Click the related link to see my question. I typed it on another message board and thought I may as well ask here too since no one there has answered yet. I am just saving my self the time by posting a link. Hehehehe Your Pal, Skipper (From Ohio) Eric Stanson....Port Clinton, Lake Erie
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D
Don
J
John New
Fluid
I recently replaced my old pedestal mount compass which had started to leak (cracked dome) I believe the fluid leaking out was mineral oil.
I recently replaced my old pedestal mount compass which had started to leak (cracked dome) I believe the fluid leaking out was mineral oil.
S
Skipper (Eric)
Water, Mineral Oil, Alcohol????
hmmm,,,mineral oil, alcohol..? hmmmm I could have sworn it was kerosene???? I know it isn't water! That's for sure or it would freaze in the winter. Your Friend, Skipper (Hunter 27 owner)...From Ohio, Port Clinton Lake Erie,,,,,Eric Stanson
hmmm,,,mineral oil, alcohol..? hmmmm I could have sworn it was kerosene???? I know it isn't water! That's for sure or it would freaze in the winter. Your Friend, Skipper (Hunter 27 owner)...From Ohio, Port Clinton Lake Erie,,,,,Eric Stanson
S
Scott Satur
Mineral Oil
I refilled mine two years ago with mineral oil. I contacted the manufacture of the compass to find out what to use.
I refilled mine two years ago with mineral oil. I contacted the manufacture of the compass to find out what to use.
C
colin
J
John Visser
Find a primary source of information - its easy!
I refilled a Ritchie compass last year. I looked at hteRitchie web site (duh!): http://www.ritchienavigation.com Checked the FAQ's: http://www.ritchienavigation.com/service/faq.html Question/answer number 2: "What type of fluid is in my Ritchie Magnetic Compass? Ritchie uses Odorless Mineral Sprits on all Spherical Dome Compasses. Some old style Flat Top Compass (no longer manufactured) used an Isopropyl Alcohol and Water mix. This process was stopped in the 1960’s. If you have a Flat Top Compass it is recommended that you test the fluid to see if it is Odorless Mineral Sprits or Isopropyl Alcohol." jv
I refilled a Ritchie compass last year. I looked at hteRitchie web site (duh!): http://www.ritchienavigation.com Checked the FAQ's: http://www.ritchienavigation.com/service/faq.html Question/answer number 2: "What type of fluid is in my Ritchie Magnetic Compass? Ritchie uses Odorless Mineral Sprits on all Spherical Dome Compasses. Some old style Flat Top Compass (no longer manufactured) used an Isopropyl Alcohol and Water mix. This process was stopped in the 1960’s. If you have a Flat Top Compass it is recommended that you test the fluid to see if it is Odorless Mineral Sprits or Isopropyl Alcohol." jv
T
tom
mineral spirits
I checked on my compass several years ago. It was mineral spirits and I bought some new at a local hardware store(Lowe's) It was an older compass and the fluid was dark so it was changed. Alcohols might attack the plastic. Different manufacturers might use different fluid.
I checked on my compass several years ago. It was mineral spirits and I bought some new at a local hardware store(Lowe's) It was an older compass and the fluid was dark so it was changed. Alcohols might attack the plastic. Different manufacturers might use different fluid.
S
Skipper (Eric)
bzzzz! Wrong! Hehehe...Take a look:!
From: Mike1 Sent: 4/24/2003 12:33 PM "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" does not apply here; you just never know when a compass will make the leap from being a marginal performer to a paperweight. A number of years ago, a local radio personality came into the store and asked me to check his compass. He was going to be spending a couple of months in Mexico and was going to sell his boat upon returning to Seattle. Consequently, he did not want to buy a new compass, nor even pay for a repair if the instrument was going to be able to hold up for "just another year." During the test, I noticed it was a bit sluggish, but after repeating both tests described above three times, I concluded that the compass would undoubtedly hold up for another year; perhaps much longer. Three days later, our compass adjuster brought a compass into the shop and asked, "What do you think about this?" As he asked, he spun the instrument slowly in his fingers. As he did so, I could see that the compass card was as locked up as if it had been glued to gimbal. When I told the adjuster that the instrument was probably shot, he told me that it was the same instrument that I had blessed with another year of life just three days prior! Yes, I know that this could have happened to anyone. The key here is not to allow it to happen to you. When your compass starts showing signs of stickiness, replace it or have it repaired at once. Another point to make is that sticky compasses cannot be adjusted. Compass adjusting is a fine art. Once a compass has been adjusted, the adjuster leaves behind a deviation card bearing his or her name and credentials in the industry on the line. Only the most inexperienced adjusters would try to adjust a compass that was not in good working order. That being the case, it is not uncommon for an adjuster to arrive on the scene, find an instrument that needs to repaired or replaced and then increase the amount of the final invoice to cover mileage and stand-by time. When this happens, the boat owner gets a lesson in what it means to be "penny wise and pound foolish." Compass Fluid The most important thing to be said concerning listening to old wives tales about compass fluids is that mariners should stop listening to old wives. Regardless of the many stories, compasses are not filled with kerosene or gasoline. Many smaller spherical compasses are filled with a kerosenelike fluid. It even smells and feels like kerosene. However, most are refined to a higher degree and are less likely to break down as quickly and damage the metal, plastic and rubber parts inside the instrument. In addition, it should be noted that the fluid selected for a given instrument has been selected by engineers because it has just the right viscosity to work with the specific card system for which it was selected. Fluid that is too thick does not allow the card to react fast enough and fluid that is too thin can allow the card to have a hard time settling down, especially on a boat that vibrates heavily because of mechanical considerations or an excess of speed. Thus, when it comes to compass fluid, one size definitely does not fit all. I Thought You Were Just Kidding So, what do people use in a pinch? Well, as I pointed out earlier, we should avoid those pinches whenever possible. However, I have repaired compasses employing kerosene, gasoline, vodka, paint thinner and vegetable oil, among other things. In 1990, I even had the pleasure to work on a compass belonging to a boater from Gig Harbor, Washington, who didn't realize that when shortening cooled off, it would solidify and become white again. Oh, yes! Then there was the fellow who filled his compass with gasoline. By the time it had dissolved the compass's rubber diaphragm, this skipper was in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska. At first glance, many boat owners might wonder why this is a problem in the first place. After all, they've been sailing for 30 years and it has never been an issue for them. However, approximately five to seven percent of all compasses brought into my shop for repair come in because someone named "A friend" tried to remove it from the console or pedestal by means of loosening the bezel or fill-plug. This, of course, usually leads to compass fluid being spilled all over the console and/or deck. The boat owner is left with a long-lasting pungent smell to deal with long after the compass has been repaired and returned to service. Real Men Don't Read Brochures The problems just described could easily be prevented if boat owners take the time to read the brochure that came with their compass and if they pay a bit more attention to how the instrument is held in place before they start turning every screw in sight. So, what do you do if an accident befalls you and you have to replace the fluid with something other than that which was intended for the compass? You do the best you can with what you've got. Some suggestions would be: kerosene for most spherical compasses, and a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water for many of the larger and older compasses - such as the 7 1/2 Navy standard. Two very important points to keep in mind: First, when you're refilling the compass, you are not repairing it, you are merely making a bad situation better and the compass should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Second, having a large bubble in the compass is infinitely better than adding another fluid possessing a different specific gravity. Doing so can cause your compass to look a bit like a lava lamp as beads of the heavier fluid roll around in the dome like marbles in a dish. This is not only unsightly, but it can cause the compass card to be thrown off balance. In some cases, the many smaller beads will adhere to the inside of the dome, making the instrument difficult to read. Finally, some mixtures will turn nearly opaque, rendering the compass useless. A Final Thought on Fluids So, how do you tell which of the fluids available will be best to use? This can be determined by performing the following test. Remove a small amount of the fluid from the compass and put it in a clear glass container. Then, while holding it up to the light, put in a few drops of the fluid you think most nearly matches its viscosity. If beads form, or if the fluid begins to get cloudy, you will need to try a different liquid. You need not be alarmed if, as you are mixing, you see the formation of some slight striations. This is quite common to see when the new liquid is introduced and is because, more often than not, the fluids are at different temperatures. This procedure should be performed each time the compass is refilled unless you have no doubt that the instrument has never been in the shop or know with certainty that it was refilled to spec. Thousands of compasses have been repaired and refilled any number of times and some technicians are not as concerned about their craft as we might hope. In general, most compass fluid come from two sources: Ritchie and Danforth. If, for whatever reason, you have to differentiate between the two in unmarked containers, the test is quick and easy. If you give a good shake to Danforth DW35 (their most popular fluid), you will find it will take several seconds for the bubbles to dissipate; after shaking the Ritchie fluid, bubbles will dissipate almost instantly Reply Recommend Delete Message 3 of 3 in Discussion From: Skipper A (Manager) Sent: 4/24/2003 4:17 PM Well, Well, Well! I must say,,,Thank you Mike! You be da man! I have learned something.....Skipper Learned Skipper Learned! Hey! I would like to comment on this article. I disagree with some of it. For one, I think that him saying you must have your compass repaired by a professional is a bunch of hog wash. I have taken mine completely apart. It was very old and the fluid was cloudy. I purchased this compass at a yard sail for 5 bucks. Now she looks and works like a new one. Here is what you must do to make the card spin freely. All you have to do is lift a bit on the center pin lock. Some times, over time, it slips down just a bit locking the card from being able to rotate properly. But I was at a loss as to what fluid to use. He said at first, don't use Kerosene. (since it is not refined as much as the kerosene grade the professionals use). But then goes on at the end to say that in a pinch, use Kerosene or 50/50 mix of water and Alcohol. Since mine is completely over hauled, I might go with the alcohol suggestion. It already had the kerosene in it and it had gone cloudy. Maybe it went cloudy cuz the previous owner tried to top the fluid off with a fluid of a different nature???? Who knows? But I think I will go with the Alcohol. I suppose he means stove alcohol and not the rubbing alcohol type. Any way, I can not go wrong. I paid 5 bucks for this back up compass. It was all cloudy inside and did not work. So, I fixed it, cleaned it and now am filling it with one type of fluid. I think I will be fine. If not, I lost 5 bucks. Oh well! Hehehehehe. I will tell you guys how this turns out. After all, if you don't try things, how are you supposed to learn? How do you think I became so Powerful and All Knowing any ways? Hehehe The All Powerful and Knowing Skipper
From: Mike1 Sent: 4/24/2003 12:33 PM "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" does not apply here; you just never know when a compass will make the leap from being a marginal performer to a paperweight. A number of years ago, a local radio personality came into the store and asked me to check his compass. He was going to be spending a couple of months in Mexico and was going to sell his boat upon returning to Seattle. Consequently, he did not want to buy a new compass, nor even pay for a repair if the instrument was going to be able to hold up for "just another year." During the test, I noticed it was a bit sluggish, but after repeating both tests described above three times, I concluded that the compass would undoubtedly hold up for another year; perhaps much longer. Three days later, our compass adjuster brought a compass into the shop and asked, "What do you think about this?" As he asked, he spun the instrument slowly in his fingers. As he did so, I could see that the compass card was as locked up as if it had been glued to gimbal. When I told the adjuster that the instrument was probably shot, he told me that it was the same instrument that I had blessed with another year of life just three days prior! Yes, I know that this could have happened to anyone. The key here is not to allow it to happen to you. When your compass starts showing signs of stickiness, replace it or have it repaired at once. Another point to make is that sticky compasses cannot be adjusted. Compass adjusting is a fine art. Once a compass has been adjusted, the adjuster leaves behind a deviation card bearing his or her name and credentials in the industry on the line. Only the most inexperienced adjusters would try to adjust a compass that was not in good working order. That being the case, it is not uncommon for an adjuster to arrive on the scene, find an instrument that needs to repaired or replaced and then increase the amount of the final invoice to cover mileage and stand-by time. When this happens, the boat owner gets a lesson in what it means to be "penny wise and pound foolish." Compass Fluid The most important thing to be said concerning listening to old wives tales about compass fluids is that mariners should stop listening to old wives. Regardless of the many stories, compasses are not filled with kerosene or gasoline. Many smaller spherical compasses are filled with a kerosenelike fluid. It even smells and feels like kerosene. However, most are refined to a higher degree and are less likely to break down as quickly and damage the metal, plastic and rubber parts inside the instrument. In addition, it should be noted that the fluid selected for a given instrument has been selected by engineers because it has just the right viscosity to work with the specific card system for which it was selected. Fluid that is too thick does not allow the card to react fast enough and fluid that is too thin can allow the card to have a hard time settling down, especially on a boat that vibrates heavily because of mechanical considerations or an excess of speed. Thus, when it comes to compass fluid, one size definitely does not fit all. I Thought You Were Just Kidding So, what do people use in a pinch? Well, as I pointed out earlier, we should avoid those pinches whenever possible. However, I have repaired compasses employing kerosene, gasoline, vodka, paint thinner and vegetable oil, among other things. In 1990, I even had the pleasure to work on a compass belonging to a boater from Gig Harbor, Washington, who didn't realize that when shortening cooled off, it would solidify and become white again. Oh, yes! Then there was the fellow who filled his compass with gasoline. By the time it had dissolved the compass's rubber diaphragm, this skipper was in the middle of the Gulf of Alaska. At first glance, many boat owners might wonder why this is a problem in the first place. After all, they've been sailing for 30 years and it has never been an issue for them. However, approximately five to seven percent of all compasses brought into my shop for repair come in because someone named "A friend" tried to remove it from the console or pedestal by means of loosening the bezel or fill-plug. This, of course, usually leads to compass fluid being spilled all over the console and/or deck. The boat owner is left with a long-lasting pungent smell to deal with long after the compass has been repaired and returned to service. Real Men Don't Read Brochures The problems just described could easily be prevented if boat owners take the time to read the brochure that came with their compass and if they pay a bit more attention to how the instrument is held in place before they start turning every screw in sight. So, what do you do if an accident befalls you and you have to replace the fluid with something other than that which was intended for the compass? You do the best you can with what you've got. Some suggestions would be: kerosene for most spherical compasses, and a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water for many of the larger and older compasses - such as the 7 1/2 Navy standard. Two very important points to keep in mind: First, when you're refilling the compass, you are not repairing it, you are merely making a bad situation better and the compass should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Second, having a large bubble in the compass is infinitely better than adding another fluid possessing a different specific gravity. Doing so can cause your compass to look a bit like a lava lamp as beads of the heavier fluid roll around in the dome like marbles in a dish. This is not only unsightly, but it can cause the compass card to be thrown off balance. In some cases, the many smaller beads will adhere to the inside of the dome, making the instrument difficult to read. Finally, some mixtures will turn nearly opaque, rendering the compass useless. A Final Thought on Fluids So, how do you tell which of the fluids available will be best to use? This can be determined by performing the following test. Remove a small amount of the fluid from the compass and put it in a clear glass container. Then, while holding it up to the light, put in a few drops of the fluid you think most nearly matches its viscosity. If beads form, or if the fluid begins to get cloudy, you will need to try a different liquid. You need not be alarmed if, as you are mixing, you see the formation of some slight striations. This is quite common to see when the new liquid is introduced and is because, more often than not, the fluids are at different temperatures. This procedure should be performed each time the compass is refilled unless you have no doubt that the instrument has never been in the shop or know with certainty that it was refilled to spec. Thousands of compasses have been repaired and refilled any number of times and some technicians are not as concerned about their craft as we might hope. In general, most compass fluid come from two sources: Ritchie and Danforth. If, for whatever reason, you have to differentiate between the two in unmarked containers, the test is quick and easy. If you give a good shake to Danforth DW35 (their most popular fluid), you will find it will take several seconds for the bubbles to dissipate; after shaking the Ritchie fluid, bubbles will dissipate almost instantly Reply Recommend Delete Message 3 of 3 in Discussion From: Skipper A (Manager) Sent: 4/24/2003 4:17 PM Well, Well, Well! I must say,,,Thank you Mike! You be da man! I have learned something.....Skipper Learned Skipper Learned! Hey! I would like to comment on this article. I disagree with some of it. For one, I think that him saying you must have your compass repaired by a professional is a bunch of hog wash. I have taken mine completely apart. It was very old and the fluid was cloudy. I purchased this compass at a yard sail for 5 bucks. Now she looks and works like a new one. Here is what you must do to make the card spin freely. All you have to do is lift a bit on the center pin lock. Some times, over time, it slips down just a bit locking the card from being able to rotate properly. But I was at a loss as to what fluid to use. He said at first, don't use Kerosene. (since it is not refined as much as the kerosene grade the professionals use). But then goes on at the end to say that in a pinch, use Kerosene or 50/50 mix of water and Alcohol. Since mine is completely over hauled, I might go with the alcohol suggestion. It already had the kerosene in it and it had gone cloudy. Maybe it went cloudy cuz the previous owner tried to top the fluid off with a fluid of a different nature???? Who knows? But I think I will go with the Alcohol. I suppose he means stove alcohol and not the rubbing alcohol type. Any way, I can not go wrong. I paid 5 bucks for this back up compass. It was all cloudy inside and did not work. So, I fixed it, cleaned it and now am filling it with one type of fluid. I think I will be fine. If not, I lost 5 bucks. Oh well! Hehehehehe. I will tell you guys how this turns out. After all, if you don't try things, how are you supposed to learn? How do you think I became so Powerful and All Knowing any ways? Hehehe The All Powerful and Knowing Skipper
A
Alan
D
Debra B
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