Old-fashioned aviation compass

[steve]

I want to install a compass on top of the companionway hatch which would be visible from the stern for tiller steering and I've been unable to find one that can be read vertically, secured strongly enough not to be carried away by the mainsheet and can still work when heeled. I once sailed on a boat that had a small plane compass that was shaped like a disk, with large numbers on the edge and which could be heeled all the way over, but I can't find anything resembling this. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

[Guest]

Sounds just like the one my Father filched from a Wellington ... later he had a more modern one from an old BOAC job !!

I have a flat SUUNTO race compass that is designed to sit on a thwart just aft of mast in a dinghy ..... it will still work up to a reasonable angle of heal but NOT when washing windows .... it is about 4cms deep and about 15cms diameter ... with edge and top reading marks, oil damped and when checked against transits etc. very accurate and steady.

I never use it but always promised that I would find a use for it ....

 

[Oldhand]

I refer you to the Sestrel Moore marine compass which I believe was designed for the application you require and was very popular back in the '70's.

See:
http://www.sirs.co.uk/marine.htm
and scroll down to "Moore".

 

[bob_tyler]

Back in the 60s I had an ex RAF Grid Compass mounted on the bridge deck on my Caprice. That worked at any angle!

 

[Evadne]

I've still got an RAF grid compass mounted in the cockpit. Tough as old boots (actually tougher, having kicked it several times!)

 

[steve]

Thanks for the replies. I checked out the Sestrel Moores and they cost an absolute fortune, even the used ones! Also I don't think their gimballed bracket mount would be appropriate for the top of the hatch. I'll keep looking.