Never mind the planned decommissioning of Loran-C , who’s going to keep my compass working?!? Bill Haimes has this item at Three Sheets Northwest:
The magnetic compass has been with us on the water for a thousand years or so. Recently, though, it has often been overshadowed by the near magic of GPS. For the serious sailor, however, it is the most basic and the most essential navigation instrument. When all else fails—the engine, the electrical system or the GPS itself—the compass still works, showing us the way to safety.
The availability of spare parts and service facilities for compass maintenance is becoming a problem. On Dec. 18 of last year, one of the major U.S. manufacturers notified dealers that it would cease production and support as of Jan. 1. Danforth, a mainstay of yacht navigation for more than half a century, has exited the compass business. Employees were laid off at the start of the normal two-week Christmas shut-down of the company’s plant in Gloucester, Mass.
Most compass repair facilities received leaked information about the pending closure several months ago and stocked up on parts. Negotiations are now underway to establish a source of aftermarket parts through a highly regarded shop in southern New England.
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Additionally we cover how to make a deviation card in class. For those who understand TVMDC, it’s a piece of cake.