Cape Cod CL Box compass

[goodbasil]

http://capecod.craigslist.org/boa/1533834622.html

Anyone know the make of this? Wheres the pointy thing?

[adampet]

basil,
The card rotates and the indicator is on the edge. Looks like this one is headed W.
Adam

[Ian McColgin]

As Adam mentions, there is usually a lubber line etched at what's meant to be the foreward edge that lines up above whatever degrees (this unit being marked in both points and degrees) will be the course. Sometimes there are also marks and 45 and 90 degrees each side.

It's a very hard compass to read and steer by on a small boat. For pure reading, the Danforth-White innovation of 5 degree marks was an incredible improvement.

However, if you get a compass like this you can (as I plan to on an old unit I have, when I can afford the work) make it easy to read.

You need a verge ring or dumb compass that sits around the outside that's attached to a glass disc across the top. The course heading can then be lined up with the desired course and you just steer to match the dumb compass with the card.

But this is not easier to read yet. For it to be easy, mark the verge rings with two parallel lines north and south that is visually convenient to how the fleur de lies is drawn on the compass card. If you're really slick, put into the etched lines some blue dye for the north half and red die for the south half. It's incredibly easy to keep the card oriented between these two lines and you needen't worry if anyone on watch even remembers the course.

[seedy]

Does lubber line have anything to do with the term landlubber?

[Lew Barrett]

I have one much like it. It is a lifeboat compass and was manufactured by a range of makers. Usually, they are marked and stamped. Mine was made in New York but I don't recall the manufacturer off hand. I can easily tell you in a day or two as it's at my office, but as I said, they were made by a broad range of manufacturers. Think "WWII."

[Ian McColgin]

Yes lubber line is named for landlubbers. The insinuation that lubbers need the line to steer an accurate course is, of course, utterly idiotic.

The box compass was a great thing in days past as there are plenty of accurate athwartships timbers and marks making it easy to plant the compass and secure it for sailing when the compass was needed, but to secure it safely below when not. For the last century or so it's been more common for the main ship's compass to be built into a binnacle permanently mounted and box compasses were consigned to lifeboats etc.

I had a nice one that I modified with the verge ring I mentioned above that I could use in the dory. It was very easy to lay it between my feet against a frame and dial in an accurate course. 350 oar strokes later I'd pause in the fog, maybe call, and then home in the last bit on the answering meows of my cats.