Quote: "What happens if you get a lightening strike and every piece of electronics turn to toast? "

I do a lot of lightning strike work and very, very often the compensators in the compasses are also blown out of whack. Ours was so bad I had to order a new compensator set from Ritchie. Compass was blown out by nearly 30 degrees on some points and a minimum of about 15 on some others.... The idea that your compass will be the only thing that works after a strike is simply wishful thinking..

That said I don't know how anyone can steer in pea soup without a compass. The GPS is a ROYAL PITA to steer by in fog. How do you practice DR in fog without a compass.....? Call me a Luddite but you'll have to pry my compass from my cold dead fingers...

How many here actually have properly swung and calibrated compasses with deviation cards....??? Ours is done professionally every two years or whenever a change is made at the helm...