The Compass used was an inexpensive lensiatic version bought at a camping supply store.
It was set on the thwart (wooden seat) with the lubber line set so that it lined up with fore and aft on the boat.
During darkness it was periodically illuminated by the little flashlight - using the RED bulb
so as not to destroy the night vision of the crew.
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We started out from Port Mansfield late in the afternoon and it got dark before we arrived in the Land Cut .
With the compass set on the thwart I aimed the boat toward a distant lighted channel marker
and observed the bearing (compass course), Then followed that course until we could see the next lighted channel marker.
Some years ago, probably in a cost saving measure, many of the lighted markers were removed
and they were re-numbered much farther apart.
When on a small boat and your eye is close to the surface, and the humidity makes the air seem thick,
one can not see the next lighted marker clearly as one passes one marker.
So, for some of the distance one steers a compass course.

This is a comparatively expensive little flashlight a Coast PX20.
It has one red bright LED bulb in the middle and
a ring of 5 bright white LED bulbs surrounding the red one.
The white light is plenty strong to get a strong flash back from reflectors on buoys.
I hold the light over the side of the boat and low so as not to blind myself.
The red light works well for having a look at the compass or trying to find stuff in the boat while maintaing night vision.
(We sailed day and night).

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The center Red light - - - The circle of very bright White lights

a Uniden vhs marine band radio was very useful communicating with barge tow (pusher tug) captains
to ask them politely where (which side) would it be more convenient for them for you to be when passing.
This one runs on a rechargable battery pack OR some AA batteries - very convenient.
All the tug captains I encountered were very professional, polite and helpful.
      Hello Captain, I am the tiny sail boat with the blue and white sail.
      Which side of the channel would you prefer I be on when we pass ?
      I intend to hug outside the edge of the channel in shallow water.


The little Garmin Etrex GPS
The GPS was of marginal use. It was good for determining speed over the ground and then estimating times of arrival.
In some areas there are significant currents and your speed through the water is not indicative of your progress.
Toward the end of the trip, when it got dark and I was trying to find Magnolia Beach. There was some water sloshing in the bilge.
The GPS was was floating in the bilge, and although advertised to be water resistant, was not resistant enough.

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We also had a full complement of charts stored in very large ziplock bags.
There is a place in town which makes very large copies. We used marked up copies. Highligter marks made on points of interest etc.
These were very useful to follow our progress. Since we stayed in the Intercoastal we could easily mark our progress by observing the channel markers.

(The commerical waterproof fishing charts would probably do just fine.)

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Item that we did not have, which might have been useful... binoculars.
Then it would be a project to keep them moderatly dry.

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