Fluxgate Compass Where?

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pandos

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Am about to it new autopilot complete with Flux gate Compass, Manual says on the center line, at the water line, away fron engines, radar, radio etc.

Only place possible is on the saloon table which would then become a fixture,

Where do others fit theirs?

Am considering down low in under seat locker, so a little off c/l but probably ok as regards orientation/elevation/ magnetic interference.

Any thoughts.??
 
Mine is actually located in the drinks cabinet,which is about midships,a couple of feet above water line but on port side of boat.
 
I put mine under the salon table and it worked well for 2 years......until i put a PC in the table this xmas...ended up with boat doing 100 degree swing to the next waypoint hehhehehe
took me all weeekend to move teh PC cos i couldn't find anywhere else on teh boat away from big lumps of metel...
Regards
Roy
 
under chart table definitely not on the center line. In fact I can't think of any reason why it should be centered . The only reason i can think of is that there is less motion on the center and on the waterline. Mine works 100 % off center.
 
Am considering down low in under seat locker, so a little off c/l but probably ok as regards orientation/elevation/ magnetic interference.

========================================

Problem with lockers, is that they often get filled with other useful stuff - winch handles/food tins/beer & drink cans/etc , which can interfere with fluxgate.
 
Ya Thanks for all the replies,

I know that the saloon table would be best "theoretically" but removing the table/cabin sole would then become a near impossibility.

The locker it is, and an awareness of metal cans etc, usually this space is used for water container spare fenders, etc

So perhaps plastic box mounted to protect device from physical attack rather than electro/ magnetic interference.

Regards,
Tony.
 
Try and mount it near the centre of motion. Therefore close to the waterline and the centerline near the keel is best.
Check the location with a handbearing compass (do not forget to turn on any nearby electronics or devices with supply wires that are close when doing the test..
 
My old autohelm is clapped onto the gas locker, however as it's fluxgate compass doesn't have a readout, as long as the effect of the gas cylinders is constant, then it doesn't really matter what the compass thinks it's steering as long as the course is a constant.
 
I have to say under a table seems wrong. Tables are for putting things on. Many of these things contain metal. The saloon table is a classic place to put your lifejacket when you struggle out of it to use the heads, the CO2 cylinder is steel. The boat then does a 90degree turn while you are otherwise occupied....
Under the stern deck worked quite well. go for a space that is easy to ban everything steel from, and not directly under the deck where a metal item in a pocket will affect it when someone sits there.
 
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