NMEA interface for Ritchie Magtronic fluxgate compass

PaulSommers · 15-01-2008, 10:20

Does anyone know where I can get an NMEA interface for a Ritchie Magtronic fluxgate compass? I sent an email to Ritchie but have not had a reply, and they don't make the Magtronics anymore so they may not be providing any support. I would love to use it with an autopilot but that is only possible if I can translate the signal from Ritchie's proprietary format to NMEA. My sailboat is steel so I need a fluxgate that will work in that environment, and Ritchie's old compass is the only one I have found that is supposed to work on a steel hull.

--Frustrated cruiser in Washington State hoping for great ideas from Forum members

**Pblais** · 15-01-2008, 11:44

Quote:

My sailboat is steel so I need a fluxgate that will work in that environment, and Ritchie's old compass is the only one I have found that is supposed to work on a steel hull.

Try this link:

http://www.ritchienavigation.com/docs/MS-100.pdf

It does output NMEA data if it is the MS-100 the others do not. The ability to translate into NMEA isn't anything you can easily accomplish. Another link I found stated it needs to be mounted 5 feet above any steel deck.

GordMay · 16-01-2008, 04:23

There is an excellent article on the problems and solutions of compasses on steel boats on the W-H Autopilots website at
Steel Boat Compass Problems

15-01-2008, 10:20	#1
PaulSommers Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Western Washington Boat: Dreadnought 32 Posts: 1	NMEA interface for Ritchie Magtronic fluxgate compass Does anyone know where I can get an NMEA interface for a Ritchie Magtronic fluxgate compass? I sent an email to Ritchie but have not had a reply, and they don't make the Magtronics anymore so they may not be providing any support. I would love to use it with an autopilot but that is only possible if I can translate the signal from Ritchie's proprietary format to NMEA. My sailboat is steel so I need a fluxgate that will work in that environment, and Ritchie's old compass is the only one I have found that is supposed to work on a steel hull. --Frustrated cruiser in Washington State hoping for great ideas from Forum members

16-01-2008, 04:23	#3
GordMay Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 12,576	There is an excellent article on the problems and solutions of compasses on steel boats on the W-H Autopilots website at Steel Boat Compass Problems __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

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