[C320-list] Steering compass : Problem!
Jeffrey Hare
catalina at thehares.com
Wed Aug 30 11:25:53 PDT 2006
Hello Jim,
Thanks to Gary Malcolmson for bringing the following Richie Compass
notice to my attention. It is now reproduced on the C320 website with
thanks to the Catalina Association of Puget Sound. (www.capsfleet1.com)
http://www.catalina320.com/ Scroll down to see the second article on the
page.
Thanks Gary!
-Jeff Hare
-----Original Message-----
From: James Harkness [mailto:james.harkness at which.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 4:34 AM
To: C320-List
Subject: [C320-list] Steering compass : Problem!
On my previous trip to the boat - around a month ago - I was irritated
to find a bubble of air had appeared in our main steering compass but
did nothing about it. Mainly because I had no idea how to tackle this
one and have always thought compasses are not for DIY lists and need a
specialist.
This time when I arrived at the boat (last week) I was a whole lot more
irritated when I discovered that ALL the damping fluid in the compass
dome had leaked out. Some of had oozed from the rubber seal on the
compass assembly and down the outside of the pedestal and the remainder
found a passage down inside the pedestal over the steering gear and into
its fibreglass cover in the aft cabin where it was pooled. I didn't
discover this bit until after some vigorous sailing it started leaking
out of the cover and onto the bedding - I promise you its not nice stuff
to sleep with!!
I've now got two problems:
1. How do I get the compass off so I can take it to my local compass
repairer ? At the moment I can't find a way into the assembly at all and
I'm very reluctant to employ much force without understanding how it
all fits together. Couldn't find much in the Owner's Manual
2. What is the liquid inside these instruments and (more importantly) is
it corrosive, toxic or otherwise harmful to people (or my boat's
machinery) ?
Any thought or info gratefully received
Jim Harkness
Simia #303 (1996)
More information about the C320-list
mailing list