I think I know the answer to this already, but I was hoping that there might be a Sheldon Cooper Skipper of sorts that just might have a scientific solution for my problem. I installed a new stereo and mounted my speakers tooo close to the compass and the magnet in the speaker has captured my compass direction. I can't move either because of the 5" hole that would remain. I seem to be going south on this one!!! Thanks
Compass/ Stereo speaker conflict
- Thread starter knotatwork2
- Start date
Check your compass carefully and/or look on line for your model to determine if it has perimeter inserts to adjust the bearing read. Chief
Not particularly scientific but here's what I did with the hole when I removed the unused obsolete knotmeter from my previous boat. I only wish I had a picture from inside. The sained glass looks really nice when the light shows through it.
Not sure what type of speakers you installed but I have seen listings for magnetically shielded speakers for use with old-style CRT color TV sets (magnetic fields from regular speakers could cause convergence problems with color CRT displays). If you can find similar sized shielded speakers,might be able to substitute in your existing cutouts. Maybe Marine speakers are shielded. Other possibility, if you have space, might be to fabricate your own metal shields to install around the speakers you already have. Think I remember seeing a term "mu-metal" shielding that was sometimes installed around strong magnetic fields like power transformers and speakers. Has to be a metal that will shunt magnetic fields. (not aluminum or many types of stainless).
I remember seeing an interview with comedian Jerry Lewis who told a story about deciding to put a "Hi-Fi" (google it , youngsters) on his professionally-skippered boat - one speaker at the bow, other at the stern. An hour out of L.A. they noticed the compass seemed stuck. Think they hailed another boat to follow to Catalina and later discovered the speakers had captured the compass.
I remember seeing an interview with comedian Jerry Lewis who told a story about deciding to put a "Hi-Fi" (google it , youngsters) on his professionally-skippered boat - one speaker at the bow, other at the stern. An hour out of L.A. they noticed the compass seemed stuck. Think they hailed another boat to follow to Catalina and later discovered the speakers had captured the compass.
I hate when that happens. The OP now knows this, but before mounting anything electrical anywhere near the compass you should move the item, powered up if possible, in and out of the proposed location while watching the compass for deviation. After cutting the holes is too late. If you have an autopilot, don't forget that one. When a friend of mine put speakers in his cockpit, he did check the main compass but found his tiller pilot would steer him in circles after that.
Very good point. When you hear the word "compass" you often forget about the one in the auto-pilot.
Magnetic shielded speakers has an extra ring magnet behind the original magnet with a steel cup. It neutralizes the magnet field behind the speaker. You can either find a speaker shop that can mod them for you or get a pair of computer speaker and spray clear paint on the cone.
Computer speakers are magnetically shielded.
Computer speakers are magnetically shielded.
Well what is done is done. The Cheapman's Manual suggests you move the speakers and find a couple of speaker grills just to cover the holes and make it look like you have some serious speakers on the rig. A couple of inspection plates might have some use,
That's what my friend did about his autopilot. Remounted the speakers on inspection plates (had to make the holes even bigger) and pops them out when running the pilot. A real PITA and kind of defeats the purpose of having the speakers.
Post a picture of the speaker installation and the compass. Moving the speakers is the only good solution, so we want to see the holes so we can get creative filling them.
Well I believe I fixed it. One 5" and one 6" metal pipe cap over the 5", then a bucking magnet on the back of both pipe caps. It works fine!!!
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.