Swinging the Compass on a [Tiny] Containership

[@TonyInIR]

Thanks for sharing, it's fun for us on land to learn a little bit about the various tasks that keep our nautical friends safe and employed!

[@m.leinewolczko]

🙌

[@mikeizzano172]

Good lesson for those who’ve never been there….you always explain so everyone can understand. Most people don’t know how few crew is on the smaller ships . And the responsibility s are shared …good sailing Maddie , all my time was spent in the other half of the globe….haha.keep us informed when you can…….

[@m.leinewolczko]

🙌

[@JohnBare747]

Thanks for the compass lesson and good to know you won't go astray! Always enjoy your videos.

[@m.leinewolczko]

Thanks John!

[@chuckboyle8456]

Very nice episode on the importance of verifying the magnetic compass corrections on the “compass bridge”. I bet you have a whole lot of retired sailors with ball cap envy now that you have shown us your new cover on monkey island! Carry on!

[@m.leinewolczko]

Hahaha 😆

[@scottjones5221]

Super cool 😎 enjoyed the insight 😎 Glad spirit's 😊 are high ❤ Rockin Roll

[@m.leinewolczko]

🥳🥳

[@mgv00]

I loved doing an amplitude at sunset to check gyro error.

[@m.leinewolczko]

Pretty great 🙌

[@mgv00]

@@m.leinewolczko Also was on the helm on Double Eagle tankers during builder’s sea trials. Swinging the ship every 15 degrees to adjust the Navigator’s balls with a beryllium crescent wrench.

[@m.leinewolczko]

@@mgv00 Dooope!

[@Obi1-KenBone-Me]

i dont understand how you convert compass bearings to true bearings do drmc on ships not have deviation ?

[@m.leinewolczko]

This video is about finding the deviation of your magnetic compass, not converting magnetic to true. We get our true heading from our gyro compasses, and can find deviation through the equation TVMDC. Also, I believe drmc is an aviation term.

[@DougPoulton]

Just curious if you use GPS to validate everything to compensate for N/S deviation?

[@m.leinewolczko]

We use gyro compasses now -- magnetic is backup only, so basically never used.

[@madpete6438]

clearly a modicum of joy in the rain. Yay

[@m.leinewolczko]

The rain is the best!

[@edl5731]

I understand the magnetic compass will work when power is out unlike the primary compass that needs electricity. But to what end? If the ship loses power it won't have propulsion nor rudder control.

[@Forrest-Jackson]

When a rogue wave took out the bridge on a front-house ship (the Kauai, I believe) 100 miles out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they were reduced to using the NFU ("non-follow up") steering and the magnetic because all the electronics, lights, and steering on the bridge were destroyed. The main engine and the generators all worked fine. Good think someone had a handheld VHF!

[@56Spookdog]

I did some work on the USN Mercy the white decks were brutal on the eyes if you didn’t have our sunglasses.

[@geddon436]

metaphor for my life, my compass is not pointing where I"m supposed to go.

[@m.leinewolczko]

😂

[@tkimble6210]

So, how do you correct for precession of the gyro compass? We always used the magnetic compass to do that.

[@m.leinewolczko]

When is the last time you went to sea?

[@tkimble6210]

@@m.leinewolczko A long time ago. But my question is, "How do you correct the gyro compass since all gyros precess?" If not the magnetic compass, what?

[@m.leinewolczko]

@tkimble6210 Well I'm interested to know when you last shipped out, because with the integration of inertial navigation systems, that error isn't something you have to manually correct for anymore. It's all done electronically, probably since at least 20 years ago. Well before my time. I'm intrigued because you're the second person who asked about precession correction, and I'd like to know your experience too.

[@m.leinewolczko]

@tkimble6210 And if you're interested enough to do your own research, I recommend googling the "Schuler method" or "Schuler tuning" and "inertial navigation systems" to gain a better understanding of modern navigation 👌

[@tkimble6210]

@@m.leinewolczko I spent a summer on a mail boat in lake Superior. We verified the gyro against the magnetic compass about every 39 minutes while underway if it wasn't too rough. This was in 1965. The magnetic compass was verified in port by swinging the boat to known points. We had Loran but it was spotty. When I got my pilot's license in the 1990s correcting the gyro was a 15 minute routine in flight.

[@captsam54]

I remember when we used Dr and set and drift...

[@captsam54]

@@Islandwaterjet I got my license in 86 and there was Loran. IF you could afford one.. When we sailed back then we didn't have one till I went professional on bigger boats....

[@captsam54]

@@Islandwaterjet I was lucky enough to grow up on boats since I was 7 years old... Lived in the Bahamas and US Virgin islands, and Fla. After I got my 100 ton masters in 86 I mainly ran charter /tour boats out of the VI, Then yachts in the states... Then charter fishing, then Towboat US for 12+ years, Then back to sportfishing in the islands, back to the states doing deliveries and everything in-between, The largest vessel was a 1918 Spanish schooner 106 ft... I did a lot of sailing and owned many sailboats.. lol, never a house... Decided to retire from the sea (didn't renew my license after 45 years) a couple of years ago and still work on boats..(repair) and RV's... Now want to move out to AZ or the like and ride dirt bikes and grow food...lol. complete change...

[@edshelden7590]

Great show again. When you "Swing the magnetic compass" you are recording the error right? You are not adjusting the magnetic compass with little magnets, Right? I have seen small magnets used on small boats. Are ships Degaussed any more?

[@m.leinewolczko]

We just record the error, yes. If the error is so extreme that the magnets need to be adjusted we bring on a tech for that

[@Urbicide]

How will the earth's geomagnetic excursion of the poles affect your magnetic compass readings? The magnetic poles started moving back in 1850 and the speed of the movement has been increasing drastically. The magnetic poles have shifted further in the past 23 years than they had in the previous 150 years. Will you have to swing the compass more than once a year?

[@m.leinewolczko]

Well this error correction is for taking into account the inherent magnetism of the metal surrounding the compass (aka the ship). So far the changing of the Poles isn't fast enough for that to be a real issue at this point in time, not looking forward to the day that it is! 😬

[@georgechoquette5735]

You may have this completely wrong. What controls the precession drift in the gyro compass? What is your ultimate reference?

[@m.leinewolczko]

There are many errors that are constantly electronically corrected for, including latitude error, ship's speed, etc. I recommend reading this (and also continuing to do your own research!) to gain a better understanding of how a modern-day gyro compass works 😊: www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/gyro-compass-on-ships-construction-working-and-usage/

[@pilgrimsprogress3237]

All Matson ships should be blessing their vessels the Hawaiian way: 1. Fill a small bowl with fresh water (salt water is used for cleansing). 2. Obtain a long leaf (ti leaf if possible, fern leaf is next best, but any leaf will do). 3. Hang some kind of lei over the gangway or entrance to the boat (flowers or leaves, real or symbolic. In Hawaii maile vine would be used if possible). 4. Announce to all present the purpose of the blessing. 5. Cut or undo the lei (this is like cutting the navel cord). 6. Dip the leaf in the bowl and sprinkle all areas of the boat while giving some sort of blessing ("May this boat be blessed with love, power, and success" (in Hawaiian: E ho'omaika'i i keia wa'a me ke aloha, me ka mana, me ka pono). 7. Have everyone present hold hands on or near the boat and give a personal blessing for the boat and the owners/operators. 8. End the blessing with a song, a chant, or a simple "Thank you" and a hug. 9. Finish with a luau, a "pupu" (snack) party, or some kind of refreshments.

[@chairrockfarms1337]

Nice hat!

[@m.leinewolczko]

😁😁

[@indylovelace]

I learned something new! I had to use Google’s “bard” AI to learn more about deviation card, local magnetic anomalies, etc. One of my favorite books? Longitude by Dava Sobel. A short read but very interesting.

[@MrCrabbing]

Need to get mine adjusted is very unstable on east and west courses

[@chrisvandecar4676]

Will there be petty revenge for picking a course to put you into a rain shower?😀

[@m.leinewolczko]

Haha I love me some rain 🌧