Replacement Compass

[CApmann]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for a replacement pedietal mounted compass for a 1983 Catalina 30. Can anyone provide some suggestions/recommendations?

Thank you,
Chris

 

[rbmcintire]

For our 1984, we got the Ritchie Navigator with the stainless base:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|17|8357|8708|1059188&id=8692

I repainted and reused the current baseplate/ adaptor for the Edson pedestal in flat black and the Ritchie stainless base screws in through it without modification. Our Garmin GPS cable comes up through the pedestal and I drilled a hole in the back of the stainless, then siliconed in a rubber grommet/ bushing where the cable exits. Some minor mods, but it turned out great. Without dialing it in for variance (still haven't taken the time) we see about a 7 - 10 degree difference from the Garmin.

Rob

 

[wonkodsane]

Am in the process of self-repair on the Ritchie DNP-200 that came with my 1989. Do you just not have a compass at all, or is the one on the boat just in need of a lot of TLC? I have been pretty pleased with how easy it is to disassemble and clean up my compass.

Also, Rob, are you at HHN or HHS? I'd love to see a TRFK underway. Our girl's a wing keel.

-Scott

 

[rbmcintire]

The previous owner kept her at HHS and we moved her up to Shipwright Harbor Marina this past April. We are on the penninsula in Deale between Tracy's Creek and Rockhold Creek (across from HHN). I would definitely like to get some Mid-Bay C-30's out together one day. I'm tied up with the job this weekend and next but let's work on getting out there.

Rob

 

[wonkodsane]

Excellent. Drop me a PM when you get an idea about your plans for next weekend. We'll try to meet up and get pics of our boats under sail.

 

[Bob4203]

I have the Richie pedestal compass as well but last year I dropped a tool on the glass dome and it cracked Since then the fluid has been slowly evaporating down. Can these glass domes be replaced? The compass is perfect in every other way and I would hate to shell out the $$$ for a new one. Has anyone had any experience with this? I guess my next step is to contact the Richie company to see if indeed the factory can replace the dome and refill.

Thanks

Bob
1988 Mark II

 

[wonkodsane]

Double check the number, it is probably a Ritchie DNP-200. Send them an email and ask for a price. customerservice@ritchienavigation.com Since you are disassembling it, you should probably get a new upper o-ring and a new diaphragm, they also recommend a new fill-plug o-ring as well. You can fill it with Isopar L or mineral spirits. Ritchie recommends the former and has a PDF with directions on how to do it that they sent me when I inquired about prices. For the o-rings and diaphragm, you're looking at $25. I don't know how much the acrylic dome will cost.

 

[wonkodsane]

Just ordered my spares and the folks there said that the compass dome is $23.

 

[Bob4203]

Thanks very much for the info.
Ritchie contacted me after I sent an inquiry and advised it would cost $121.00 to overhaul the compass, which included new dome, new card, gaskets, plugs, fluid, etc. and return shipping. Pretty reasonable considering how much they cost new.

Bob
'88 Mark II

 

[mortyd]

compass? save money and make believe you have an airplane; use a gps with a second gps as backup. the compass will soon join the astrolabe in the junkyard. i know all the sailors stuck in the seventeenth century will object, but when they do just look up at all those folk up there who haven't looked at the compass for fifty years.

 

[Twice Around]

Mid Bay C-30 peeps...I am in Solomons..Let me know if you guys ever make it down this way. I made it up to HHS last year and had a great time on a club cruise. It is about 30 miles if I recall to make the trip. The wife and I love some fall cruising when it isn't so blazing hot and there is some breeze!