Steel boat compass.

[Singleprop]

I am about to make a decision on the compass to use.

Ritchie seems to have some good products, see http://www.vikingoptics.com/stboco.html.*

I know they are all suitable, but which of these compasses would be a good match for a 50'?

Are there any other compass brand recommendations?

 

[FF]

Danforth has always been my first choice.

The DR , distant reading card is nice m 5 inch or better .

 

[Singleprop]

Here is an interesting article about swinging a compas and choosing a compass. http://www.whautopilots.com/Application Notes/

*

Danforth doesn't specify which of their compasses that are suitable for a steel boat - as far as I can see.

 

[FF]

"Danforth doesn't specify which of their compasses that are suitable for a steel boat - as far as I can see."


ITS the ones with the big steel balls mounted on either side.

 

[Singleprop]

that's not what I meant - I know that - but there are NO Danforth compasses with metal steel balls available at all - not even advertised. So I think they might have dropped the specialized metal boat compass market.

Do you have a link?

 

[Larry M]

You could try a modern flux-gate compass.* The sensor can be mounted externally, up a mast, etc.*

 

[Singleprop]

I will have a fluxgate or rate gyro as the primary inputs to the autopilot but they are no good after a lightning strike so an old-fashioned compass is required for redundancy.

 

[FF]

The only compass I could find in my catalogue collection are the Ritchie brand.

The Gobemaster Steel boat compass , some are shock mounted others are not.

I don't know if the numbers are Ritchie numbers or catalog but ,

RIT B 453 5in card $1024
RIT B 463 6 in card , $1146.

B453 has 3 1/3 sphere,, B 463 has 4 inch

YB-500 $787 5 inch card , The YB 500 and D 5S has 3 1/2 spheres 500 and 600 sre not shock mounted.

YB 600 $941 6 inch card , The YB 600 and D - 6S has 4 inch, larger are availiable

D 5S $1512 5 inch card

D 6S $1850 6 inch card

$8.00 extra for 24V or 32V

Pricing is from my friendly commercial supply store shipping is extra.

www.vikingterminal.com

The do not sell retail.


-- Edited by FF on Saturday 3rd of September 2011 06:01:00 AM

 

[dvd]

Ran across this Danforth on a consignment store site:

http://marineconsignment.com/boat-p...anfroth-constellation-steel-boat-compass.html



dvd

 

[HopCar]

Sorry guys, Danforth is out of business.

 

[Singleprop]

There is also Suunto D-165 and D135, steelbaot versions.

And not to forget Autonautic's reange of compasses.

 

[Singleprop]

And Silva.