Phones are great. Chartplotters are great. Boating apps are great.
But when you are on the water, relying only on electronics is not always the best safety plan.
For National Safe Boating Week, Bainbridge International Retail is reminding boaters to check one of the most classic, reliable pieces of onboard navigation equipment: the marine compass.
Because if the battery dies, the app freezes, visibility changes, or someone on board confidently points in the wrong direction, a compass still has a job to do.
Why a Compass Still Matters
A quality marine compass is one of those pieces of safety gear that can be easy to overlook - until you need it.
Whether you are sailing, cruising, fishing, paddling, or heading out for a quick day on the water, a compass helps support safer navigation and better situational awareness. It can help you maintain direction, confirm your heading, and provide a dependable backup when electronic devices are unavailable or unreliable.
In other words, “I think land is that way” is not a plan.
Shop Plastimo Compasses at Bainbridge Retail
Bainbridge International Retail carries a variety of Plastimo navigation products, including handbearing compasses, offshore compasses, bulkhead compasses, bracket-mounted compasses, flushmount compasses, and navigation accessories for sailors, cruisers, dinghies, kayakers, and small boaters.
Options in the Bainbridge Retail navigation collection include products such as:
Plastimo Iris 50 Handbearing Compass
A classic handheld compass option for boaters who want portable navigation support.
Plastimo Iris 100 Compass
A larger compass option available in bright, easy-to-spot colors.
Plastimo Offshore 95 and Offshore 105 Compasses
Onboard compass solutions for marine use.
Plastimo Contest 101 Bulkhead Compass
A bulkhead-mounted option for sailboats and cruising boats.
Plastimo Olympic 135 Flushmount Compass
A flushmount compass option for a clean installed setup.
Plastimo Clinometer 45 Degrees
A practical navigation accessory for monitoring heel angle.
Spotlight: The Iconic Plastimo Iris 50
One of the standout products in our navigation collection is the Plastimo Iris 50 Handbearing Compass - widely recognized as one of the most popular handbearing compasses on the market.
Compact, reliable, and easy to keep onboard, the Iris 50 is a favorite among sailors, cruisers, paddlers, and boaters who want a dependable navigation backup that does not rely on batteries, apps, or electronics.
At Bainbridge International Retail, the Plastimo Iris 50 ships free within the 48 contiguous U.S. states and ships from our U.S. warehouse, helping customers avoid surprise import charges, long overseas shipping times, or uncertainty about where their order is coming from.
We also work to keep our pricing highly competitive - and we believe our Iris 50 price is among the best available.
Because when your phone dies, your chartplotter glitches, or someone says, “I’m pretty sure land is that way,” the Iris 50 is ready to help you stay pointed in the right direction.
Before You Leave the Dock, Check Your Navigation Gear
Safe boating is not only about emergency equipment. It is also about being able to navigate confidently and make smart decisions underway.
Before your next trip, ask yourself:
Do you have a working compass onboard?
Can you access it quickly?
Do you know how to use it?
Is it installed where it can be seen clearly?
Do you have a backup if electronics fail?
Safe Boating Week is the perfect time to check your setup and make sure your boat is ready before the season is in full swing.
U.S. Shipping from Bainbridge Retail
Bainbridge International has served the marine industry since 1917, and through Bainbridge International Retail, select marine products are now available direct to customers online.
For U.S. customers, eligible navigation products ship from Bainbridge Retail’s U.S. warehouse locations. Orders over $150 ship free within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and the Plastimo Iris 50 Compass ships free.
That means you can shop trusted Plastimo navigation gear direct from Bainbridge Retail without wondering where your compass is shipping from - or whether surprise import charges may appear later.
Boat Smart. Stay Oriented. Choose Plastimo.
National Safe Boating Week is a great reminder to check the gear that helps keep your trip safe from start to finish.
Life jackets matter. Safety gear matters. Navigation matters too.
Before you head out, make sure your compass and navigation equipment are ready.
Shop Plastimo navigation products at Bainbridge International Retail and stay pointed in the right direction.