Snowgoose-1
Well-Known Member
I have an annoying bubble in my Plastimo Contest . Does that mean it's the beginning of the end ? Or has anyone managed to burst their bubble ?
TIA
TIA
Compass Bubble
- Thread starter Snowgoose-1
- Start date
Lightwave395
Well-Known Member
I have two of those, both had small bubbles. I manage to get into them and refill with baby oil but one of them leaks a bit ( actually more of a 'weep' than a leak). There is a small brass screw on the underside that gives access but it's very fiddly as you need to fix the compass at the correct angle to get it completely filled. I used a small syringe and more than my fair share of patience...
BobnLesley
Well-Known Member
Yes, they are annoying aren't they. Far from the end if ours is anything to go by: It had an air-pocket when we bought the boat in 2011, which I filled as described with lightwave, but it continued to return - my explanation was when the compass really hot (mid-Summer Med/Caribbean hot) the oil expanded and some leaked past a seal somewhere, if was always more noticeable when it was cooler/on night passages. I topped it up about once a year, and it was still performing as it should when we sold the boat in 2020.
Plum
Well-Known Member
I've had a small bubble for over 10 years and no sign of it getting worse.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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tico
Well-Known Member
Try Barry at BPSC Marine in Southampton.
Lightwave395
Well-Known Member
I wish I hadn't touched mine... I'd reached a point with my boat that the jobs list had temporarily emptied and thought what should I do today - I know, look at those compasses
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Years ago, I had a bubble in an aircraft compass. The CAA surveyor suggested gin to top it up. The letters all fell off the card.....
johnalison
Well-Known Member
A little Googling told me that my compass, not Plastimo, was irreparable when this happened to me, so maybe a little research may come up with how to access yours. In my case this meant a replacement.
Hoolie
Well-Known Member
I currently have 57 items on my to-do list! Someone on the US cruisersforum reckoned that the mean time to complete jobs on his to-do list was 27 years
Baddox
Well-Known Member
What's his rush?Someone on the US cruisersforum reckoned that the mean time to complete jobs on his to-do list was 27 years
Snowgoose-1
Well-Known Member
Feedback
I took the plastimo compass off to have a play and found the rubber gasket had perished and the rest of it looked a bit manky.
I find out that the new direct replacement is a Plastimo Contest 101. I found the best deal was Seamark Nunn for £118.30. Fitted and happy to report that the card and numerals much bigger than the old one. Definitely worth the money.
I took the plastimo compass off to have a play and found the rubber gasket had perished and the rest of it looked a bit manky.
I find out that the new direct replacement is a Plastimo Contest 101. I found the best deal was Seamark Nunn for £118.30. Fitted and happy to report that the card and numerals much bigger than the old one. Definitely worth the money.
William_H
Well-Known Member
I have always kept my compass covered. Firstly with the proper cover thenb one made of sail cloth. Has survived 40 years without a buble. It is the sun shine that kills it. ol'will
Iliade
Well-Known Member
Should anyone else have the same issue, I have a Contest which had a 20mm bubble when I bought the boat, which grew to some 10cm after a few years. An £8 bottle of propylene glycol (from a vape shop) and a 90p syringe fixed it, with loads left for further treatment which has thus far not been required during the last six months or so...
There was a small bubble remaining after I refilled it, but this disappeared overnight, 'never' to return.
There was a small bubble remaining after I refilled it, but this disappeared overnight, 'never' to return.
pmagowan
Well-Known Member
The bubble is to make sure you have it installed level.
Roberto
Well-Known Member
Before refilling, it helps to put compass and top-up liquid in the fridge
johnalison
Well-Known Member
It didn't help mine that had been kept covered and under a large sprayhood when not in use for only 20 years. I presume it was just time and occasional heat that ruined the seal.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
On my faering, the compass lives in a drawer under the middle thwart. If needed, I just pull the draw out a bit. Drawer has no front to it, so only needsto come out a bit to see it. Out of the light and way.
New boat has a smart Plastimo Contest to fit in the bulkhead. Came with clip on cover.
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
I also have a cover over mine which is only removed when on board and been ok for 15 years.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
We have a plastic cover that slowly failed, became brittle, from exposure to life (despite being under a solid roof), maybe 10 years. I simply coated the cover with epoxy and painted the cover with white 2 pack - its been fine ever since, another 15 years.
We have a bridge compass from a WWII UK destroyer, open bridge. It sits on a coffee table. The 'top' or working face of the compass is a brass ring retaining a flat glass window. Over the years it has developed a bubble but I simply don't have the courage to dismantle and repair as I strongly suspect any replacement rubber seal will not be held in stock.
Jonathan
We have a bridge compass from a WWII UK destroyer, open bridge. It sits on a coffee table. The 'top' or working face of the compass is a brass ring retaining a flat glass window. Over the years it has developed a bubble but I simply don't have the courage to dismantle and repair as I strongly suspect any replacement rubber seal will not be held in stock.
Jonathan
Snowgoose-1
Well-Known Member
Makes sense.We have a plastic cover that slowly failed, became brittle, from exposure to life (despite being under a solid roof), maybe 10 years. I simply coated the cover with epoxy and painted the cover with white 2 pack - its been fine ever since, another 15 years.
We have a bridge compass from a WWII UK destroyer, open bridge. It sits on a coffee table. The 'top' or working face of the compass is a brass ring retaining a flat glass window. Over the years it has developed a bubble but I simply don't have the courage to dismantle and repair as I strongly suspect any replacement rubber seal will not be held in stock.
Jonathan
Probably what happens is that the cover finally disintegrets, and you spend the next three seasons promising yourself to renew the cover. Probably difficult to find the make and model. By then you get a bubble and the glass has gone cloudy. I plead guilty M'Lord .
