy shielded compasses? Or have I dreamt that?
__________________
JSP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 11:49   #15
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Gloucestershire
Boat name: Osprey
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 5m +
Engine: E-tec 300 G2
MMSI: TBC
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,020
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP View Post
Cheers Polwart and Geoffs.

I was thinking of someone else using the handheld so I could determine how much I effected it but as you've pointed out Polwart, not the best way. Will use your sugestion

Geoffs, thanks for the info. The radio isn't a meter away at the moment. Can't you buy shielded compasses? Or have I dreamt that?
Why not ditch the fixed compass and have a handheld. Lets face it its only there for when your GPS screws up anyway

I have a handheld Garmin Vista GPS as well that lives in a waterprof box in the joackey. So if my plotter fails I have the handheld and if that fails then the compass is next although I have to admit I don't always head out with paper charts on board
__________________
---------------------------------------------------
Chris Stevens

Born fiddler
Chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 11:52   #16
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Mighty Penryn
Boat name: Little Joe.
Make: Avon Searider
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF50
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,872
Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffs View Post
This is from the Precautions section of all the Icom radio manuals:

KEEP the transceiver at least 1 m away from the ship’s navigation compass

The speaker in the radio has a magnet, similarly, there is a magnetic field from the handset, these fields are there regardless of whether the set is on, off, receiving or transmitting.

All bad news for navigation.
Hey Geoffs, any news on these antenna prices. I'm trying to give my business to site members.
__________________
Mollers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 11:54   #17
Member
 
chewy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
Has anyone actually tried using charts when its windy!
__________________
chewy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 11:55   #18
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Gloucestershire
Boat name: Osprey
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 5m +
Engine: E-tec 300 G2
MMSI: TBC
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,020
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSP View Post
Cheers Polwart and Geoffs.

I was thinking of someone else using the handheld so I could determine how much I effected it but as you've pointed out Polwart, not the best way. Will use your sugestion

Geoffs, thanks for the info. The radio isn't a meter away at the moment. Can't you buy shielded compasses? Or have I dreamt that?
Why not ditch the fixed compass and have a handheld. Lets face it its only there for when your GPS screws up anyway

I have a handheld Garmin Vista GPS as well that lives in a waterprof box in the joackey. So if my plotter fails I have the handheld and if that fails then the compass is next although I have to admit I don't always head out with paper charts on board
__________________
---------------------------------------------------
Chris Stevens

Born fiddler
Chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 18:30   #19
Member
 
Hightower's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Fareham
Length: 6m +
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,866
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy View Post
Has anyone actually tried using charts when its windy!
It's always windy on a RIB! At what speed were you reading yours at

Seriously however. Scrap the fixed Compass like Chris said and use the space for the radio or something else. Buy a good quality handheld one, you can use it for taking bearings as well as a back-up. Some even have mounts that you could fix to the console and mount it there when you need it.
__________________
Andy

Looks Slow but is Fast
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club.
Hightower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 April 2009, 19:31   #20
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: cookoo land
Boat name: tba
Make: ribcraft 595
Length: under 3m
Engine: Suzi 140
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 316
Is there a bit of confusion about 'hand held GPS' and 'hand bearing' compasses?!

It's pretty good practise to have paper charts on board (preferably encapsulated!) and a hand bearing compass, just incase you electronic gismos pack up. ( and maybe some parallel rules/Breton Plotter/pencil bla bla .You can always slow down/stop and make it less windy!
__________________
BassBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 08:18.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.