New Kid on the Block!

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sketchrbob

New member
Hi, Please let me introduce myself. I am Sketchrbob ( I love to sketch boats and other assorted marine subjects. )javascript:emoticon(':D') I have had a number (13) of boats over the years and loved them all. I greatly enjoy your forums and I share your joys and agonies with your problems and completed projects.

About the year 2000 I discovered there was such a thing as a C Dory. You see I live in Maine and at that time we did not have many C Dories in Maine. Incidentally we now have quite a few. We finally got a chance to go aboard a 22 at Three Rivers Marine at Crystal River Florida. We liked the boat and wanted to go for a sea trial. However the dealer could not make a boat available to do that during the limited time we had available. We thought that we would have other chances but medical issues kept getting in the way, and we never did.

I have also been aboard the Seaway Coastal 21 which another viewer was considering for purchase. This is a typical small Maine lobster boat. Their fine entrance allow them to cut through the water without pounding, but they give up much of the space in the forward cabin to do so.They have been adapted for cruising in all sizes and make good cruising boats although to have the same comforts of a C Dory 22 you would have to get up over 28 feet.

Your members did a good job sorting out the pros and cons of each type. The owners of C Dories in Maine are very pleased with their boats, and although I have let age slow me down, I still wish I had made the purchase. I shall have to do my C Dory cruising vicariously through you.

When I retired from 35 years of teaching, I started my own Marine Compass business. I sold, repaired, and adjusted marine compasses for 28 years. I got to go aboard a lot of nice boats and met a lot of great people. My son has just retired from the sea ( he was a captain for 34 years) and has taken over the compass business.

I know from reading your posts that many of you still appreciate the value of a compass in spite of GPS and other electronic goodies. I have been a long time getting here but this is what I started out to say. If any of you have any questions about the use and care of your compasses, I would be glad to give you the benefit of my experience free of charge.

There is no question that one of the great benefits of owning a C Dory is to enjoy the membership of C Brats! Congratulations!

Sketchrbob@roadrunner.com






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Sketcherbob – welcome aboard. You will be welcomed here with open arms and thank you for your offer of advice on compasses. A compass is one thing I don’t think a person can have too many of. I know I have more than a dozen lying around. My favorite I cannot find, it is a 6” staff compass from the early 1900’s. I put it away someplace safe and can no longer find it. Is this something you can help me with? :wink


Dave dlt.gif
www.marinautboats.com
 
Hi Bob,

Well, you missed us last year. 6 of us launched at Belfast for a week of cruising. Of course, C-Dory's are perfect for cruising ME. We had a ball. We did Roque Is this year.

This weekend I plan on doing another shakedown cruise around the midcoast rivers area. If you're still interested in a sea trial PM me. Maybe we can get together. I usually launch at either Phippsburg, Bath, or on the New Meadows River.

Glad to hear that we now have a compass expert in our group. Are you the guy who used to write about compass adjusting in Points East?

Rick from maine
 
Welcome aboard--I still have a 4" lifeboat box compass, WWII vintage, which I stared at for many hours--as I learned the finer points of keeping a course as a youngster 70 or so years ago.
 
Dave, I do not think I have seen the term "staff" in regard to a compass. If it was in the early 1900s it would have been a "flat top" compass probably filled with alcohol. At a size of 6" would have been used on fairly large vessel -- maybe a steamboat? Is there a manufacturer's name on the card or is that where the "Staff" comes from? If you can supply more info I will try to help.

Rick, Always good to hear from another C Dory in Maine. Sure wish I had known about your cruise out of Belfast. My grand daughter showed me a picture taken at the public landing of another boat , but I spotted a C Dory in the background. Maybe it was your group. Glad you got to Roque. One of my favorite places. If I can get away this weekend, I will send you a message as I would like to take a spin on your C Dory.

Dr. Bob, I know what you are talking about with a 4" box compass. I was a small boat officer during WW II and every boat had one. I used one back in 1954 during our early cruising days. The spherical domes are a big improvement.

Everyone: From experience I already know what some of your questions are. And if you don't want to know that is OK too. Some of your questions will be:

1. What do I do if I have a bubble in my compass?

2. What is the "best" type of compass for a C-Dory? You may be surprised!

3. How do I go about installing my own compass?

4. How do I adjust my own compass?

5. What is the "best" hand bearing compass?

6. How do I coordinate my compass and my GPS?

7. If I have a good GPS, why do I need a compass?

8. Which is better, a flush mount or a binnacle mount compass?

9. What is the best product for polishing the dome of a compass?

10. What is meant by a sticking pivot? If I have one, what should I do about it?

If there is interest in getting some answers to the questions and then discussing them, we might take up one a week or so. This should probably listed elsewhere than in the General Discussion part of the Forums. I will leave it up to someone else to suggest where.

Please note in my E mail address there is only one "e" in sketchrbob. Thanks.

Bob W.
 
Bob – the staff compass was not a marine compass. Mine is similar to this except it is older. It fits on a staff that is inserted into the ground to give you a stable sighting platform.

1314_37463_p1.jpg

I have not been able to find it. I was kidding you about helping me with it. It is somewhere on my farm and I will eventually find it. Incidentally, I also have the compass illustrated above. I use it to locate Section corners and quarter corners as well as running property lines figuring slopes and locating property corners. They are very accurate compasses.



Dave dlt.gif
www.marinautboats.com
 
Going along with everyone's sentiments, we are blessed to have you on board with us.

Question 5: What is the "best" hand bearing compass?

Can you shed a little light on this?

H :wink:
 
hambone":1bmv7zap said:
Going along with everyone's sentiments, we are blessed to have you on board with us.

Question 5: What is the "best" hand bearing compass?

Can you shed a little light on this?

H :wink:
Click to expand...

Use one with a red night back light. Then you won't ruin your night vision!

How about that Bob? :lol:

Charlie
 
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