Compass Installation

[jbrock]

I'm mounting a Plastimo Mini Contest Compass on my bulkhead where an old compass had been mounted previously (there's an air vent present now). I'll have to patch some screw holes (from the vent) and shim the compass to make it parallel to centerline, as the bulkhead on my Macgregor 25 is angled to some degree. Any suggestions on how to determine the correct amount to shim and how to install it so that it will be sealed and fairly easily removed in the future? Do I have to seal the screws in this situation? Finally, do you recommend a backing plate, or is that going a bit overboard? Thanks.

 

[Ross]

Place a long straight edge across the area and adjust it so that it is perpendicular to the centerline of the boat. Then measure the distance from the straightedge to the bulkhead at the two edges of the compass the difference in these two dimensions will be the amount of taper you need for the wedge. I would suggest that the thin edge be not less than a 1/4 inch thick.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

I did something similar to Ross. I took the hatch guides off(was refinishing them anyway) and used a long 2X4 accross the whole boat and did the shimming to match pretty much by eyeballing it from tht point.

 

[sailaway78]

If your short handed

If you are short handed, and can't use a straight edge and do anything while holding it, such as measuring, use a string line. Can tie to a stanchion, wrap across aft of cabin, and tie to stanchion on other side. A small piece of tape can hold it at the proper height. Pull it tight, and it is there while you do whatever you need to do.