Help! Compass 180 deg out!

[Forest Girl]

Had to remove my Plastimo compass to get at the Whitlock steering. I accidentally used a magnetic screwdriver to remove screws. Not sure if this caused it but compass is now 180 deg out. Any sensible suggestions on how to rectify problem greatly appreciated.

 

[Seajet]

If I'm right in assuming this is a Plastimo Contest ' porthole ' compass readable from both in and out of the cockpit, there should be a small rectangular black plastic tray just underneath the globe with the corrector magnets; my first check would be to see that's in place.

Edit - ! 180 out, is it back in the right way ?!

 

[lenseman]

Sail backwards . . . . . it's a very sensible solution.



.

 

[Seajet]

I meant, is the whole globe part reinstalled 180 degrees out...

 

[sailorman]

If I'm right in assuming this is a Plastimo Contest ' porthole ' compass readable from both in and out of the cockpit, there should be a small rectangular black plastic tray just underneath the globe with the corrector magnets; my first check would be to see that's in place.

Edit - ! 180 out, is it back in the right way ?!

it was possible to inadvertently do that with a bosun type grid compass.
does this compass have a hood /cover that pivots over, it could well be the wrong way round

 

[edsailing]

Does it read 180 out and/or does the needle point 180 out?

 

[Seajet]

Now you're dating me, the first boat I ever sailed had a Bosun compass; a good bit of kit but required ' head down ' peering at while not looking out, also tended to get trodden on.

Looked the part though;

sorry for thread drift.

 

[sailorman]

Now you're dating me, the first boat I ever sailed had a Bosun compass; a good bit of kit but required ' head down ' peering at while not looking out, also tended to get trodden on.

Looked the part though;

sorry for thread drift.

used in my first two boats & trade price from SWMF too

 

[VicS]

Had to remove my Plastimo compass to get at the Whitlock steering. I accidentally used a magnetic screwdriver to remove screws. Not sure if this caused it but compass is now 180 deg out. Any sensible suggestions on how to rectify problem greatly appreciated.

It might help to understand the problem if you could post a photo and identify the exact model

 

[Slipstream 34]

Unlike Seajet I'll assume it's a binnacle compass as it's on a steering pedestal. Have you taken the compass off its base? The magnets for correcting N/S and E/W accessible under the circular plastic plugs need to be in the correct orientation. From memory standing behind the compass looking vertically down the E/W should be nearest you and the N/S on your right.

 

[[70521]]

Now you're dating me, the first boat I ever sailed had a Bosun compass; a good bit of kit but required ' head down ' peering at while not looking out, also tended to get trodden on.

Looked the part though;

sorry for thread drift.

I still use a Bosun's compass!

 

[VicS]

I still use a Bosun's compass!

So do I . I have two positions for it. One at the front of the cockpit and one , with illumination, under the tiller. Does not get kicked or trodden on there.
The mounting and gimbal has to be flipped over when moving from one mounting to the other but I don't see how it can be made to read 180° out as suggested earlier.

 

[Lakesailor]

Just stand at the other side.

 

[Poignard]

When something similar happened to the compass on the 'Pequod' Captain Ahab fixed it with a harpoon, a top-maul, some linen thread and a sail needle. Surely you must carry these things on board?

 

[sailorman]

Isnt a Maul where swmbo goes shoppin

 

[Mistroma]

Pretty certain that the same thing happened to me about 20+ years ago. If I remember correctly, I'd put it down and it fell over and then read 108 deg. out. Nothing to do with the removable deviation adjustment magnets in my case. It was just a matter of the floating compass section turning upside down and coming upright 180 deg. out. I fixed it by holding it upside down and turning the body around around before bringing it upright again. Difficult to describe but pretty easy to manage.

I'm guessing that the same thing has happened here. i.e. The lubber line is now on the wrong side of the floating part.

 

[Woodlouse]

The magnetic poles are due to flip fairly soon anyway. Just hang onto it for now and you'll soon be right as rain.

 

[nigelmercier]

Perhaps the compass has read what the BBC say about how they work:

"... the Earth acts as if it has a bar magnet running through it with the magnet's south pole located near the planet's geographic north. Since opposites attract the north pole of a magnetised needle is attracted towards it."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/23033112

 

[VicS]

Perhaps the compass has read what the BBC say about how they work:

"... the Earth acts as if it has a bar magnet running through it with the magnet's south pole located near the planet's geographic north. Since opposites attract the north pole of a magnetised needle is attracted towards it."

Not quite how I might have worded it but basically correct surely?

 

[nigelmercier]

Not quite how I might have worded it but basically correct surely?

No, it should say:

"... the Earth acts as if it has a bar magnet running through it with the magnet's north pole located near the planet's geographic north. Since opposites attract the north seeking pole [the south pole] of a magnetised needle is attracted towards it."