A boat compass should be part of every boats basic navigation equipment. It is essential for finding you way home especially when not in sight of land or when the fog rolls in. Every boat should have a basic compass. I even installed a small compass on my daughters 13' Boston Whaler. Not only should you have a compass but you should take the time to make up a cheat sheet to and from your home port. Basically you mark down the compass course and buoy # or waypoint. Do this for the entire course out the inlet and well as back in. Now when the weather is bad and your sailing in pea soup fog and Murphy Law kicks in with a power shortage. So now you no longer have Radar or that nice DGPS Chart plotter combo. With your compass alone and a good updated cheat sheet you should be able to slowly and carefully find your way home. Think about it. from any buoy or land range you will know the compass heading and if you were really smart approx distance to the next waypoint. I recommend a compass for everyone who owns a boat. I also recommend spending some time learning how to use it, Take a couple hours on a nice calm day and practice. It will be time well spent.