[jnashed]

Wanted to take advantage of the weather but I had to stay at home. So I did some spring cleaning on my boat. Noticed the compass was not functioning correctly. I have a flush mounted front facing compass from Danforth. It is stuck on a severe tilt. I unscewed it from the mount and turned it. It sort of turned but not appropriatly. What to do? I have a GPS but a nice compass is helpful and easy to use. Is it fixable? If so how?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Hakuna Matata]

I'd take a compass over a GPS any day. I've never known anyone to fix a compass though, only replace them. Your boat should've come with a key for the compass that allows you to adjust it, but it sounds like yours is too far gone for that.

-JB

 

[rgminer]

My father in law just installed a flush mounted compass in his console. It read fine until he started the boat and then it would be 30 degrees off...Come to find out the signal from the transducer was causing it. He swapped the hour meter and the compass on the console and now it works right....How odd...

 

[capt.george]

Make sure no metal object ,has fallen into a dash opening Etc. Creating a False reading --

 

[27 sailfish]

Can you post a photo of it. Not sure if it is stuck or if the fluid ran out.Capt. George most likely told you the fix :yes:.

A compass is a must have on any boat.Not some cheap POS plastic one that retired folks in RVs have but a real high quality marine compass.What some boat builders put in boats should not be allowed.

GPS might go out but a properly calibrated compass will get you home :yes:.Most folks do not even take time to ensure their compass is right.Guess we rely on the GPS too much nowadays.I still steer by compass - guess old habits are tough to break.

 

[joemassi]

I spent most of last summer steering with a compass. Definitely learn to read a good map, it will give you compass headings between markers. Early last summer there were some problems with the GPS satellites. Having a good compass and maps and knowing how to use them saved many a fisherman last summer.

Danforth usually makes a good compass. If there is a problem, it is probably from a new magnetic field on the boat. Captain George has the right idea.

 

[27 sailfish]

One of those stupid facts: Christopher Columbus put a piece of metal in his compass so it read wrong.His crew demanded they sail towards home so they did - just 180 degrees off .They sailed a course towards home but were really headed the wrong way.That is a true captain in my book.

 

[cojac1]

Compass Repairs

Try Maryland Nautical in S. Baltimore off of Fort Ave.
410-752-4268.

 

[jnashed]

I took it off the boat and it did the same thing. Seems like there is enough fluid in it. I'll take a pic and post later today. Thanks

Jim

 

[joe117]

A good compass and good charts was all we used to use.

But these days you really are missing out if you don't also have a decent chart plotter GPS.
Doesn't have to be a super expensive one but it should have a chart plotter that yoiu can read in daylight.

And after you have the compass, charts and a chart plotting GPS......and you want backup.
I'd buy a second GPS ....a cheap GPS will be a better backup than an extra compass.