Where did you put it (the Compass)?

[Tony G]

I've been searching around the threads here in the forum looking for other owners spot of choice for mounting a compass. Dream Weaver's was mounted on the centerline halfway up the bulkhead of the bridge deck. I'm not so sure I want a hole there anymore, and, I was planning on using the space (on the inside) for galley storage.

The instrument read-out heads will be in the hard dodger above the c-way so I don't really want to put it there among all the wires. The electical panel is on the starboard side and the sink and galley stove along with all the metal cookware will be on the port side. Just how much precaution is necessary in regards to the above?

How much of a difference does it make to mount it off of the centerline? Maybe add a shin high binacle just aft of the bridge deck?

[c_amos]

Faith carries hers on centerline, not a bad place.... kind of out of the way and probably more isolated from interference there.

It is a bit tough to stare at steering at night, have wondered if it would be easier mounted on the bulkhead.... it is tough in a quartering sea to set your course and then pick your star to steer by.

Too bad you can't figure out a good place on the 'dash board'. Seems like a fine place to me, might be worth it to mock up the instruments in a block of wood, run power to them and then swing the card out in the yard. Of course you would not wind up with any kind of card at the end but you might be able to get a feel for how much deviation your electronics cause.

[ebb]

Hey Tony, you know what my choice is.
Just the opposite of yours. I chose the dodger position BECAUSE the compass can be isolated from all electronics up there. I even have no stainless fastenings within a couple feet of the Plastimo - using bronze for the hatch slide, etc.

[I didn't plan entirely through on this because I forgot the opening dodger windowlight just in front of the compass! Hinges and catches.
"Oh great and respected nylon god Marelon, help me in my hour of need....."]

The usual option is to put the instruments on the cabin wall. But I confess to not being really experienced in selecting the optimum places for the navigation stuff.
The cockpit cabin wall has the problem of halyard and control line cascade. But tunnels could be made through the spaghetti for the wind, depth and log display(s). Or even a GPS and engine data on the other side.

Also, the cabin walls on either side of the c'way offer a more versatile canvas for the myriad brands and sizes and configurations of displays that keep changing constantly.



I'm interested in your thinking on this.
Why did you choose to put the readouts over the companionway?

[Tony G]

If I'm following you right, Craig, above the c'panionway, on the centerline is where you think it would best serve its purpose? That's where I'd really like it to reside lacking any binacle mount. Having never driven outside the sight of land I have no real experience with a compass above the water's surface.

Ebb, for some unknown reason I've never appreciated instrument heads mounted on the bulkhead. Couple that with sheets and lines hanging around there and I could see it getting cluttered. Sure, we plan to have sheet bags mounted at the forward end of the c'pit but that doesn't add any more room. An instrument dash board at the front of the c'panionway is-1 just another idea I stole-2 an easy place to spot them for lack of clutter in the area-3 a little more out of sight of the general riff-raff ( of which, I am generally a member of).

Since festering on this idea I gave some thought to molding them into the underside of the aft edge of the hard dodger either side of the head's pathway. I dunno, even with a nice taper the shape would have to terminate in a 4 1/2" square This dodger will be too small, in my opinion, for a stunt like that. Thought about the vertical edges too, but, same reply from me. We could put a sharp angle on the terminal edge, kinda like a hood scoop used to be, but I'm afraid they migh get hard to read. Hmmm, no doubt, the compass has to go up front.

This is a query that could be better served with pictures. Pictures and beer!

[ebb]

It depends on how much air under the hard dodger you design.
I really sweat the idea of a hard top added to the wrap around 338 has now. Could end up with a top heavy look, and real adverse windage.

Argument for a hard top rather than rag is that it is a great place for the solar farm.

Certainly seems to be opportunity to find some space under an all hard top - maybe not front and center - maybe not at the sides - for some smaller read outs.
Being close to the helm they wouldn't have to be large. Maybe design tidy frp instrument group holders using standard readouts but eliminate the usual trim rings. Don't want head bumpers. So if they can't be all the way aft under the top, they could be forward over the companionway or off to the sides slightly.

It's a good problem that will end up with a good soluition!

[Tony G]

Can someone explain this to me? I've seen on a number of 'boat porn' sites a binnacle mounted compass less than one foot from a whole pod of electronics. Chart plotters, VHF, one boat even had speakers!!! I am under the impression that electronics and compass' don't mix, yet I see a multitude of boats that appear to have everything 'localized'. Is this just a case of mindless consumerism? Do properly installed electronics not interfere with compass readings?

Recently read about making a deviation card but if the reading would vary depending on which switches are flipped on or off that could get even more confusing.

We've been to a number of homebuilt plane sites and they always seem to plant the compass smack dab in the middle of the instrument panel. Am I making too much of this? We have a chart plotter/GPS unit but it has the potential to be an amp hog and I'd really like to not be dependant upon electrical devices.

I don't know which direction I'm going here....

[c_amos]

This was what I was trying to get across with this;

....Too bad you can't figure out a good place on the 'dash board'. Seems like a fine place to me, might be worth it to mock up the instruments in a block of wood, run power to them and then swing the card out in the yard. Of course you would not wind up with any kind of card at the end but you might be able to get a feel for how much deviation your electronics cause.

Magnetic influence is an important consideration, but think about regular magnetic compass's on the bridge of steel ships. Surrounded by ferris steel, and yet a pair of iron balls provide most of the adjustment needed... "Don't touch the navigators balls!" rings out on the bridge whenever someone absentmindedly lays a hand on them.

I have on two occasions tried to 'swing' Faith to get an idea of what her compass card would look like. My main concerns were the magnet in the VHF speaker, and some small speakers I have below. I was not able to discern any real deviation when I tried... nothing within the accuracy of my Ritchie compass.

I doubt that your electronics will produce much... unless you are going to mount a pair of big sub woofers to get that 'classic boat thump' on.

If you mock the placement up, and run power to the instruments I would think that if you 'swing' just the dash you will get a pretty good feel for how much deviation you are likely to see.....

Oh, and ebb... it would seem to me (IMHO and all that.. ) your stainless fasteners should not be much of a concern since they are non-magnetic (or mostly so) anyway...

[Tony G]

Thanks, Craig. It is apparent that I have used my brain too much without thinking enough. A few words of wisdom and a step back clarifies things. To this I respond....... Dash It All!!

[ebb]

To think that
declination
deviation
variation
an unpracticed compass adjuster
faulty eyesight
short term memory problems
unknown electronic influences
the ever-changing liquid core of the planet
and six stainless screws

could alter my true course
is earth shaking.

[carl291]

Did anyone notice the compass mount on the Commander for sale in MI ?sailorliz's boat I believe, mounted on it's own pedestal in the cockpit. It's appealing although on an Ariel it may make it kind of awkward. Does look very functional and easily viewed.
Carl

[Tony G]

Carl
I did not notice that in the pics. However, I did run across this beauty on the web. Would one advertise it as steering with binnacle?