If you've been holding off from buying a deck compass because they are so expensive, then the Seattle Sports Sea Rover Compass is for you. Even the SeaRover deck compass was twice the price, it would still be a good deal. The Sea Rover compass comes ready to be clipped onto your kayak's perimeter lines. Its large dial is easy to read and its flexible base conforms to the peak in your kayak's deck. Direct reading compasses are so much easier to use in a kayak than orienteering style compasses because with a direct reading compass, what you see is what you get -- there's no lining up a needle with the N and trying to keep it there while siting your landmark and trying to keep the kayak from turning. With the Seattle Sports Sea Rover you just point your bow at a landmark and read the dial; that's the bearing - simple. At this price there's no reason for a sea kayaker to try to get by with a hand bearing/orienteering compass.