Greetings from the "Dog Days" in New Orleans:
I just spent this weekend replacing the old, worn brake pads for my boat's wheel shaft - what an exercise in torture/frustration (especially when done in 95+ degree heat (& 100% humidity))! Not only is this a hand-cramping, contortionist's nightmare but, as I discovered, there was one 3 3/8" long 1/4-20 slotted screw holding the binnacle and pedestal guard to the pedestal base that was already slot-stripped and frozen/corroded in place. I learned after day one - when scouring the internet for clues/tips on this issue - that even Edson's own site contains a video noting that these screws sometime get frozen/stuck in place and Edson suggests grinding off the head and then turning the stud out using "vise-grip" pliers on the threads. I had actually already come up with the idea for trying the same method on my own, so, with Edson's confirmation of it, I tried the "vise-grip" - but without the aggressive step of grinding the stainless screw head - on day two, and with eventual SUCCESS (only after multiple, increasingly four-letter-word-laced attempts to get the small "vise grip" to bite/grab the threads and turn below the cramped plastic binnacle). After that, all went generally as described in Edson's instructions (noting, however, that Edson doesn't warn you that the brass cotter pin removal from the end of the brake shaft is the next biggest significant pain-in-the-nether-region, only possible using a combination of straight and 90-degree bent 11-inch long needle nose pliers and twisting the pin into shards). As this ordeal didn't kill me (first), I guess I've been made stronger, and the new brake "shoes"/"pads", thankfully/happily, ultimately do seem to work much better than the worn-out, likely 24-year-old original ones. Sorry for the war-story diatribe, but I just had to vent/recount this tale of woe to someone else who suffers similar boat issues (and so that I perhaps may be able to offer some advice to others who choose to attempt this same minor "feat").
Anyway, here's my actual question (trust me, it's buried in here somewhere...): in doing all of the above, I now also know that my outwardly hideous "yellowed-formerly-white" plastic compass binnacle is brittle, stress-cracked, jury-rigged and something less than adequately stalwart for its intended function. I have a Ritchie FN-201 Navigator compass (1986 vintage) mounted on that crummy binnacle and the three small mounting screws have very little left to hold on to/bite into in the way of brittle/missing plastic (a previous owner apparently even carved/rigged a half-moon shaped piece of teak in one place below the rim in an effort to replace the thin/brittle plastic that was then already cracked and broken off). While I may be able to jury rig it a bit more and perhaps slightly more "elegantly" (maybe with some epoxy or 5200, white starboard shims/ring/pieces, etc.), I am not satisfied with the thought of this brittle/frankly inferior plastic cylinder continuing to try and hold my otherwise adequate compass in place. [If you're like me, this would continue to bother you more and more over time...] But I am also looking to avoid buying an entirely new compass and binnacle (c. $300), especially since the 24 year-old compass appears to be working just fine. What's a O-C-D life-long D-I-Yer to do??
Anyone ever replace just the plastic compass binnacle? And, if so, what did you use and what was the cost/source? I am guessing Ritchie may be able to offer me something that will work through a special-order but there must be other choices here. Anyone out there actually make a new one yourself? If so, what did you do - share the details/ideas, please. Or would it just make more sense for me to bite the bullet and shell out the $300 for a brand-new compass and stainless binnacle (Ritchie DNP-200) and just move on to the next item on the "to-do" list? My wife, of course, can offer very little help/support/sympathy with this, since she (likely quite justifiably) thinks I spend way too much money and time working on/repairing "the boat"; so, I'm looking to all of you for ideas/thoughts/suggestions. Thanks in advance.
I just spent this weekend replacing the old, worn brake pads for my boat's wheel shaft - what an exercise in torture/frustration (especially when done in 95+ degree heat (& 100% humidity))! Not only is this a hand-cramping, contortionist's nightmare but, as I discovered, there was one 3 3/8" long 1/4-20 slotted screw holding the binnacle and pedestal guard to the pedestal base that was already slot-stripped and frozen/corroded in place. I learned after day one - when scouring the internet for clues/tips on this issue - that even Edson's own site contains a video noting that these screws sometime get frozen/stuck in place and Edson suggests grinding off the head and then turning the stud out using "vise-grip" pliers on the threads. I had actually already come up with the idea for trying the same method on my own, so, with Edson's confirmation of it, I tried the "vise-grip" - but without the aggressive step of grinding the stainless screw head - on day two, and with eventual SUCCESS (only after multiple, increasingly four-letter-word-laced attempts to get the small "vise grip" to bite/grab the threads and turn below the cramped plastic binnacle). After that, all went generally as described in Edson's instructions (noting, however, that Edson doesn't warn you that the brass cotter pin removal from the end of the brake shaft is the next biggest significant pain-in-the-nether-region, only possible using a combination of straight and 90-degree bent 11-inch long needle nose pliers and twisting the pin into shards). As this ordeal didn't kill me (first), I guess I've been made stronger, and the new brake "shoes"/"pads", thankfully/happily, ultimately do seem to work much better than the worn-out, likely 24-year-old original ones. Sorry for the war-story diatribe, but I just had to vent/recount this tale of woe to someone else who suffers similar boat issues (and so that I perhaps may be able to offer some advice to others who choose to attempt this same minor "feat").
Anyway, here's my actual question (trust me, it's buried in here somewhere...): in doing all of the above, I now also know that my outwardly hideous "yellowed-formerly-white" plastic compass binnacle is brittle, stress-cracked, jury-rigged and something less than adequately stalwart for its intended function. I have a Ritchie FN-201 Navigator compass (1986 vintage) mounted on that crummy binnacle and the three small mounting screws have very little left to hold on to/bite into in the way of brittle/missing plastic (a previous owner apparently even carved/rigged a half-moon shaped piece of teak in one place below the rim in an effort to replace the thin/brittle plastic that was then already cracked and broken off). While I may be able to jury rig it a bit more and perhaps slightly more "elegantly" (maybe with some epoxy or 5200, white starboard shims/ring/pieces, etc.), I am not satisfied with the thought of this brittle/frankly inferior plastic cylinder continuing to try and hold my otherwise adequate compass in place. [If you're like me, this would continue to bother you more and more over time...] But I am also looking to avoid buying an entirely new compass and binnacle (c. $300), especially since the 24 year-old compass appears to be working just fine. What's a O-C-D life-long D-I-Yer to do??
Anyone ever replace just the plastic compass binnacle? And, if so, what did you use and what was the cost/source? I am guessing Ritchie may be able to offer me something that will work through a special-order but there must be other choices here. Anyone out there actually make a new one yourself? If so, what did you do - share the details/ideas, please. Or would it just make more sense for me to bite the bullet and shell out the $300 for a brand-new compass and stainless binnacle (Ritchie DNP-200) and just move on to the next item on the "to-do" list? My wife, of course, can offer very little help/support/sympathy with this, since she (likely quite justifiably) thinks I spend way too much money and time working on/repairing "the boat"; so, I'm looking to all of you for ideas/thoughts/suggestions. Thanks in advance.
