Compass illumination

DoubleEnder

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I have a removable washboard in my companion entrance, that holds the plotter, and the depth/log dial. When tied up, moored, anchored etc I take this board out and replace it with a nice shiny varnished one, keeps the place looking tidy.

My compass is mounted on a 'shelf' at the after end of the cockpit, where the helmsman sits. The tiller doesnt project very far over the after cockpit coaming so it is natural to sit at the back, and the compass is level with your knees. Not ideal, as I just have a small dome compass, which doesn't really look very nice and is a bit hard to read at this angle. And now has a leak.

I COULD replace this with a grid compass in the same position - would be easier to read. But they are expensive, hard to find and also have a great habit of getting hooked up in sheets unless they are tucked well out of the way...

So I had a thought, what about putting a modern, new bulkhead compass in to my removable washboard? I'd have a better view of it, looking at it square on. And could I do you think light something like a Plastimo Contest with tritium to save more wiring to the washboard?

All thoughts gratefully received

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266176&highlight=sestrel


Graham
 
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I have no idea if the tritium vials would provide enough light but, as you've already got power supplies going to the other instruments it would be easy enough to tap into one of those wires. A switch, if you want to switch it, is easy enough to fit.

I would check that proximity to those instruments is not going to cause problems with the compass.

Other than that, it sounds like a handy solution for your boat.
 

Ex-SolentBoy

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Not an answer to your question, but how often do you look at your compass?

I have a cover on mine and must confess to almost never taking it off. So far my plotter hasn't failed, my mag flux sensor that displays on my instruments is more accurate and I just never seem to need the wet compass.
 

barnaclephill

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I have a removable washboard in my companion entrance

And could I do you think light something like a Plastimo Contest with tritium to save more wiring to the washboard?

On your washboard you could fit a compass such as a hand-bearing model by Suunto. You lift it out of the bracket to take a hand bearing, and put back in the bracket as a steering compass. The bracket has a tiny 12V LED to illuminate the phosphorescent dial. In the HB mode, it has a trigger to lock the bearing until you get to write it down. The bracket is made to fit a vertical washboard - it doesn't intrude the wall cavity like most steering compasses.

Apart from not being sited too closely to other instruments, the wires need to be twisted to cancel out the magnetic field of the current to the illuminating light. In the hand, it will be far enough away from any interference from instruments or wiring.
 

VicS

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As above a Suunto Commander hand bearing compass or one of the similar Plastimo Iris 100 models.
These used to have a choice of beta light ( tritium capsule), photoluminescent, or no lighting.
I think the beta light may no longer an be option.


EDIT: The Suunto Commander appears to be discontinued

Silva 70UNE is also similar. It has diode lighting powered by internal batteries
 
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barnaclephill

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Mailspeed seem to have the Suunto Commander that I was refering to without remembering the model, comes in black or white for 90 pounds your money.
There are also the Plastimo Iris and Silva 37R which seem to fit the bill as a HBC as well as having a bracket to mount them either horizontally or vertically. http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/hand-bearing-compasses,page-2.bhtml

Apart from function, then it comes down to which ones you like best to read, and other considerations.
 

prv

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Not an answer to your question, but how often do you look at your compass?

I have a cover on mine and must confess to almost never taking it off. So far my plotter hasn't failed, my mag flux sensor that displays on my instruments is more accurate and I just never seem to need the wet compass.

Depends what else one has aboard. I don't have a flux gate sensor, for a start. I do have a small plotter, but it's very rarely running as for most purposes I prefer to use full-size charts rather than an electronic peep-hole. In any case, surely a GPS-driven "compass" on a plotter screen will display your ground track rather than your heading? Ok, a lot of the time it doesn't make much difference, but sometimes it does (especially in a small boat).

Pete
 

DoubleEnder

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Thank you

Yes, I do use the compass, old habits maybe? Also it is useful to be able totell a helmsperson what course to try to steer.
But the idea of the demountable versions is excellent - I had not thought of that. Will go and look at some in the flesh and do that I think

Thanks to all
Graham
 

VicS

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Mailspeed seem to have the Suunto Commander that I was refering to without remembering the model, comes in black or white for 90 pounds your money.
There are also the Plastimo Iris and Silva 37R which seem to fit the bill as a HBC as well as having a bracket to mount them either horizontally or vertically. http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/hand-bearing-compasses,page-2.bhtml

Apart from function, then it comes down to which ones you like best to read, and other considerations.

Which bit of "Sorry, this item is discontinued" dont you understand? :eek: SEE HERE
 

ghostlymoron

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Which bit of "Sorry, this item is discontinued" dont you understand? :eek: SEE HERE
The link shows them as available for £89.99. I had one of these as a hand bearing compass for which they are very good - a bit small for a main compass in my opinion except on a day boat. Personally I wouldn't be happy to sail without a compass.
 

VicS

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The link shows them as available for £89.99. I had one of these as a hand bearing compass for which they are very good - a bit small for a main compass in my opinion except on a day boat. Personally I wouldn't be happy to sail without a compass.

They also say "sorry this item is discontinued"

I became suspicious when I could find no mention of them on Suunto's website.
 
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V1701

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A 9v PP3 battery is sufficient to power the wee light in a Plastimo Contest compass, you could build in a little box on the back of the washboard for it to sit in. I bought a Plastimo Contest for £80 ebay, cheapest now seems to be £90. Local chandlers price was £143...
 

boguing

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Just remember that in the old days, the pair of wires running DC to the compass light had to be twisted to avoid setting up a magnetic field. The same is probably true for nearby power supplies.
 

V1701

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Just remember that in the old days, the pair of wires running DC to the compass light had to be twisted to avoid setting up a magnetic field. The same is probably true for nearby power supplies.

The Plastimo comes with about 12" of wire and yes it's twisted, didn't realise that was the reason...
 

barnaclephill

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Which bit of "Sorry, this item is discontinued" dont you understand? :eek:[/URL]

The bit which says 'it appears to be discontinued' 'cause I found it still advertised in Oz (though a different magnetic zone), so I found it on the Mailspeed site. I obviously didn't make it to the "view details" page, but the whole point is that there are various HBCs that are mountable for use as a steering compass.

Vic, please forgive me for being persistent and not taking 'discontinued' for an answer.
 

webcraft

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We fitted a Plastmo bulkhead compass into a spare washboard because we felt guilty that we didn't have an old-fashioned steering compass - but since we did that we have never used it. We use the GPS, chartplotter or Navik to steer. It is however nice to know that we have a proper steering compass should the need arise. There are two wires with a plug on the end stashed away that can be connected to light the compass up at night.

- W
 

VicS

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The bit which says 'it appears to be discontinued' 'cause I found it still advertised in Oz (though a different magnetic zone), so I found it on the Mailspeed site. I obviously didn't make it to the "view details" page, but the whole point is that there are various HBCs that are mountable for use as a steering compass.

Vic, please forgive me for being persistent and not taking 'discontinued' for an answer.

I have found it on Suunto's website now


In the discontinued products section ! There is quite a range of marine compasses that have been discontiued .. looks like a market htey have pretty much pulled out of

Bound to be a few floating about in stock. (Even brand new Seagull outboards turn up from time to time!)
 
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