Leoma@ Santa Cruz Island

[JD-MDR]

Here is a photo in little Scorpion. Beyond the rock is Scorpion Bay where charters drop off campers etc. This quarter of the island is open. The rest is sanctuary and national park. I think it's easy to get a permit to access.Decided to block up the pedestal instead of putting a spacer on top. The boom end piece is taking forever.

[JD-MDR]

Surprised no one is out this Veterans weekend. I spent Fri alone at Little Scorpions and Sat. at Pelicans Bay about 8 mi north. Three boats to my port and one to starboard. usually these little coves are full. A photo shows where I put my new compass. it is 45 degrees off. I wonder if the motor or those instruments are messing it up? Obviously something is. The other photo is my attempt to capture a whale

[mgphl52]

Is your compass always off, or only only when your engine is running?
What about when you power off the instruments above it?

Simple things to check... not so simple to fix?

[JD-MDR]

I only turn the compass light on at night. The two ancient depthsounder and knot meter I rarely use. There is the instrument panal with the tach. I'm not sure if its magnetic. Thanks for the response. I felt funny responding to my own post. Oh you meant is the compass reading off always . I'll check that out with and without the engine running. Thanks

[tjr818]

If the compass is off only when the power is on it is probably deviation due to the location of some DC wiring. I am not sure where the battery switch is on a 30K, but if that was a 27 your compass would be right next to the battery switch. DC voltage easily throw a compass off. All DC wiring should be twisted to help prevent electromagnetic interference. If the compass is off all of the time, then the compass needs adjustment. 45 degrees is an unusually large compass adjustment.

[JD-MDR]

My handheld Garmin 76-c and my handheld boy scout compass both agree the Richie is way off. No wonder we had such a hard time coming down the coast. My batteries and switch and most 12v is on the other (starboard) side of that same bulkhead. Thanks for the tip on twisting wires. I can't get to the boat till Wednesday to check all these things out. Richie just contacted me. They have a compensation module but it is only good for 15- 20 degrees.. I'll probably get an expert to help. What great service from Richie. Less than an hour they sent me a tex. I wish I could say the same for the rigrite guys. I still don't know if my boom end piece has been shipped. I did figure how to get thru to the office lady. Press the extension for to set an appt with a technician. She answers every time.

[John Ring]

Remove the compass and hold it up like a hand bearing compass, pointing at various landmarks. Is the error gone? If so, the error is your mounting location, not the compass.

John
CD36 Tiara

[JD-MDR]

I want to take back some of the bad stuff I said about RigRite . The endpiece for my club boom has to be made to order, cast and anodized. I thought they were in stock but the website doesn't say that it just says that they are available. I ordered it 11/26 and they said two weeks, yesterday they said two more weeks. I would expect 3-4 weeks from ordering . I guess they should have just told me that. I'm not in a hurry. It doesn't matter. I don't think they like dealing with the public and want us to do everything online by ourselves. I was told I could cancel the order if I want.

[Nebe]

If the compass is off only when the power is on it is probably deviation due to the location of some DC wiring. I am not sure where the battery switch is on a 30K, but if that was a 27 your compass would be right next to the battery switch. DC voltage easily throw a compass off. All DC wiring should be twisted to help prevent electromagnetic interference. If the compass is off all of the time, then the compass needs adjustment. 45 degrees is an unusually large compass adjustment.

My CD 27 compass is right where his is and its always 15° off... your totally spot on about the battery switch

[JD-MDR]

My batteries and switch are on the starboard side. I'll be checking out all these suggestions on Thursday. I have to meet a Coast Guard auxiliary guy for an inspection. I can't believe I got livable status. Thing is I want to keep the compass at that location . First I'll take it out and test it like John said.