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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

bulkhead compass problems

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Eric Dove
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/11/2004 : 11:09:05

Okay, so the first step to fixing a problem is admitting you're stupid, right? ;) I sail primarily on a small lake, so I don't use my compass and hadn't notice much about it except it was foggy, hard to read, and recently didn't seem to work right. So, with an upcoming trip to Erie, I bought a new one with a front read card(both are bulkhead mount Saturns) to mount easily in place of the old one. Once I got it and mounted it (and read a little of the manual), I realized the reason the old one wasn't working was because of the stereo speaker I had mounted adjacent to it in the back of the portside cockpit bench. At the time I installed the stereo, there was just no better place to mount the speakers and interference with the compass never crossed my mind....stupid. Needless to say, the new one doesn't work either...not just a little off...totally useless.

So now my question is...does anyone know a way to compensate the compass (besides the compensator screws...it's way past that), aside from moving it or moving the speakers and leaving myself with a gaping hole in my boat? I've heard something about compensator magnets.... Is there anything that can block the speaker's magnetic field?

Eric on Adelaide
'83 TR SK

Eric Dove on Adelaide

Edited by - Eric Dove on 08/11/2004 11:11:21

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 13:18:46

Stupid is fairly strong language when it comes to compasses! All magnetic items need to be a fair distance away. The compansators are to help deal with anomalyies in the boat(the screws that hold it together, engine mounted 3 feet away, etc). Speakers have very strong magnets and need to be as far away as possible. If you bought a shielded speaker it should have far less of an impact. They usually do not sound as good as a non shielded one. These are the ones used with home theater equipment as tv's react about as well to magnets.

Find a shielded speaker to replace it with
or
enjoy a good looooking totaly useless compass.

Good luck. Tom.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 13:21:06

They make very nice mast mounts for compasses, You may need to put something else in its place on the bulkhead and move it to the mast.

Edited by - on

megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 14:12:37

Here is an idea ..... take the speaker out and move it to the otherside of the coaming box. That is where I put my and it was far enough away to not disturb the compass. Then cover the hole with one of these screw in deck plates from West Marine. Only $10.99!
http://mastercatalog04.westmarine.com/0564.asp

Greg

Edited by - on

Eric Dove
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 14:38:25

Thanks for the quick responses everyone....Greg, I'm not sure I know what you mean by "the other side of the coaming box". Do you mean the little cubby beneath the winch? So move it to the aft part of the cockpit?

Edited by - on

megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2004 : 17:34:47

Yes, move it to the aft part of the cockpit. You do need to be careful about the exact placement because of what is behind the speaker. I found that you can see from inside of the cockpit storage locker where you can place the speaker without running into anything. I used one of those rotozip tools and started out with a 3" hole to see what clearance I had before enlarging the hole to fit the speaker.

When I was insatalling the speakers I noticed how they effected the compass. I could hold them in mid air and move around the cockpit to see how far I had to go to be safe.

If I get time this weekend I will take some pictures to show you.

Edited by - on

jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2004 : 17:13:27

Don't feel bad, I did the same thing. I haven't done anything yet to fix it. I looked on the internet for speaker shielding material, but it was expensive (about $60). I still haven't decided whether to move the speaker or the compass.

If I moved the speakers, it would be in the aft portion of the cockpit as described. I thought about placing stainless steel vent covers, or solar powered fan vents, over the old speaker holes.

Or, I could move the compass. I thought I could remove the compass, and place a vent cover over the hole. Then I was thinking about buying or making another bottom hatchboard and attaching the compass to that. Then, I could put the bottom hatch board in while sailing. It's small enought to step over. I was also going to attach holders for my cell phone and handheld GPS to the hatchboard, and maybe a drink holder, too.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2004 : 18:04:37

"making another bottom hatchboard and attaching the compass to that. "

That's the way mine is rigged... works out just fine.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2004 : 03:17:20

Any of you guys with two compass' want to sell one?

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2004 : 17:01:29

Matt,

I have a Ritchie Navigator bulkhead mount compass available. It's fifteen years old but works fine. I recently replaced it with a Suunto because the mounting block the Ritchie requires needed replacing and I didn't want to deal with it. The Suunto doesn't need the block. I have both the compass and block if you want them. I'd say $30.00 would be acceptable.

Email me a aeckhart@chartermi.net

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

Edited by - on

megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 00:16:53

Hey Eric, here are those pictuers of the speakers. Also put some other pictuers of the boat and sailing in Madison, WI on this web site. She has a fresh Poly Glo job and Cetol this year! http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeir/PhotoAlbum10.html

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 10:57:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by megrier
 Hey Eric, here are those pictuers of the speakers. Also put some other pictuers of the boat and sailing in Madison, WI on this web site. She has a fresh Poly Glo job and Cetol this year! http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeir/PhotoAlbum10.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing. Tell Tonya she can find deckhand work anywhere, she is highly qualified.

Edited by - on

Eric Dove
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 12:28:00

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Still haven't decided which way to go, but now I've got some good options. I took the boat up to Erie last weekend and just steered by the GPS...would never want to do that in a treacherous situation, but for that it was fine. Which is making me think that, for no more than I need to steer by the compass, I may just put the old cloudy one back in even though it won't work, and just return or sell the new one. I'll have to think 'er over. Those of you who used a lower companionway board to mount the compass...do you have speakers in the location that I do? Still seems like it would be a little close.

Eric

Edited by - on

jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 13:48:41

I was wondering the same thing. I have not yet done the hatchboard idea. I'm thinking it may be better moving the speakers and putting vents in the old speaker holes.

Edited by - on

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