compass

T

terraplane

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
94
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
I 'm interested in placing a "traditional" compass on my R 25...Can someone suggest the placement and installation idea? I have the Yanmar 110, so not big screen at the helm...I wonder where to put a compass.

tom
 
Tom, traditionally and functionally it's best just ahead of the helm, so you can look down at it and see your course. If you mount it on the centerline of the boat and not directly ahead of where you steer from it'll work but a little harder to use and understand. Just don't put it close to anything magnetic. I helped a friend on a lobster boat in Maine who couldn't understand why his compass was not reading correctly and when I moved his stereo speakers, it "magically" swung around to the correct heading. :shock: He was amazed and so gratified that I got a few free lobbies..

Charlie
 
Thanks Charlie,

I would plan to put it on the flat space at the helm, but i found one photo on our Ranger albums with the compass inserted in the instrument panel...in some way.

tom
 
There are several different configurations Tom. One mounts mostly behind the "dashboard", sort of flush with it with a bulbous part sticking out. Requires a big hole. The other kind, which I prefer, has it's own mount and mounts on top, with only a couple of little holes to drill. Check out the West Marine catalog..

Charlie
 
Tom,
We had ours installed in the dash. We have had no interference from the electronics behind the dash. This is a med. size Suunto Compass that we have had for over twenty years. We have moved it from vessel to vessel as we have changed. I did not install it myself on Solitude, I had the dealer. However on my Catalina sailboats I installed it myself. Very simple to do.
 
Have you ever noticed that the ± 12 volt wires going to a compass for its light are normally twisted? The reason for doing this is to cancel out any magnetic field generated by direct current electrical wires near a compass. Take a look what is below the R-25's compass, a mass of 12 volt DC wires and electronics. I have tried swinging the compass to compensate it without much success. Let's face it, the R-25 has a relatively inexpensive compass in a non compass friendly location. On the other hand, the flux gate compass for the autopilot is mounted in a remote location to keep it away from ferrous metals and DC electrical wires. The flux gate compass and the GPS's magnetic headings are in agreement within a degree of each other.
Henry
 
On our R-21, we requested the factory ship the compass loose, since we were planning to install Raymarine's C-Series Multifunction Display on the instrument shelf at the helm. Our plan was to mount the compass on the vessel centerline, which we did. (This may seem impractical, but on the 21 the distance from there to the helm is only 2 feet!) Well, guess what - the compass read in error by about 15 deg. Seems my mounting position was directly above the wiper motor unit hidden under the shelf. By making up a neat little teak mounting stand, I raised the compass about 4 in. and the deviation disappeared. Oh well, live & learn.
alex, "Kamalani"
 
OK, good info.
My R 25 did not come with a compass. Though the GPS is fine, I still like paper charts and a compass..and i like to read marks as i travel. So, I'd like to find a compass at West Marine that could be mounted on the shelf right above the helm,maybe slightly to the left, and have it work. So, if anyone can recommend a model and other details i'll have my friend Bunky put the thing in.

Thanks again,

Terraplane (tom)

By the way, the "terraplane" moniker is my "blues band name"....i play blues harp, blues banjo...i'm known as The Terraplane. A care from early 20th century much desired by black bluesmen, and a frequent subject of double entendre in the blues.
 
I have checked the accuracy of my dash mounted compass with a handheld compass as well as my Steiner Binoculars. All three have matched up. If you install a decent compass, you should be okay.

It could make a difference though if you have the nav package installed. We do not.
 
OK, Dave (Solitude), I have to ask - How did you import the photo into your post. I know I'm not very tech-savvy, but this has had me puzzled for some time. Alex, "Kamalani".
 
Alex,
Click on the g2Img button above. This will take you to the photo album page. Click on the photo (in the box top left) and then hit the submit button.

Trial and error....... that is how we all learn! (lot's of error on some of our parts.......)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top