Removing Binacle Compass

[zboss]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

After a lightning near miss, my binnacle compass was off by 15 degrees.

Exactly. However, I understand that the result should be short lived.

[steve77]

Well, I would never remove my binnacle compass, regardless of all the other means I have to determine my heading. But that's me.

If you want something to mount on the binnacle guard to allow steering when everything else is inop, then I would just find a mount for your handheld gps. Since you are talking about an armageddon scenario, the odds of ever needing it are slim. If there is some inconvenience with the lag of the gps, maybe that's the tradeoff you have to make.

There are lots of ways to mount a gps to a rail. If you can post the model of your gps and the diameter of your rail (I'm assuming it is round) I'll bet someone can help you find what you are looking for.

Cheers!

Steve

[autumnbreeze27]

Originally Posted by zboss

I'm just looking for a basic digital display $10 device that I can strap to the frame in front of my eyes.

We can mount the iphone there and that may just be the best option. .

The best solution in that price range is a mount for your iphone. You should also consider a standalone external battery for it, because inevitably if you really need it, it will be dead, and maybe a small solar panel setup in case you need to recharge the external battery.

Removing the binnacle compass may affect your resell value.

[zeehag]

my binnacle compss is "in the way" but i would work around it rather than remove it. there are ways. put a nice stainless arch around your binnacle for mounting stuff...
make a display mounting for the electronix..
many ways to think outside the box.

[jreiter190]

Try putting a bonsai oak in the cockpit. Moss will only grow on the north side of it. If you know where north is. ..

[Jman]

So I guess to re-ask the same question, and what I think the OP was asking, is not whether it is a good idea, or whether you can steer to digital compass, or whether a catastrophic event could take down an electronic device, GPS or other wise.

It is - does anyone know of anything else that looks like this:
http://www.velocitek.com/assets/temp...g/shift_10.png

From this site:
Shift - Velocitek

Maybe drops the shift calculations and countdown timer but maintains the battery, the back lighting, the waterproofness, the size, and hopefully the solar charging. And most importantly is closer to $10 than $700. Since we can all come up with countless devices that have compasses in them, essentially for free, that are waterproof, are battery operated, but have small multi-purpose screens, that there might be something else on the market that is more purpose built.

[Stu Jackson]

B51

RITCHIE NAVIGATION Explorer Compasses | West Marine

[jreiter190]

Maybe a Flux gate compass. You can mount it anywhere.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by jreiter190

Maybe a Flux gate compass. You can mount it anywhere.

Yup -just looking for one that is close to as described in post #21. But more reasonably priced.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by zeehag

my binnacle compss is "in the way" but i would work around it rather than remove it. there are ways. put a nice stainless arch around your binnacle for mounting stuff...
make a display mounting for the electronix..
many ways to think outside the box.

zeehag - yes we currently have our instruments in a pod across the top of our binacle frame but between that and the compass, there is simply no room for the chartplotter. So, we hang it off to the side using an arm.

We want this because our cockpit is not large and when single handing at night the chartplotter gets in the way. I even caught a sheet on it once. So... time to move the chartplotter. We rarely use the compass - I don't think it is even set correctly - every time I have to take apart the binnacle to service the chain we have to remove the compass and the adjustment rods - which means swinging it again. After the 3rd time I'm done.

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

B51

RITCHIE NAVIGATION Explorer Compasses | West Marine

Hi Stu... I looked at that... may be a possibility. We could unmount it and then if its ever needed unbox it and mount it back on again.

Still, a digital would be better.

[Capt. Fisher]

I pulled my compass and added a small chartplotter which has a compass screen. If the chartplotter dies I can put the compass back in 30 seconds.

[jreiter190]

Did you say what you would be willing to pay for a Flux gate? I gogled them and they run from $176-up to $700.

[Hudson Force]

As some others have done, I've removed my binnacle compass and placed in in a secondary mount within my main cabin. I have a platform for electronics on top of my binnacle. I have quick electrical disconnects present that would allow me to easily remove the addition and replace my compass if desired. Fortunately, there is no disruption of the compass adjustments at my binnacle when I lift the compass out.

I think you can likely find a way to have both available with a simple exchange.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by jreiter190

Did you say what you would be willing to pay for a Flux gate? I gogled them and they run from $176-up to $700.

Well I have a fluxgate compass connected to my autopilot and chart plotter, but adding another display as described in post 2 would put me back at $700, with no redundancy that would be found in device described in post 21.

I have found exactly 4.

1) the velocitek shift, perfect but for price
2) the raymarine tacktic micro compass, no back lighting
3) the raymarine t070 marine compass, would be great too, but even more money than the velocitek, prefer the velocitek form factor for our particular mounting.
4) the kvh azimuth 1000, more of a drop in replacement for a traditional binnacle, so form factor is of no use to me, also cost $675.

If you have seen anything with backlighting for $400 or so, with stick on or screw in installation, would love it if you could post some links. Quite a bit of googling and so far these are all I come up with.



Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

B51

RITCHIE NAVIGATION Explorer Compasses | West Marine

We have ended up choosing the Ritchie Trek compass.

It has a rail bracket mount that allows you to take it off when you don't need it but it has a light that we can hook it to our USB port (I'm attaching a USB cable to the pigtail).

https://www.ritchienavigation.com/re...bracket-mount/