Bosun Compass Sowester Heath

[OCuea]

Title is not exact but I am sure gives those that know the compass I mean.

After another valuation.

Found this as a random example after 30 seconds Pardon our interruption...

I love this compass …… I think it is so clever that I bought a second as backup.

But what would you pay for one with no bubbles?

How would the fact that it came with the support bracket or did not affect your valuation?

I have one with a bracket and one without.

bosun heath compass - Google Search

 

[Sandy]

But what would you pay for one with no bubbles?

I'd be wanting the seller to give me money to take it off their hands.

I sailed with one for many years and never got on with it.

 

[OCuea]

I'd be wanting the seller to give me money to take it off their hands.

I sailed with one for many years and never got on with it.

Yes….. I think it is a marmite thing. I delivered a £million boat once in a F8 for days and the garage instruments all failed….. rudder position indicator, echo, relative wind etc etc …… binnacle compass was all we had but it was a bit difficult to see the numbers (gale, rain, green water) but I love the grid system on the bosun.
I have to sell as no boat any longer but I love the thing ….. I love just looking at it….. but space is space and dust accumulates.

I see some on ebay with HUGE bubbles fetch £50 and another day different prices.
Just wondered what experienced sailors thought. Your opinion is noted. What is you dislike about them? No need to reply if too intruding…. I know they are a marmite thing.

 

[Tranona]

I learned to sail with one of those and loved it. Later had an up market Sestrel version which was just as good. They suit boats where it can be mounted either under the tiller or on the bridge deck so the helm can see them. However really out of fashion now as few modern boats are suited to them plus steering to compass is rather old hat with modern electronics.

 

[LittleSister]

. . . steering to compass is rather old hat with modern electronics.

It was only ever a 500 year passing fad.

 

[OCuea]

I learned to sail with one of those and loved it. Later had an up market Sestrel version which was just as good. They suit boats where it can be mounted either under the tiller or on the bridge deck so the helm can see them. However really out of fashion now as few modern boats are suited to them plus steering to compass is rather old hat with modern electronics.

Just remembered….. That £million boat I delivered didn’t have a cockpit chart plotter. It had gps at chart table with paper charts. Cockpit had binnacle compass that we used but all garage instruments were useless owing to some sort of failure ….. typical of boat deliveries. So we did steer by compass. I wonder if anyone here would go to sea without a compass or two even if not used?

 

[Marsali_1]

Just remembered….. That £million boat I delivered didn’t have a cockpit chart plotter. It had gps at chart table with paper charts. Cockpit had binnacle compass that we used but all garage instruments were useless owing to some sort of failure ….. typical of boat deliveries. So we did steer by compass. I wonder if anyone here would go to sea without a compass or two even if not used?

I tend to sail offshore with a couple of Ravens in a cage and I try and keep the sun at a constant altitude above the horizon. I let the Ravens go each noon time and if they come back before dark I know I'm nowhere near land and carry on. If they don't return I start keeping a closer watch on the horizon. I figure that it worked for the Vikings and that a 50 pound bag of bird seed is a damn sight cheaper than all that electrical malarky.

 

[OCuea]

I tend to sail offshore with a couple of Ravens in a cage and I try and keep the sun at a constant altitude above the horizon. I let the Ravens go each noon time and if they come back before dark I know I'm nowhere near land and carry on. If they don't return I start keeping a closer watch on the horizon. I figure that it worked for the Vikings and that a 50 pound bag of bird seed is a damn sight cheaper than all that electrical malarky.

Works for you…. superb….need crew?

 

[veshengro]

My little boat goes into the water after the holiday. When she's ashore in the yard I bring my compass home.
The foam insulation tube on the backing board is out of sight when the compass is in position, it's anti rattle that's all, and out of sight.



Ex RAF Air Sea Rescue fast Launch I believe. Old but super accurate. ( No electronics on board)

 

[OCuea]

My little boat goes into the water after the holiday. When she's ashore in the yard I bring my compass home.
The foam insulation tube on the backing board is out of sight when the compass is in position, it's anti rattle that's all, and out of sight.



Ex RAF Air Sea Rescue fast Launch I believe. Old but super accurate. ( No electronics on board)

Do you have the plastic mounting bracket that often goes missing? Good idea about the anti vibration.

 

[OCuea]

I'd be wanting the seller to give me money to take it off their hands.

I sailed with one for many years and never got on with it.

If you use a compass and not electrical device, what is your favourite?

 

[veshengro]

Photo is deceptive, the compass is actually on it's mounting bracket, not flat on the backing board. It's sitting about 5cm above the board in it's gimballed (metal) bracket.

 

[OCuea]

Photo is deceptive, the compass is actually on it's mounting bracket, not flat on the backing board. It's sitting about 5cm above the board in it's gimballed (metal) bracket.

How did you get a metal bracket? Made it, had it made, bought it? One of mine came with an original bracket and I had a second bracket 3D printed for the other compass that had no bracket.
Sometimes I just get the compass out and look at it and twiddle with it (I don’t sail and longer). I will have to sell them alas. And I have Plastimo racing compasses and some other kinds somewhere that I kept when I sold a boat but kept items I thought would come in handy- as for hand bearing compasses ! I have a WWII one in pristine condition and a few other types- bit of a collector of nice items is my view of myself / but will have to sell to clear the place so no one else has to when push comes to shove.

 

[veshengro]

I bought the compass probably 55 + years ago and the bracket was already attached, brass thumb screws each side. I was told that the compass came from an Air Sea Rescue Launch, which made sense as the nearby local ASR Base in Sussex had closed down relatively recently. Perhaps being for military use rather than civilian, a metal bracket was deemed more suitable. I was never aboard one at sea, but I did see them at sea on exercise and they did tend to bounce about at speed, so perhaps a sturdy bracket was a necessity.

 

[OCuea]

I bought the compass probably 55 + years ago and the bracket was already attached, brass thumb screws each side. I was told that the compass came from an Air Sea Rescue Launch, which made sense as the nearby local ASR Base in Sussex had closed down relatively recently. Perhaps being for military use rather than civilian, a metal bracket was deemed more suitable. I was never aboard one at sea, but I did see them at sea on exercise and they did tend to bounce about at speed, so perhaps a sturdy bracket was a necessity.

Sounds plausible and much better than the usually missing plastic bracket with ONE plastic thumb screw.
Bet yours is worth more than mine

 

[dansaskip]

steering to compass is rather old hat with modern electronics.

I wonder if anyone here would go to sea without a compass o

I think I would rather keep my old hat, certainly wouldn't go to sea without a working compass. As OCuea says electronics can and DO go wrong.

 

[Hoolie]

Back to the OP's question. I bought one earlier in the year on eBay for £49+postage. Good condition, no bubble and two mounting brackets/wedges.

 

[Daydream believer]

I made my own gimbals on my spare Sestral compass which I obtained for £ 25-00. The original one I had for a present in 1970 & it has helped me get lost ever since. I have never sailed without it. I also have the matching hand bearing compass from the same year in its teak case. That is a quality piece of kit. But first you have to aim it at the correct light house
The mounting bracket male & female parts are made from hexagonal brass bar suitably cut to size & fitted to a back plate

 

[OCuea]

Back to the OP's question. I bought one earlier in the year on eBay for £49+postage. Good condition, no bubble and two mounting brackets/wedges.

Thankee. Encouraging. Mine are in mint condition so that will be a price point I can use.

 

[Wansworth]

Yes bought new in 1971 for my ocean going 15 footer………could it have been 17/6p?