Sea Kayak Navigation Aid SKANA

The Sea Kayak Navigation Aid (pronounced “SKANA”), designed by acclaimed BCU instructor Howard Jeff's has been designed to bridge the gap between professional “Chart Table” navigational instruments such as the Bretton Plotter & Dividers and / or the SILVA (Type 4) Mountaineering style compass used commonly by outdoor enthusiasts.

The Sea Kayaker frequently travels along the coast, requiring not only detailed land information that is usually found on Ordinance Survey maps, but also specific nautical information such as tidal streams, drying areas etc which will be found on marine charts.

The Sea Paddlers chart table is their spraydeck and foredeck, the rigidity of the Breton Plotter and the sharp points of the dividers are not practical here. However the base plate of many mountaineering compasses is frequently too short to draw out an extended course or measure distance quickly and easily. The ability to transfer from one scale (Kilometres) to another (Nautical Miles) is essential!

The SKANA addresses all these points in a simple, effective and robust manner. The base is made of a flexible clear plastic which copes with the undulations and flexibility of the cockpit area. The range of scales and specific dimensions of the instrument allow measurement of distance quickly and accurately. The Compass Rose and Bearing Cord allow angles and/or indented coastline to be measured with ease.

The clear plastic plate is made of UV stable material. The scales and markings etched into the plastic are scratch resistant and also made of UV resilient ink. Its flat profile allows storage under deck elastics and the additional lanyard reduces the possibility of loss.

 

Regular Size: 26cm x 12cm (10-1/4" x 4-3/4")
Pocket Size: 13cm x 12cm (5" x 4-3/4")

Following the success of the original SKANA and feedback from you, the kayakers, Howard has now produced a pocket size version of the device, the ‘pocket plotter’. It still has the original 1:50,000 Ordinance Survey and Admiralty Chart scales but also updated with an inner reciprocal bearing Compass Rose.

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