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Q:
I duck hunt out of a small aluminum boat. I use an engineers compass and a gps to keep me from getting lost in the swamp. I understand the metal boat will interfere with the compass, and it might not be pointing towards true north. But will the compass still be consistent? I don't care which direction it points, as long as it points the same direction every time.
Question by redfishunter. Uploaded on December 20, 2012
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Answers (21)
The aluminum will not affect your compass. Only ferromagnetic metals (containing iron) will bother a compass.
I concur! Aluminum isnt magnetic. You're good to go.
I third the motion Aluminum is non ferrous as is the majority of your motor
Keep the compass away from your shotgun.
I fourth the motion. That was the exact answer I was about to give.
At one time I was under the impression that stainless steel was non-magnetic until I tested it with a small magnet. Wow.
Be careful with that assumption. Pepsi pop cans are aluminum right? Well, not quite. The bottoms have enough ferrous metal in them that they would cling to the steel door frame on my potman's shack in the aluminum plant I worked in for several years. Aluminum is made with electrical current so everything steel in the place, including the door jamb, became magnetized.
If the metal in your boat was 100% aluminum it would be so soft that it would be about useless. It has something (usually many somethings) alloyed with aluminum to give it strength. It's easy enough to check. Simply place the compass next to the hull and see if the needle moves to it.
OH, 99 good addition as far as alloys. 99 do that test on different SS objects. I was under the impression high end stainless contains more non ferrous nickel and chromium and is non magnetic.
300 series stainless steel is non-magnetic but 400 series stainless is magnetic. 400 series has a very small amount of steel added to the alloy for extra strength and is used in things like boat propellers. Thus a SS prop will sometimes even show slight rust stains but the steel added to the alloy gives the extra strenght to weight ratio needed for thin blades while keeping the price reasonable. 303 and 304 are not as strong as 316 SS steel but all are rust resistant while carpenter 20 is very strong and extremely chemical resistant, but much more pricey than the other three.
On a side note some Ni-Resist cast irons have nickel or copper added to them and are non-magnetic. And even just plain old iron when heated to the point of austenitization will become non-magnetic.
Dang it! I hate it when someone is smarter than me. :-) Great info Santa. What profession were you in, by the way?
Lets just assume my boat did interfere with my compass, from what I can see it doesn't, but if it did. Would the compass still be consistent?
OH, I have dabbled in a lot of different trades over the years. I was a certified mechanic working on outboard and inboard motors long before I was old enough to have a drivers license. I worked in the fishing tackle industry in research and development and bass fished 50% of the time testing equipment as a part of my job. My father had been a tool and die maker and exotic metal welder. I picked up his trades also. So over the years, I have did every thing from play piano to working in the oil fields. Thus the sticker on the back bumper of my truck which says "PLEASE DO NOT TELL MY MOTHER THAT I WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS, SHE STILL THINKS I PLAY THE PIANO AT THE WHORE HOUSE"
Redfishunter---As long as the compass is in the same spot in the boat it should be consistent enough that you don't have to worry about it unless you are trying to plot long courses (20 miles).
They are correct, the aluminum boat should not affect the compass... Just make sure that no other metals like belt buckles or shot guns are around it when you use it.
Redfishunter, common compasses are not known to be accurate unless they are fluid filled, self leveling, and mounted in a neutral area along with being checked on a "rose" and a card being made to show diviation. Even then they can be still be interfered with from any external disturbance of the magnetic flux. That is why DG's (directional gyros) were invented. But as a rough way to navigate, you can still trust the compass to give you a good idea of about which direction you are headed. Water navigation of running certain speeds for given times at certain compass settings has been trusted for years. Just check your compass against given land marks before you place a lot of trust in it and remember that anything placed near the compass could have an effect on its function. For example, a spot light with a plastic head along with a long cord will not bother the compass until you wind up the cord. The wound up cord makes a coil for an electric magnet which can effect the compass.
I always had to keep my compass away from all the steelhead that I caught.
Hi...
Your compass points to TRUE north, or to magnetic north?
Either way, see where it points while you're on shore (away from any magnetic influences), before getting into your aluminum boat. If the compass still points in the same direction when you're in the boat (with no nearby magnetic influences), then you're in good shape.
If the compass points to the oar lock, no matter what direction the boat is heading, the compass would be consistent:)
Good point 99- he should always be able to find his oar lock.
Redfisher, looks like you are set with your compass. Just thought I'd mention that many states do not allow duck hunting from a boat or require it to be anchored. Federal regulations require that the motor be shut off and the boat at rest. You might want to check your state regulations before you venture out.
A person could theoretically be in a position where true north and magnetic north were the same thing. But not for long. Magnetic north is always on the move. Betcha didn't know that! Not moving very fast though.
i agree with the oar lock principal if something in your boat is intefering with your compass the north point of compass will be attracted to that object so whatever direction you are going your compass will point to the same place unless you move the object(ie)gun- thermos or any metal
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The aluminum will not affect your compass. Only ferromagnetic metals (containing iron) will bother a compass.
OH, I have dabbled in a lot of different trades over the years. I was a certified mechanic working on outboard and inboard motors long before I was old enough to have a drivers license. I worked in the fishing tackle industry in research and development and bass fished 50% of the time testing equipment as a part of my job. My father had been a tool and die maker and exotic metal welder. I picked up his trades also. So over the years, I have did every thing from play piano to working in the oil fields. Thus the sticker on the back bumper of my truck which says "PLEASE DO NOT TELL MY MOTHER THAT I WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS, SHE STILL THINKS I PLAY THE PIANO AT THE WHORE HOUSE"
I always had to keep my compass away from all the steelhead that I caught.
I concur! Aluminum isnt magnetic. You're good to go.
I third the motion Aluminum is non ferrous as is the majority of your motor
Be careful with that assumption. Pepsi pop cans are aluminum right? Well, not quite. The bottoms have enough ferrous metal in them that they would cling to the steel door frame on my potman's shack in the aluminum plant I worked in for several years. Aluminum is made with electrical current so everything steel in the place, including the door jamb, became magnetized.
If the metal in your boat was 100% aluminum it would be so soft that it would be about useless. It has something (usually many somethings) alloyed with aluminum to give it strength. It's easy enough to check. Simply place the compass next to the hull and see if the needle moves to it.
Hi...
Your compass points to TRUE north, or to magnetic north?
Either way, see where it points while you're on shore (away from any magnetic influences), before getting into your aluminum boat. If the compass still points in the same direction when you're in the boat (with no nearby magnetic influences), then you're in good shape.
Keep the compass away from your shotgun.
I fourth the motion. That was the exact answer I was about to give.
At one time I was under the impression that stainless steel was non-magnetic until I tested it with a small magnet. Wow.
OH, 99 good addition as far as alloys. 99 do that test on different SS objects. I was under the impression high end stainless contains more non ferrous nickel and chromium and is non magnetic.
300 series stainless steel is non-magnetic but 400 series stainless is magnetic. 400 series has a very small amount of steel added to the alloy for extra strength and is used in things like boat propellers. Thus a SS prop will sometimes even show slight rust stains but the steel added to the alloy gives the extra strenght to weight ratio needed for thin blades while keeping the price reasonable. 303 and 304 are not as strong as 316 SS steel but all are rust resistant while carpenter 20 is very strong and extremely chemical resistant, but much more pricey than the other three.
On a side note some Ni-Resist cast irons have nickel or copper added to them and are non-magnetic. And even just plain old iron when heated to the point of austenitization will become non-magnetic.
Dang it! I hate it when someone is smarter than me. :-) Great info Santa. What profession were you in, by the way?
Lets just assume my boat did interfere with my compass, from what I can see it doesn't, but if it did. Would the compass still be consistent?
Redfishunter---As long as the compass is in the same spot in the boat it should be consistent enough that you don't have to worry about it unless you are trying to plot long courses (20 miles).
They are correct, the aluminum boat should not affect the compass... Just make sure that no other metals like belt buckles or shot guns are around it when you use it.
Redfishunter, common compasses are not known to be accurate unless they are fluid filled, self leveling, and mounted in a neutral area along with being checked on a "rose" and a card being made to show diviation. Even then they can be still be interfered with from any external disturbance of the magnetic flux. That is why DG's (directional gyros) were invented. But as a rough way to navigate, you can still trust the compass to give you a good idea of about which direction you are headed. Water navigation of running certain speeds for given times at certain compass settings has been trusted for years. Just check your compass against given land marks before you place a lot of trust in it and remember that anything placed near the compass could have an effect on its function. For example, a spot light with a plastic head along with a long cord will not bother the compass until you wind up the cord. The wound up cord makes a coil for an electric magnet which can effect the compass.
If the compass points to the oar lock, no matter what direction the boat is heading, the compass would be consistent:)
Good point 99- he should always be able to find his oar lock.
Redfisher, looks like you are set with your compass. Just thought I'd mention that many states do not allow duck hunting from a boat or require it to be anchored. Federal regulations require that the motor be shut off and the boat at rest. You might want to check your state regulations before you venture out.
A person could theoretically be in a position where true north and magnetic north were the same thing. But not for long. Magnetic north is always on the move. Betcha didn't know that! Not moving very fast though.
i agree with the oar lock principal if something in your boat is intefering with your compass the north point of compass will be attracted to that object so whatever direction you are going your compass will point to the same place unless you move the object(ie)gun- thermos or any metal
Post an Answer