: I planned to mount the compass about halfway between the cockpit and the fore
: hatch, just beyond the foredeck bungees. I've seen some photos of the new
: British boats with the compass mount on the fore edge of the fore hatch.
: That just looked too far away to be able to read easily.

: Ross

Hey Ross:

One of the reasons (I have read) that they are mounted far away is to reduce eye movement from the horizon to the compass. This helps to reduce onset of motion sickness that in comparison to the large eye deflection if the compass is very close.

The other reason for the recess to be close to the bulkhead or beyond is lack of footroom. This will be a big reason for me to not have in the foot area.

So on second thoughts, dangling the compass on a little outrigger glued to the top of your head or cap might be the best. I guess this argues against the recess too. Rats, too bad. Or maybe a HUD set of sunglasses w/ compass reflect on the i/s. Or maybe a small set of directional mirrors on the glasses to the compass directly below. Or what abt those bacward seeing sunglasses and moutn the compass on yr shoulder. Of course, I have a totally spherical compass mounted directly and part of the centre of my paddle shaft. Or do I have magnetized scleral fluid in my eye? (See, it's not just a pretty face that turns my head) Or maybe if I had a magnetic conscience ("choose the right path, my son!"). Maybe one of your continuous decorative strips should have a long line of thos little tiny 1/2in diam compasses embedded. Take the average.

I have mixed feelings abt only a knee tube, but like the idea of an externally accessed one(no reason why couldn't do both), so other than close compass location disorientation, one could locate the compass guts in that for a lower provile.

Although, I haven't started final dwgs on any of the long yak ideas, I had just assumed (oh, oh) that I'd just inset the compass in the front deck hatches. And either live with that or make another hatch cover for typical paddling for less wt and breakage possibility and aesthetics. So I guesss the compromise is being able to see it.

Another possibility is just making a small small hatch anywhere even in the foot area for say a 6 in round compass hatch. Two ways from here. Either form up a separate cover and usually use that or:

Assume either a peaked deck like a pygmy where there is a sharp angle up in 2 opposing planes OR assume a constant radiused curved deck peak like a clc yak and cut a PERFECTLY round hatch in PLAN view. Surface mount the compass from BELOW. Then keep the hatch flush for usual paddling or lift the hatch and compass out, flip it upside down and TURN it 90degrees. If the flange lip is small and say use one of those gaskets that Andreas showed us awhile back. The hatch probably will fit quite well back in the hole upside down and in addition it has become recessed slightly just like you want but the relief drainage is straight out to the sides. Would be most hilarious in real sharp radiused peaks or curved decks. The concept is identical to that of Nick's or Grant's recessed cockpit surround. You just cut across the yak, but keep the plan circular so can rotate.

I wonder if anyone's built a round sectioned deck where the cockpit goes, like plan a greenlander so the section is radiused sloping down so low rear deck and high fore, cut the circle, flip, rotate 90 for the inset and cut a cockpit in that. Might save some time, but be tight and look funny.

Hey that might be a good idea for Brian Cunninghams sailyak outrigger attatchments. One of the problems w/ outriggers is that you have to form them to a deck thats curved so either a lot of useless weighty hardware or have to steam and bend to hit the yak contour right on. What if the front and back hatches were cut circular, were strong as hell and cross mounting linear pockets were formed inline w/ the yak (there fore less space) but on the under side of the hatch. Then flip the hatch, turn 90 degrees, say bolt down, and you have nice horizontal pockets to slip the outriggers into. Or gentle sloping if you want some uprise.

might be an easier place for fido to sit.

If you really like the lines of the strips continuous in any case, you'd have to make a downturn flange that is symm opposite in section to the deck profile from the side flange location down. Then w/ the hatch in the normal location(say without the compass) strip downriggers to the flange, and the gasket must be on the flange unfortunately, then just flip w/ no 90 deg turn, the compass is visible, recessed, and the now up 'downriggers' just define the profile of the hatch. Down side is leg room interference of the flange if in footarea.

anyway off topic ramblings, sorry.

-mick