Vector Compact, the smallest GPS compass in the world

by Jordan Balbresky on 12 Nov 2014 Seapilot, the recreational brand of True Heading NSA and leading manufacturer of recreational Automatic Identification System (AIS) solutions and app navigation, announced today the release of the Vector Compact. The world’s smallest GPS compass, the Vector Compact is approximately half the price of other products on the market. A breakthrough in design, performance and cost, the unit is a nominee for the European Marine Equipment Trade Show’s (METS) upcoming 2014 Design Award METS (DAME).

Weighing a mere 15 ounces, the Vector Compact offers all of the capabilities of much larger professional units in an affordable and manageable package. Due to its small size – half that of the next smallest GPS compass – the device can be mounted almost anywhere, such as rails, poles or other surfaces. Able to replace both the traditional magnetic and fluxgate compass and GPS on board while providing significant performance improvements on several different systems, the revolutionary compass is designed for installation on recreational sail and powerboats up to 40 feet in length.

'We are so excited to bring the Vector Compact to market,' said Jens Johansson, CEO, Seapilot. 'When GPS compasses were first introduced over a decade ago, they were large and very expensive devices that were impractical for recreational boaters. We are proud to offer a product that gives so much functionality, with an unparalleled size and price – it will be an attractive navigation sensor for all recreational boaters.'

A GPS compass allows radar and chart overlay functions, autopilot and other navigation features to perform with greater accuracy, avoiding the magnetic deviation issues common with traditional compasses. With a heading accuracy of better than two degrees and GPS position about one foot, the Vector Compact is a significant improvement over similar recreational units. Due to its 10-times per second refresh rate, it also delivers incredibly accurate information even at very fast boat speeds. The Vector Compact sports a mere 10- by 5-inch footprint and is only 1.5-inches deep. It is offered in two configurations, NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183, for easy integration with any brand or type of navigation equipment.

The Vector Compact is available from authorized Seapilot retailers and is priced at US$999. For more information on the Vector Compact, Seapilot or the entire Seapilot line of AIS and navigation solutions, visit Seapilot.