How to remove compass??

[BeachBumLou]

Greetings:

The OEM compass on my 1980 H27 is so clouded it is barely readable. I wanted to pull it and get it fixed or find a replacement, but I can't seem to figure out how to get it off the pedestal. The compass sits atop a wodden ring at the top of the pedestal. See pic below.

There are two remaining screws (third screw long gone) on the metal plate where the compass meets the wood ring. The screws come out just fine, but the compass does not budge. I tried applying a little pressure under the metal plate to see if I could ease it up, but the wooden ring began to crack - so I stopped that attempt.

Is it possible some marine sealant was used to adhere the compass to the wood ring? How is the wood ring secured to the pedestal?

I would like to get the compass off to not only replace it but to run some electronics wires inside the pedestal as well.

Any one have a suggestion as to how remove the compass without damaging the compass/ wood ring/ pedestal/ my hands???

Thanks,

LOU

 

[Johnb]

Just the 3 screws

On my pedestal just the 3 screws need be removed and it comes right loose. A guess would be your's is glued down.

John Brecher

 

[Chuck Creel]

start by removing the 2 screws on top at 10 oclock and 2 oclock. this will allow the crome cover to be removed exposing the actuall compass mount which is probably 4 screws screwed into the pedistal itself.

Nothing to it. Replace mine last year from worst marine abt abt $500 bucks i think.

 

[guest]

That is not a factory install. It looks like a previous owner just glued it to the wood base not thinking it may have to be removed at a later date. If the compass is as bad as you say you will need to replace it anyways as repairs would be too costly. I would pry it off even it it broke to reveal the screws holding the wood base down to the pedestal. Whatever you do not attempt to rebuild a compass by yourself. On these old compasses some casing parts may look ok but may be far from the tolerances needed for a good seal. Take it to a compass shop or factory service and let a proffesional work on it but like I said it would probably be more cost effective to replace.

 

[BeachBumLou]

Thanks everyone - My suspicion was that the compass was glued to the wood base, so maybe the base is screwed down to the pedestal. It seems as though one P.O. must have bought marine sealant by the gallon…

I will continue trying to pry the compass off the wood base and see what happens. I have no intention of opening the compass itself - at least not on purpose...

LOU

 

[MLampner]

I have a 1977 H30 does anyone have the measurements for the compass? Since mine is functional more or less (bubble and glass has some cloud but otherwise is OK) don't want to pull it till I find something better at a price I can afford.

 

[sandpiper10471]

Stainless fasteners in the aluminum housing combined with salt water can create great removal problems. Sometimes the bolts/screws need to be drilled out. I found Plastimo compasses to be a great price and a very good product to use. Very well made in spite of their cheaper plastic housings.

 

[J Hunter]

Hey-I have a hunter 30 '76 and I sent my compass to vikingoptics.com for a repair quote. Your '77 probably has the same 41/2 inch Aquameter Gemini model as my boat came with.

They said they would have replaced the globe and fluid and fixed it up for I think about $180 but I decided to get a new compass. They carry the Ritchie line and sold me the DNP-200 for less than $300. It comes with a nice new stainless binnacle that mounted perfectly to my hunter 30 binnacle - and I ordered the accessory the plastic cover so the new one doesn't see the weather that ruined the old one. The guy I talked to at Vikingoptics.com was great btw.

http://www.vikingoptics.com/dnp200.html

 

[jorgefife]

The boat salvage yard has many good working compasses: I bought recently a pedestal compass and 2 Ritchie (red and white) bulkhead ones for $75.00 a piece
Some like new