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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/15/2004 : 20:29:04

Still working out details/expending boat units before the boat arrives:

Any thoughts on the suitability & best mounting point for a Danforth Saturn? I'll mainly be in the Chesapeake doing daysails for a while.

Thanks

Jeff McK
Formerly Event Horizon (sold)
C250 WK #805

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 00:21:04

I put mine on the port side as low and as close to the hatch as I could get it and have above the cushions. This is also as close to center of the boat as I could get it so as to have a good read from either side. I also find having it that low I can get a good look at the card. Mine is a tiller boat; those with a wheel usually like it higher. As for the port side I liked it better because it sticks out on the inside in between the bathroom wall and the hatch. Where it is hardly noticed. Here is a shortcut to another post on this subject with a lot of other ideas. http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4392&SearchTerms=compass

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 07:37:22

Keith,

Thanks for the link. Trust a newcomer to not even realize there is a search function in this system. I know better now.

It seems there are many good solutions for this question. My boat will be a tiller setup like yours. It makes sense to have only one cabin bulkhead/backrest "lumpy" vs. both. Suzie's solution (Tropical Sleigh) seems like a decent setup with all the instrumentation on the starboard side. It will also simplify running a power tap from the control panel for the compass light.

Have a great week.

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 20:14:16

Jeff,
After two seasons of sailing on the Chesapeake, I haven't had a need for more than a hand bearing compass - and even that has been seldom. There are so many decent landmarks on the Bay, a steering compass isn't really needed. I bought a big Saturn compass when I bought my boat two years ago and tried to picture it in varous parts of the cockpit. I could not bring myself to cut that big a hole anywhere, so I returned the compass.

There's a lot to be said for being able to hook a loop from a throwable cusion over the cabin top winch and then leaning back against those bulkheads while anchored out. It really is the best seat in the house.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2004 : 20:23:46

Jeff, I have wheel steering so mine mounts on the pedestial, but if I had a tiller I would mount it on a board or starboard that fits across the companion way like Oscar has his so as to not drill any holes in the cockpit bulkheads. You will find pictures on the same compass link.

Edited by - frog0911 on 08/16/2004 20:25:30

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2004 : 11:01:27

Thanks to all for the ideas & feedback. Cutting a hole in the bulkhead is always a bummer. Oscar's trick is pretty neat. The Catalina specs page for the 250 <http://www.catalinayachts.com/yachts.cfm?act=model&id=17&link=spec> lists a binnacle mounted compass for the wheel pedestal, but nothing for the "tiller jockeys" among us.

Update: there is no standard compass included for the tiller model.

Boat due to finish at the end of August. (#805).

Edited by - Jeff McK on 08/18/2004 12:46:57

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2004 : 13:35:09

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">leaning back against those bulkheads while anchored out<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I don't know how wide the cockpit bulkheads are on a C250, but depending on your girth, there's just enough room between my bulkhead mounted compass and the coaming to make for comfortable relaxing against a good pillow or cushion. My Ritchie Helmsman (HV-76) came installed that way with my boat, but would require a teak leveling block for new installation. I think it looks great, plus it's always there no matter the situation -- no need to leave a hatch board in, hide wires, etc.

However, I trully sympathize with the uneasy feeling of drilling a big hole in your boat.

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2004 : 19:02:16

Choices, choices...

Richard: you helped answer a question for me about the leveling block. Unless there are compelling reasons against it, I'm probably going to go with either the Saturn or a Ritchie Navigator (BN-202) on the starboard side, but want to see the space first. I got so used to having a compass on smaller boats that doing without on a big body of water like the Chesapeake seems ill advised. Not prudish, just prudent. :-)

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.