That is, on the surface, the best compass I've ever seen. And I've taught map-and-compass courses.

I've become a devotee of GPSs, especially my Garmin 76 CSx, as the primary means of navigation. My compass is secondary. Whereas the GPS has been absolutely invaluable in heavy timber over snow, a compass wouldn't have told me much. Or as much. And without the GPS the old map-and-compass would be OK, take a lot of time and effort.

I have no idea as to how to navigate out of sight of land, and I don't think anything in which I'd be afloat alone would be meant to be. And if it ever were, I'm afraid I'd succumb to brute force navigating, taking the shortest and surest route toward land, and then following the shore. Finesse is for folks like you.

Bedtime for this Bonzo. Been out in the wilderness for 5 or 6 days, looking forward to my own bed. I'll have something pleasant to think about when the lights go out, though, rather than the foolish way I had of wrecking my car this PM. (No one hurt, totalled the other guy's '90 Mercury. Rural area, but everyone passing by, there must have been 40 of them, were going to the same church service as was my victim. God bless 'em, they all had to stop, talk with him, look at the car, praise the Lord, glare at me, chat with each other. Debate raged - call the police, don't call the police, call a tow truck, put on the spare. A great time was had by all. Good Lord. I was as popular as a dog turd on their church pew, didn't hear one "praise be" for me. I don't think the guy could read or write, I had to write all my info for him, to be duly examined by 10 or 15 of the soon-to-be celebrants. All of that in the middle of the road. Hallejulah! Biggest thing to happen in that parish - congregation - ministry since the First Coming. Who goes to church on Saturday afternoon, anyway? Hell, or Sunday for that matter!!??)

Arf