The compass on our h29.5 has lost all of its fluid (mineral oil?) for some unknown reason. Does anyone know if this can be fixed or do we need to purchase a replacement? Thanks for your help, Monty
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Paul Akers
Can be fixed
Monty, it can be evaluated and possibly fixed by a compass shop. There must be one near to you. Ask the marina staff or an airport for a source. The fluid need to be replace and probably a gasket.
Monty, it can be evaluated and possibly fixed by a compass shop. There must be one near to you. Ask the marina staff or an airport for a source. The fluid need to be replace and probably a gasket.
Send back to mfg too.
Monty: If you cannot find someone locally, you can send them back to the mfg. for a rebuild. Check out the prices (new vs rebuilt) before you do it. When they rebuild them they look new!
Monty: If you cannot find someone locally, you can send them back to the mfg. for a rebuild. Check out the prices (new vs rebuilt) before you do it. When they rebuild them they look new!
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Bill Murray
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Ken
Replace
I'm facing the same thing. I called around once a bubble has shown up it's a major repair, more than the cost of replacement. Once the bubble shows up the jewels have been scored, that costs. You can find a new one for less.
I'm facing the same thing. I called around once a bubble has shown up it's a major repair, more than the cost of replacement. Once the bubble shows up the jewels have been scored, that costs. You can find a new one for less.
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Monty Miller
Not just a bubble...
...every drop of fluid leaked out last week. Maybe it started with a bubble that we didn't notice some time ago. So, it looks a replacement is needed. Same Ritchie compass is $230 which is less than expected and a repair would probably almost equal that atleast from my Raytheon experiences. I am going to check the Plastimo model with the built-in articulated hood. I hope it will fit in the same hole. A little more money but then the stupid Ritchie plastic cover will not be blown off by the wind all the time. The last cover took flight last winter and I decided not to replace it again. The hot Texas sun probably caused the failure. Thanks for the excellent inputs. Monty Miller h29.5 s/v Lucky Lady Lake Travis TX
...every drop of fluid leaked out last week. Maybe it started with a bubble that we didn't notice some time ago. So, it looks a replacement is needed. Same Ritchie compass is $230 which is less than expected and a repair would probably almost equal that atleast from my Raytheon experiences. I am going to check the Plastimo model with the built-in articulated hood. I hope it will fit in the same hole. A little more money but then the stupid Ritchie plastic cover will not be blown off by the wind all the time. The last cover took flight last winter and I decided not to replace it again. The hot Texas sun probably caused the failure. Thanks for the excellent inputs. Monty Miller h29.5 s/v Lucky Lady Lake Travis TX
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Bob Howie
The Bubble isn't just a Bubble
Ok..some liquid or "whiskey" compass facts. Some liquid-dampened compasses are not full filled; some actually have bubbles for reasons and it can depend on the unit's construction. So, having an air bubble in a compass isn't necessarily unusual. Secondly, since this isn't aviation, a person can repair their own liquid-filled compass. Most compass overhaul kits include a gasket, which is why the fluid leaked out, that can be user replaced and the appropriate amount of compass fluid which, by the way, isn't straight mineral oil. Replace the gasket, unscrew the filler cap and pour the liquid in, replace the cap and install the compass. However, you will have to "swing" your compass in order to make sure it's accurate. You can do this simply by steering a set course according to a quality hand-held compass and adjusting the two small screws typically found in the base of your binnacle. Then turn to the four main compass points (N, E, S, W) and make sure they are lined up. Jot that info down. Then, turn on your electronics, turn the boat to the four main points again and notice if there are any deviations compared to the electronics-off readings. You will then have a for/steer sheet, e.g., For 360, Steer 355 when electronics are own. GPS is unaffected by all of this, of course, because GPS sets its position from satellite data. That's the basics of compass repair. Good luck.
Ok..some liquid or "whiskey" compass facts. Some liquid-dampened compasses are not full filled; some actually have bubbles for reasons and it can depend on the unit's construction. So, having an air bubble in a compass isn't necessarily unusual. Secondly, since this isn't aviation, a person can repair their own liquid-filled compass. Most compass overhaul kits include a gasket, which is why the fluid leaked out, that can be user replaced and the appropriate amount of compass fluid which, by the way, isn't straight mineral oil. Replace the gasket, unscrew the filler cap and pour the liquid in, replace the cap and install the compass. However, you will have to "swing" your compass in order to make sure it's accurate. You can do this simply by steering a set course according to a quality hand-held compass and adjusting the two small screws typically found in the base of your binnacle. Then turn to the four main compass points (N, E, S, W) and make sure they are lined up. Jot that info down. Then, turn on your electronics, turn the boat to the four main points again and notice if there are any deviations compared to the electronics-off readings. You will then have a for/steer sheet, e.g., For 360, Steer 355 when electronics are own. GPS is unaffected by all of this, of course, because GPS sets its position from satellite data. That's the basics of compass repair. Good luck.
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JAMES STEFANIK
Replaced at MFG. Cost
I lost 25% of the fluid from my bulkhead mounted Gemini compass and contacted the manufacturer, Rule Industries. They told me it would have to be repaired by them but the cost was equal to their policy of replace-at-cost. I received a new Gemini for a little over a $100.00.
I lost 25% of the fluid from my bulkhead mounted Gemini compass and contacted the manufacturer, Rule Industries. They told me it would have to be repaired by them but the cost was equal to their policy of replace-at-cost. I received a new Gemini for a little over a $100.00.
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Monty Miller
Lessons learned....
I found the Ritchie Navigation website and discovered that there are six Ritchie factory authorized repair centers in the State of Texas alone. Repairs must be quite a common practice. They strongly recommend covering their compasses from the sun when the boat is not in use or they will leak from the temperature changes and/or the plastic dome will craze. So I'm sending ours in and ordering a new cover. Thanks for all your help....keep your compasses covered! Monty
I found the Ritchie Navigation website and discovered that there are six Ritchie factory authorized repair centers in the State of Texas alone. Repairs must be quite a common practice. They strongly recommend covering their compasses from the sun when the boat is not in use or they will leak from the temperature changes and/or the plastic dome will craze. So I'm sending ours in and ordering a new cover. Thanks for all your help....keep your compasses covered! Monty
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