Compass Adjustment

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Dakota Jim Russell

Where can I get some info on how to adjust my Ritchie Compass? I know where to adjust, but not the procedure for doing so. Autohelm ST4000 and Garmin 48 agree, but the Ritchie needs some work. Jim
 
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Bob Rutland

North ?

Do your auto pilot and GPS read True North? If so,they will not agree with your compass, which reads Magnetic North. Bob
 
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Dakota Jim Russell

GPS and ST 4000 Read Mag North

GPS 48 is set to read Mag north, not true. ST4000 should be reading mag north, too. Need protocol to adjust Ritchie . . .
 
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Mark Johnson

Get a "Pro"

to swing your compass. It will probably cost about $100.00, but well worth the money. Your compass is the only REAL piece of navigational equipment that won't fail you. Make sure it's accurate! The compass on my new boat was 15 degrees off North and South and about 10 degrees off East to West. Now it's RIGHT ON! Gives me alot of confidence when navigating in the fog.
 
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Dakota Jim Russell

Thanks Mark, but . . . .

Living in SD (South Dakota, not San Diego) means that the $100 for the process isn't the problem. Its the airfare (grin). And while some accuracy on the compass is mildly important, on a 200 mile long lake that is 5 miles wide, (and 200 feet deep) its not a big issue . . . and an accurate GPS is much more critical. Got two of those <grin> So back to the request for books, instructions, etc. to adjust a Ritchie compass piece. Or, does anyone have the Ritchie Web Site?
 
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Bob Rutland

Match the auto pilot

While in your slip, get a reading from your auto pilot. Remove the compass from the boat(metal or electronic items near the compass will deviate the reading). Now on land, again away from outside magnetic influences, adjust your compass to match the auto pilot heading and reinstall. Now that you know your compass is "true", if you still get a different reading you are getting "deviation". Make note of this deviation and add or subtract it from you compass reading to get a correct heading. Hope this helps, Bob P.S. Check out US Sailing's Coastal Navigation Book. Compass deviation is discussed at length.
 
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