Ritchie compass 30 Marlin

Pat Hurley

Pat Hurley

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Anyone know which model Ritchie Compass this one is in a 2007 Marlin ? Maybe call GW the answer ?
Not sure if it’s worth sending to get fixed .... it has a mind of it’s own. For no good reason it started wondering like a demented crackhead.D35C0028-9C99-44F9-B47F-DA5AA811263F.jpegD35C0028-9C99-44F9-B47F-DA5AA811263F.jpeg
 
If you get underneath you’ll find a model code on the housing. I had one lose its fluid, called Richie and they said average $100 to refurbish. Ended up buying the exact replacement IIRC $120-130 new.
 
Have you installed anything electric recently?
Next time the compass gets wacky, turn off everything and see if the compass settles down. ( By everything, I mean the battery switches. In addition, if you put store you phone or tablet or other device near the compas, try moving that device. The compass could be shot but it could also be effected by stray fields.
 
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seasick said:
Have you installed anything electric recently?
Next time the compass gets wacky, turn off everything and see if the compass settles down. ( By everything, I mean the battery switches. In addition, if you put store you phone or tablet or other device near the compas, try moving that device. The compass could be shot but it could also be effected by stray fields.
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Thanks ... yes that was the first thing we checked for (stray fields) It worked fine on a previous trip to the fishing grounds then at the days end we picked up to head in and I observed it going “bizzarro” it was showing NE when I was heading WSW all the while slowly rotating. When we docked the boat the damn thing was still rotating back and forth 60 degrees. I had my electronics installer look at it later in the week during an auto pilot install and he was stumped too.
 
There is a compensation magnet in the compass and it is possible that it has come loose. That could cause the symptoms you see but if so, eventually at rest, the compass will stop rotating but may very well be showing the wrong info.
 
I reached out to Ritchie for the compass on my 282 when it started leaking (air bubble) and they said they would fix it for free. When I went in, they gave me a new one. The office was in Pembroke MA.
 
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