Bubble trouble in my compass

[Kelpie]

Yesterday I noticed a tiny air bubble in my plastimo iris 100 compass. It's quite a new piece of kit and wasn't exactly cheap, so I'm a bit annoyed. Mind you it's probably out of warranty.
Anyway this morning the bubble had grown to about the size of a pea. I can't find any obvious signs of fluid leaking out although I did notice that the compass capsule says that it canot be refilled.
Is this a known problem with this model? Any tips of stemming the flow of fluid and extending the life of the compass?

 

[cliff]

Yesterday I noticed a tiny air bubble in my plastimo iris 100 compass. It's quite a new piece of kit and wasn't exactly cheap, so I'm a bit annoyed. Mind you it's probably out of warranty.
Anyway this morning the bubble had grown to about the size of a pea. I can't find any obvious signs of fluid leaking out although I did notice that the compass capsule says that it cannot be refilled.
Is this a known problem with this model? Any tips of stemming the flow of fluid and extending the life of the compass?

One of these?

Supposed to be fitted with bellows or a diaphram to prevent bubble formation.

If you can remove the "capsule" from the handle you may find the leak and be able to repair it (epoxy, or my favourite - Sikaflex)
Might have to drill a small hole to extract the bubble and top up with suitable oil then seal the hole (small brass machine screw and rubber washer after threading the hole) - just noticed - the warranty is 5 years so if not 5 years old take it back to where ever you bought it.

 

[Playtime]

I've had a bubble in my main binnacle compass for the past 4 years. It grew to about 1cm across but has stabilised there for at least 2 years. Maybe something has 'expanded'?

It doesn't affect operation so, on the basis of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" I am leaving well alone.

To be perfectly honest I rarely use the analogue compass. The autohelm gives a compass reading (if needed). However, cross track error is much more useful on passage (assuming a route has been activated), even cross tide where you can allow for the tidal drift quite accurately.

If all electronics went down, though, I do have hand bearing and bino compasses that could be called into service.

 

[Seajet]

Uh-oh !

I had a small bubble in a Plastimo Contest main compass for a few years; as I was only operating in local waters, I foolishly didn't replace it - I don't suggest this is restricted to Plastimo kit, but more expensive suppliers seem to offer top-up details rather than 'buy another one '.

I was using the boat weekly, though there had been a small bubble for a few years and I accepted it, the next time I set off the compass was dry and the card toppled & stuck.

Now combine that on the return trip with an electrical failure, ( battery, long story ) being singlehanded in dense fog off a shore with no ready depth contours for a lead line & hand compass, and one begins to get the message it's not one's day.

No matter what electronics aboard, the main steering compass should be there when you need it.

 

[Playtime]

No matter what electronics aboard, the main steering compass should be there when you need it.

With 2 other (analogue) compasses on board (not to mention several independant GPS systems), I think the risk is acceptable. The real nightmare would be the GPS constellation going down.

If the bubble gets worse, then I will address the problem. It's been stable long enough now for me not to be unduly concerned.

 

[cliff]

If the bubble gets worse, then I will address the problem. It's been stable long enough now for me not to be unduly concerned.

FFS if it is less than 5 years old take it back and get a new one or maybe your purchase was not so recent?

 

[Playtime]

. . .or maybe your purchase was not so recent?

12 years old, original equipment, so not really an option.

 

[Seajet]

With 2 other (analogue) compasses on board (not to mention several independant GPS systems), I think the risk is acceptable. The real nightmare would be the GPS constellation going down.

If the bubble gets worse, then I will address the problem. It's been stable long enough now for me not to be unduly concerned.

Try hand steering on engine, keeping a course by hand compass while using a lead line, and BTW as depth contours don't always help, a mechanical - preferably trail - log will be essential too - but not accurate enough for a few hundred yards such as Chichester; now trust these devices and yours to get into a narrow channel ?

I went into shallow water off the recognised routes and anchored; with a modern handheld GPS backup I could have probably got in, but 'probably' with a few hundred feet wide entrance steering by my teeth is not something I'll risk my boat on.

As for the 'GPS Constellation going down' ( has been known deliberately, and how about batteries & wiring ) I work on fighter aircraft; they all have a standby magnetic compass, and the aircraft are carefully ' compass swung ' with the deviation card next to it in line of sight...