Aquameter Saturn compass weather cover?

[Mike]

Does anyone know of a molded slip-on protective cover which
fits an Aquameter Saturn bulkhead compass properly?
Ordered one from BoatUS which catalog
blurb implied would fit, but it's
too small. The pivoting
sunshade/lamp housing makes the Saturn an
awkward shape to cover.

Tx

Mike



zucker_m@ligo.mit.edu

[Dana]

Mike,

I have owned a couple of the bulkhead Saturn compasses. I think what you are describing...."pivoting lamp/sun shade" is not the Saturn bulkhead compass but the pedestal mount. It is the only one which I have seen with this "movable arch" over the view glass. I am going to rely on memory (which I should not) but isn't the Saturn bulkhead version Model #152????

Dana

Does anyone know of a molded slip-on protective cover which
fits an Aquameter Saturn bulkhead compass properly?
Ordered one from BoatUS which catalog
blurb implied would fit, but it's
too small. The pivoting
sunshade/lamp housing makes the Saturn an
awkward shape to cover.

Tx

Mike

darenius@aol.com

[mike]

Mike,

It's an Aquameter (now Rule/Danforth) model A140; the hood
is probably more decorative than anything, as on the
bulkhead it will obscure the card before doing anything
about the sun, but I guess it houses the light bulb.



zucker_m@ligo.mit.edu

[mike]

In case anyone else runs into this snafu,
I finally discovered the solution. The Aquameter Saturn series has
two sub-lines, one without a sun hood/lamp housing on top and
one with (like my A140). The correct aftermarket cover
for the A140 is made by SSI (Sailing Solutions Inc)
model 55004500 ($8.99 at BoatUS). They had incorrectly
sent a 55004000 which fits the non-hooded Saturn.

However in the meantime
my Saturn's gimbal has started to freeze up; it now
sticks until I reach 15 degrees of heel and then
unsticks and catches up (of course,
leveling off it remains stuck at 15 degrees until you reach
a comparable change in the other direction). This is
annoying and impairs reading the heading lubber line correctly.
Whether leaving it uncovered contributed to the failure
or not, it
is clearly a poor design to have failed this way after
only 2 months.
So after all this... I would never buy another Aquameter.

Tx again for help

mike

Does anyone know of a molded slip-on protective cover which
fits an Aquameter Saturn bulkhead compass properly?
Ordered one from BoatUS which catalog
blurb implied would fit, but it's
too small. The pivoting
sunshade/lamp housing makes the Saturn an
awkward shape to cover.

Tx

Mike

zucker_m@ligo.mit.edu

[Bob Malinka]

Does anyone know of a molded slip-on protective cover which
fits an Aquameter Saturn bulkhead compass properly?
Ordered one from BoatUS which catalog
blurb implied would fit, but it's
too small. The pivoting
sunshade/lamp housing makes the Saturn an
awkward shape to cover.

Tx

Try SSI (Sailing Specialties Inc.) P.O. Box 99, Commerce Ave., Hollywood, MD. 20636 USA Telephone (301) 373-2372

I believe the model number you are looking for is Item No. 55400 and it goes for about $9. I just ordered a new one last year but couldn't find my receipt so I am using the old receipt from 1989, the original cover I bought from them. So the model number may have changed but if you give them a call get the smaller cover of the 2 types they offer. Because the first one they sent me was to large for the Saturn model we have. The only reason I replaced it was because of sun discoloration due to UV radiation. The cover didn't have any cracks or anything, which is unusual considering all the sun it gets in the cockpit. I have found their cover to fit the best out of all the covers I have looked through and it comes with little velcro patches to fasten to the compass bezel. I believe they also have a web site listing but I don't have the link at the moment. SSI makes great products considering how many times I have had to replace my Data Marine Instrument covers because of cracks.

Bob
S/V Ranger #144
1984 CD25D

Mike

rmalinka@spec.net

[Bob Malinka]

In case anyone else runs into this snafu,
I finally discovered the solution. The Aquameter Saturn series has
two sub-lines, one without a sun hood/lamp housing on top and
one with (like my A140). The correct aftermarket cover
for the A140 is made by SSI (Sailing Solutions Inc)
model 55004500 ($8.99 at BoatUS). They had incorrectly
sent a 55004000 which fits the non-hooded Saturn.

However in the meantime
my Saturn's gimbal has started to freeze up; it now
sticks until I reach 15 degrees of heel and then
unsticks and catches up (of course,
leveling off it remains stuck at 15 degrees until you reach
a comparable change in the other direction). This is
annoying and impairs reading the heading lubber line correctly.
Whether leaving it uncovered contributed to the failure
or not, it
is clearly a poor design to have failed this way after
only 2 months.
So after all this... I would never buy another Aquameter.

Tx again for help

mike

I had the same problem when Rule sent back my refurbished compass several years ago (1989). I had them change out the fluid because it was getting cloudy and hard to see at night. Send your compass back to Rule and they will exchange it for a refurbished model for a small service fee and your problem with hanging up will be forgotten.

The Rule Group
70 Blanchard Rd
Burlington, Mass. 01803
Tel: (617) 272-7400 Facs:(617) 272-0920


Bob
S/V Ranger #144
1984 CD25D



rmalinka@spec.net

[Bob Malinka]

Mike,

I have owned a couple of the bulkhead Saturn compasses. I think what you are describing...."pivoting lamp/sun shade" is not the Saturn bulkhead compass but the pedestal mount. It is the only one which I have seen with this "movable arch" over the view glass. I am going to rely on memory (which I should not) but isn't the Saturn bulkhead version Model #152????

Dana

Dana:

The bulkhead mounted Saturn Model with the light is the A142.

Bob
S/V Ranger #144
1984 CD25D



rmalinka@spec.net