Fluxgate compass needs calibrating?

[Molteni]

We've a full set of Raymarine instruments including a C80 plotter and a ST70 autopilot.

While everything works fine, the attached pictures illustrate the problem. On the plotter the green line correctly shows the COG as 324T.

But the orientation of the boat logo is perhaps 60 degrees to port of where it should be and the wind direction (relative to the boat) display on the plotter is also incorrect by a similar amount.

The display on the autopilot also shows the wrong heading.

While none of the above causes any real problems, there's clearly something not right. any help greatly appreciated

Thanks

Mike

 

[jwilson]

If you know where your electronic compass is check very carefully for anything magnetic stowed near it.... However I had a similar intermittent problem and the culprit was the Raymarine electronic compass itself - changed it and the problem disappeared. This is the item - https://www.aquamaremarine.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Raymarine-Raypilot-Fluxgate-Compass.jpg

 

[Keith-i]

I am suffering a very similar problem with a Raymarine S1 system. The heading line is consistently off and even after going through the menus and adding some compensation the next minute it’s out again. It also seems to affect the ability of the autopilot to follow a route from the plotter.

 

[dslittle]

I shall watch this thread with interest as my heading sometimes shows about 60 degrees to port as well - but not always!!!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I am suffering a very similar problem with a Raymarine S1 system. The heading line is consistently off and even after going through the menus and adding some compensation the next minute it’s out again. It also seems to affect the ability of the autopilot to follow a route from the plotter.

Another poster recently reported the resolution of a similar problem, after he realised the welly boots he bought from Fisherman's Supply had steel toecaps.

I believe the compass may be affected by anything ferrous, not just magnetic.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Another poster recently reported the resolution of a similar problem, after he realised the welly boots he bought from Fisherman's Supply had steel toecaps.

I believe the compass may be affected by anything ferrous, not just magnetic.

Even a mobile phone! Or even a tablet, anything that could be emitting any sort of signal radiation.

 

[Birdseye]

Another poster recently reported the resolution of a similar problem, after he realised the welly boots he bought from Fisherman's Supply had steel toecaps.

I believe the compass may be affected by anything ferrous, not just magnetic.

Wrong way round. Anything magnetic which ferrous items are likely to be.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

An oddity of my Raymarine system is that occasionally, for no apparent reason, it changes the variation from 0 (as it should be) to 5 degrees west, and I have to go into the menus to reset it. 5 degrees west appears to be the default built into the system.

 

[gordmac]

Had issues with mine, found an almost broken wire which when repaired helped. Worth trying a calibration although how you are supposed to go round in a circle, twice, at a couple of kn I am not sure. Goes haywire if metal is anywhere near though.