Want To Buy: Steel Boat Compass

[svJuggernaut]

I'm hunting for a good 2nd hand steel boat compass, or two, or three... my boat is ferro cement and my compasses all point north, all the time. If I could even find some compensators, I could probably make my compasses work.

Just seeing what's out there.

Located in Pensacola, FL. I will travel to pick up, if necessary.

[Capt Phil]

The most important thing to consider when installing any compass on a steel boat is to have it degaussed by a professional. Any port that services navy or commercial offshore vessels will have a couple of competent pros to handle the job. Local shipping agents or navy bases are a good source to use to find one. Phil

[svJuggernaut]

Yeah, I'm going to talk to people at our shipyard about it. I'm road tripping right now and it was on my mind. I'm definitely going to have a pro set it up for me. It's one of the few things I have no experience with on a sailboat.

[Capt Phil]

Good plan, Juggs... It truly is a specific skill that should not be performed by a novice or inexperienced hand. I would check out who ever you select to do the work prior to engaging him or her. Cheers, Phl

[atoll]

compasses are over rated......

I once had to deliver a steel boat from Scotland to Gibraltar where the owner had refitted the boat ,but never got round to fitting the compass

+2 on what captain phil says

you really don't want a compass that allways points north,especially when you hit the shipping lanes and the auto pilot fails

[goat]

Don't all compasses point to magnetic North?

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[atoll]

Originally Posted by goat

Don't all compasses point to magnetic North?

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ideally yes........that is until you surround it with steel,which creates its own magnetic field.

so on a steel boat you have to compensate for this magnetic field by finely adjusting magnets placed under or steel balls placed nearby the compass whilst swinging the vessel through 360 degrees using a visual true north reference as your guide for adjustment.

MAGNETIC COMPASS ADJUSTMENT - MARINE COMPASS CORRECTION

[gjordan]

I had a professional swing the compass on my steel boat and it was fine motoring around on Long Island Sound. When I left for Bermuda and started heeling, the compass would swing 20 to 30 degrees depending on how much we were heeled. It was terrible to deal with. It had the proper compensating balls, but it never was worth much. Spend enough money to get a reliable remote compass and it will make your life easier. I consider the compass the biggest problem on a steel boat. Even more of a problem than rust. Just my 2 cents worth. ____Grant.

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by gjordan

I had a professional swing the compass on my steel boat and it was fine motoring around on Long Island Sound. When I left for Bermuda and started heeling, the compass would swing 20 to 30 degrees depending on how much we were heeled. It was terrible to deal with. It had the proper compensating balls, but it never was worth much. Spend enough money to get a reliable remote compass and it will make your life easier. I consider the compass the biggest problem on a steel boat. Even more of a problem than rust. Just my 2 cents worth. ____Grant.

+1 for this view.

Standard 6" magnetic compass was never closer than 15 degrees to reality. Compensating balls improved the picture but always having to refer to deviation chart.

Get a decent heading sensor (probably cheaper anyway) and mount in good position or even better get a sat compass if you have deeper pockets.

The time spent screwing around with magnetic compass is hardly worth it. Some regulations require a magnetic compass but a hand held bearing compass is adequate for this.




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[svJuggernaut]

I think I've decided to go with a magnetic compass w/compensators for the pilot house & an electronic remote compass for the cockpit and birth. I can mount the electric one on the mast and still have the magnetic one in case of a lightning strike.

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[stillbuilding]

Hmmm, not sure about effect of lightning strike on magnetic compass. Anyone with experience of that?


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[stillbuilding]

Boeing aircraft backup magnetic compasses don't seem to rate a special concern in lightning strike although some mention is made of short term effect on deviation.


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[svJuggernaut]

The magnetic compass will be a "back-up", basically. The electric compass will be toast if we get hit by lightning. I think the magnetic one should survive.

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