Bulkhead Compass Suggestions?

jerrytug

jerrytug

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I would be grateful for a recommendation for my new bulkhead compass. Mine is the Plastimo 105mm or somesuch.

I like proper navigation but I have been missing out, my Plastimo is useless.. the little numbers are hard to read, especially with the red background. (whose idea was that?) and I love my archaic 2b pencils enough to splash out on a useable bulkhead compass- if such a thing is available because I haven't seen one in the chandlers.

I just can't read it without reading glasses really, if I get close up, but if I'm at the helm it's too far away.

The light is bad for night vision and lights up the whole perspex globe, so worse than useless after dark.

Any salt/spray renders the contraption futile, day or night.

I need one double the size, with white numbers on a black background, so you can read the course with a quick glance from the helm, and a light arranged so it just shines on the course, not in my eyes.

A friend got a Ritchey one, looked better, too small, but a step in the right direction.

Do they still make useable bulkhead compasses for ageing eyesight and wet conditions, or should
I just give up and get a chartplotter :(

cheers Jerry
 
As a dinghy sailor, I am addicted to my TackTick digital compass.

It would be great for a yacht, except it's solar powered and has no light. Also, it cost £200 +.

A B&G with a big display at the mast is one answer.
 
My boat came with a Plastimo, which I don't like very much for the same reasons as you. It took me a while to find, but I managed to get a brand new, boxed Sestrel bulkhead compass on eBay which will be going in when I get round to it. I also plan to try a grid style steering compass under the tiller, which was, I think, the original fitment and for which there is still a bracket.
 
I have exactly the same problem, my sight at night doesn't allow me to read the figures on a Contest 130 and I cannot get closer whilst steering. We have discussed making a simple(?) led display which would enable the correct heading to be programed, presumably by just pressing a button, and then show how far, in 5 degree steps, we were off course, maybe green for starboard, red for port. Or is there any suitable app for this problem.
 
Adonnante said:
We have discussed making a simple(?) led display which would enable the correct heading to be programed, presumably by just pressing a button, and then show how far, in 5 degree steps, we were off course, maybe green for starboard, red for port.
Click to expand...

You have just described the Raymarine ST50 compass display:

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While you're just sailing about, the course is displayed as digits in the little window and the needle points straight up. If you want to steer a compass course, you press the "lock" button, the course in the window becomes fixed, and the needle then indicates how far off course you are. Note that the scale is multiplied by a bit more than three times (30º is past where 90º would be) so even small deviations are quite visible. The arrow buttons make small adjustments to the locked course; for a major change you would unlock it and re-lock on the new heading. Interestingly, it can also display the average course actually steered while locked, so you can have a more accurate DR plot without having to rely on the helmsman's honesty!

I have one of these on Ariam; it works with the autopilot compass sensor although it could have one plugged into it directly instead. Of course we have a conventional magnetic compass in front of the wheel as well.

Pete
 
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