Reading the inclinometer

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Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
The compass on my boat has a built-in inclinometer that I have absolutely no idea how to read. Nothing other than the floating compass moves. Can y'all please tell me how to read it? The label on the front says Contest. I looked at the Contest website and it only says it has a built-in inclinometer. No instructions on how to read it.

I'm pretty sure I don't need an inclinomter anyway. My wife lets me know when enough is enough.

Thanks!

Kermit
 

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PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

.
Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
Hmm, my Ritchie compass doesn't have one of those so I just buy a couple of those stick on lean-o-meters and that does it for me. Besides, that way I can locate the meters where I find them the most useful.
 
WayneH

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,087
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
Kermit, All it does is show you the numbers of degrees of heel to port or starboard. Yours is marked from 45 port to 45 starboard. And usually by the time you have reached 45 degrees, you have rudder separation from the water followed by loss of control and you head up into the wind.

The boats I own disliked being much past 20 degrees of heel. The middle boat (21') starts complaining through the rudder at 15 degrees. She's happy at 10 and will sail right along there.

As long as you have a human Squeal-O-Meter, you don't need to watch this very closely. :) But if you start racing your boat, excessive heel slows you down.

Hope this helps.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,048
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
The center lubber line should move with the compass card as the boat leans.. Where the lower line intersects with the inclinometer, that is the reading..
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
WayneH said:
Kermit, All it does is show you the numbers of degrees of heel to port or starboard. Yours is marked from 45 port to 45 starboard. And usually by the time you have reached 45 degrees, you have rudder separation from the water followed by loss of control and you head up into the wind.

The boats I own disliked being much past 20 degrees of heel. The middle boat (21') starts complaining through the rudder at 15 degrees. She's happy at 10 and will sail right along there.

As long as you have a human Squeal-O-Meter, you don't need to watch this very closely. :) But if you start racing your boat, excessive heel slows you down.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand
Actually, this doesn't help at all. I know what it's for, I just don't know how to read it. (Same as French. I know that the written French language is for French-speaking people to read. I just don't know how to read French.) Thanks for trying, though!!

Kermit
 
Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
kloudie1 said:
The center lubber line should move with the compass card as the boat leans.. Where the lower line intersects with the inclinometer, that is the reading..
Click to expand
OK, this reply actually helps. I guess the center line must be stuck. It never, ever moves.

Thanks!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
That's what I was thinking, that it doesn't move so you did not know what to read. Some compasses that do that have a lock to prevent the rolling. Is there something on the back?
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,096
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Looking at the picture you posted, don't the red compass card and the yellow lubber and reference lines remain level when you heel?

If they do remain level (as I expect) then the inclinometer is read where the center yellow line intersects the scale.

If they don't remain level when you heel, then I think there is something terribly wrong with your compass.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
I'd agree with Rich.
If that does not work then try staring at it longer. ;-D
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
The only thing that remains level is the red compass card. I will see if there is a locking mechanism on the cockpit side of the compass, but I don't think there is. I will check deeper on the website from the manufacturer and see if there is more info.
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
I reread my response to Wayne after posting it and boy did it sound offensive! Please accept my apologies, Wayne. I know good and well that responses don't always come out the way they are intended. I am totally guilty this time of thinking it would come out all sweet and precious and cute but I was wrong. Thank you for responding and trying to help. I will try to do better next time.

Kermit
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,048
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Kermit, ya ought to be able to look inside and see the weighted carriage which has the card pivot on it.. That carriage will be pivoted behind the card centerline and weighted on the bottom to keep the lubber line vertical and the card horizontal. When you get it out of the bulkhead, try tipping it off vertical in the fore/aft plane and see if you can get the carriage to move. even turn it upside down to see where it locks on the internal supports.. Let us know what you find ! Search "compass rebuild" on this forum to find places that will rebuild it if necessary
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Kloudie, I just talked to the guy at Navimo USA. Apparently it's not working correctly, just as you said. I'm gonna take it out and try to get it pivoting again. This will also be a great time to redo the teak around the compass.

I promise to let y'all know what happens.

Kermit
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,161
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Kermit said:
Kloudie, I just talked to the guy at Navimo USA. Apparently it's not working correctly, just as you said. I'm gonna take it out and try to get it pivoting again. This will also be a great time to redo the teak around the compass.

I promise to let y'all know what happens.

Kermit
Click to expand
Be careful... opening up the compass can be complicated. If you really want to know your precise angle of heel.... purchase a simple "inclinometer" and stick it on the bulkhead near centerline.


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WayneH

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,087
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
Kermit said:
I reread my response to Wayne after posting it and boy did it sound offensive! Please accept my apologies, Wayne. I know good and well that responses don't always come out the way they are intended. I am totally guilty this time of thinking it would come out all sweet and precious and cute but I was wrong. Thank you for responding and trying to help. I will try to do better next time.

Kermit
Click to expand
No problem, Kermit. I've got a thick skin from internet chat rooms. :) And reading your response, I realized that I DIDN'T answer your question. Sorry.
 
PotomacDaysailer

PotomacDaysailer

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Jun 14, 2010
307
Seafarer 29 Oologah, OK
WayneH said:
No problem, Kermit. I've got a thick skin from internet chat rooms. :) And reading your response, I realized that I DIDN'T answer your question. Sorry.
Click to expand
Wow - this has to be the politest bulletin board on the web!
 
Paul Brinkley

Paul Brinkley

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Oct 18, 2007
707
Macgregor 26S Lucama, NC
"Wow - this has to be the politest bulletin board on the web! "
Nothing wrong with that! -Paul
 
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