Leaking Compass

ahansom10482

ahansom10482

.
Feb 2, 2008
14
Hunter 380 Santa Barbara
This weekend when we got to the boat and after taking off the canvas I noticed the original Suunto compass on our Hunter 380 had leaked all the oil out. Since new in 1999 there has always been a dime sized air bubble in the dome. Never got much bigger or smaller with the weather so I left it alone instead of possibly causing a leak if I tried refilling it. Has anybody replaced there compass? Suunto is no longer making marine compasses so what compass did you choose? So far I think Ill go with a Ritchie Navigator FN-203 as its the closest size to original.
 
BlowMeAway

BlowMeAway

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Nov 30, 2015
1,343
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
I'll probably not be much help, but I put a FN-201 on my 78 H30C. My oil drained out too, most likely from a real rough winter or two. The compass fit easily and I only had to redrill three holes in the pedestal. This is what the kit contains. The cover was a little extra $$.
image.jpeg
 
Ed Caldwell

Ed Caldwell

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Jul 29, 2004
411
Hunter 340 Lake Lanier, GA
Repaired a leaky Suunto once on our 340, but the second time I was advised the repair bill would be as much as a new Ritchie. It did require opening up the large hole and new mounting screw holes. Ritchie Helmsman 742
 
C

CHARLIE STAGE

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Jul 4, 2011
68
Cal 33 ft. MKII Clayton, N.Y. St. Lawrence Rvr
When my Ritchie compass leaked out over one winter, I contacted the company shipped them the compass, they filled and sealed it. It has lived happily ever after for the last 15+ years. If it happens again I will definitely send it back to them. You would not go wrong installing one.
 
V

vhoisington

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Mar 13, 2011
175
Islander Freeport 41 Longmont
I was able to buy the parts, including a new dome and seals for my Richie compass and do the repair myself. Not sure what the factory charges but I did it for about $75 and got to learn all about how the compass was constructed as a part of the process. Not a hard job and not too technical. The hardest part is figuring out how to fill the compass with fluid once you have everything back together. I found a bit of surgical tubing and a squeeze bottle worked well.

Enjoy
 
ahansom10482

ahansom10482

.
Feb 2, 2008
14
Hunter 380 Santa Barbara
Thanks everybody.. I ordered a Ritchie FN-203 and it should drop into the existing hole. We will see this weekend!!!
 
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