Navigation Board - homemade

[vjb.knife]

I bought this UHMW board a few years back and finally got around to make the Nav Board. First I added a Brunton Compass and then a Oceanic depth gauge. So, a couple of weeks ago I got a Suunto Zoop Computer (I wanted something simple and reliable), and I will add it on next.

 

[CandiveOz]

Looks great! So did you use a router or something to shape it and cut out the holes?

 

[vjb.knife]

When I bought the board it was cut out with multiple strap slots. I bought the compass and depth gauge and primarily used a hole saw and a router to make the cut outs for them. I also needed to cover the back of the compass to protect it so I routered a circular slot to attach a cover made from a black PVC pipe cap and I drilled a drain hole in the back of the cap.

 

[CandiveOz]

hi Vince,
What was the original intent of the board? it wasn't originally sold as a nav board was it?

 

[rsingler]

Wow! Nice work! I suspect your compass will do yeoman's work.

Here's one I made from a standard large slate and an old compass, trying to mimic the old Nav Board from the navigation specialty, that isn't sold any more. A little hand work with heavy translucent plastic on a screw, and I can plot multi leg courses, add current estimates, and come up with a vector to return to home.

 

[АлександрД]

Nice board! You just have to add ship log and sonar
without sonar it is not interesting

many manufacturers offer it...
even ours still continue old Soviet model of navigating device

This was used for underwater sport competitions for Navigation in Soviet times. And still produced.
In the middle you can see ship log.

Our DIY uderwater sport swimmers used water counters mechanism as base for log.
like this counter

Open it, throw out the magnet and put there spinner. Inner mechanism from such counters should be made from plastic, and rust proof

 

[rsingler]

even ours still continue old Soviet model of navigating device

АлександрД, you continue to amaze me! What a cool device (albeit a little big). I presume it's neutral, underwater?

Sonar! Bwahahaha!

 

[kelemvor]

Sonar! Bwahahaha!

Hand-held Sonar Devices for Scuba Divers - AquaViews

 

[АлександрД]

yes, sonar... why not?

yes, little bit expensive... but anyway cheaper than Boeing 787 Dremliner! (check links under blue letters above, in previous my message )

Ours УПН Компасы магнитные should be neutral underwater.

it should have two floaters on the sides. (I never hold it in hands)
But when I was a child, I`v been visited some competitions with my father.

some pictures of such competitions you can find here Подводное ориентирование – Дайвинг клуб "Октопус"
most sportsmans use selfmade navigation systems, combined with tank, like

modern Russian navigation device looks like

 

[kelemvor]

It would probably be more reasonable for a DIY type person to use an arduino with ultrasonic transceiver inside a pressure vessel. Basically this, maybe with some modifications: Arduino Sonar - Arduino Project Hub