Contest Compass Leak

C

cstrenholme

.
Apr 10, 2013
5
Catalina 22 Toronto
I have a 1984 Catalina 22 sailboat which has a Contest brand bulkhead mounted
compass as original equipment.

I noticed that over the winter some of the liquid in the compass has
leaked out.

What type of liquid is/was used in these types of compass?

Do you have any advice for replenishing the liquid?

Cheers
Charles Steven Trenholme
'Halcyon Daze' TSCC Toronto-Canada
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,049
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Charles, this question comes up an awful lot this time of year. While I don't have the answer at my fingertips, a search here or a Google search on "compass fluid" or "compass refills" will get you tons of hits, which would also include results from compass manufacturers. Either the manufacturers or local boat yards and associated specialty boating service shops will have the materials and techniques available to you if you don't want to DIY, which, armed with the right materials, is pretty easy.

Good luck.
 
C

cstrenholme

.
Apr 10, 2013
5
Catalina 22 Toronto
Stu Jackson said:
Charles, this question comes up an awful lot this time of year. While I don't have the answer at my fingertips, a search here or a Google search on "compass fluid" or "compass refills" will get you tons of hits, which would also include results from compass manufacturers. Either the manufacturers or local boat yards and associated specialty boating service shops will have the materials and techniques available to you if you don't want to DIY, which, armed with the right materials, is pretty easy.

Good luck.
Click to expand
Hi Stu,

thanks so much for your kind reply. I also contacted Plastimo in France today and they sent me a reply almost immediately, very impressive. The reply was

"hello, your compass with 30 years, the flexible membrane that lies between the two half sphere has certainly become porous, and the product (colorless oil lamp) may not stay in your compass filling, attached you will find model that replaces your compass and below the address of our representative in Canada"

I have determined that "colourless lamp oil" is what we know as kerosene.


Thanks again and happy sailing ..... we launch May 3rd ....... although it is -1C in Toronto today
 
just lucky

just lucky

.
Dec 29, 2010
44
Catalina 30 tall rig waupoos
most compass's contain Mineral Spirits. that's why you don't see the leak, if it were lamp oil you would most certainly know where it came from.
 
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