Interesting the suggested "requirement" of a compass. In 2-1/2 decades of paddling, with quite a number of multiday trips solo, I've only "just about" needed to take a compass bearing a couple of times. Once in NZ and once in Fiji. If I hadn't had a small handbearing compass and it had actually been necessary to use one we would have waited for a short time for things to clear (squall to pass). So it does depend where you paddle.

As for charts, I find a topo map of more use. I navigate by what I see and ground shapes are relevant as are indications of where there might be somewhere to camp.

Alex