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Manual for a Vion Mini 2000 hand bearing compass?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/17/2011 : 14:15:58

I just picked up a Vion Mini 2000 hand bearing compass on Craigslist, but it didn't come with a manual. Anyone got one they could copy for me & send along? Or know of a spot on the web where I can download it? I've spent a while looking, and the Vion website doesn't appear to have a download section (or any content past 2002).

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2011 : 14:49:30

What are you trying to find out?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2011 : 20:43:44

After spending some time playing with it I realized that the compass was installed backwards in it's rubber puck. I had been having a hard time reading across the surface and noticed that the notch in the puck on the far side was deeper than the one on the near side where you sight across it. I popped the compass out, cleaned it up a bit, then spun it 180° and popped it back in. Voila, now I can read it easily.

What I still don't understand is how to effectively use it from the top. It has the compass reading offset 90° to the across the top reading and a magnifier built in to make it easier to read. So when you're reading it, you'd be looking from the left side of the compass, instead of the rear if you were sighting across it (that probably doesn't make any sense). I guess if it were sitting on the seat next to you aligned with the bow, you could read your course by looking down at it. Here's an image, maybe it'll make it easier to visualize:

You can see the deeper notch I'm talking about on the right side of the compass, and the top reading part at the top of the photo.

I found an email address for the company and asked them where I could download the manual, but I'm not holding my breath for a response, their site hasn't been edited as far as I can tell in about 9 years, and the site itself is only about 2/3 functional, lots of "this page is under construction" dead ends.

If nothing else, I got a great deal, I've seen these for way over $100 online, I picked this one up for $40. The folks who were selling it had sold their boat and weren't planning on buying a new one. Just wanted to find someone who could put it to good use.

Edited by - delliottg on 05/17/2011 20:47:43

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2011 : 21:40:22

That compass is now listed on Defender's site as a [url="http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|17|8357|322456&id=8823"]Steiner product[/url]. Maybe that will lead you to something...

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2011 : 05:50:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 
What I still don't understand is how to effectively use it from the top. It has the compass reading offset 90° to the across the top reading and a magnifier built in to make it easier to read. So when you're reading it, you'd be looking from the left side of the compass, instead of the rear if you were sighting across it (that probably doesn't make any sense). I guess if it were sitting on the seat next to you aligned with the bow, you could read your course by looking down at it. Here's an image, maybe it'll make it easier to visualize:

You can see the deeper notch I'm talking about on the right side of the compass, and the top reading part at the top of the photo.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yeah, that's a Puck. You shouldn't use it other than than for it's intended purpose. This is a compass, just not the compass you wanna use while navigating. The Puck is designed to give you a compass heading on a point, marker, big ass vessel, whatever. Thats it's J_O_B. Other versions of the same thing which are also aboard my vessel include

To use your puck, aim at your target, look thru the tiny window, and grab a number. grab three or more and you can triangulate your position.

Still - not very useful as a primary compass.

sten

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2011 : 07:34:53

I've got one of those as well, but it's got a large bubble in it. Need to get it to a compass shop to be topped up.

There must be a reason the puck has a top reading capability, otherwise why would they keep building them with it. It's been in constant manufacture for decades and you'd think they'd modify it to remove unnecessary function.

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