Compass question

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SmokyMtnGrady

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Hi guys:
I was out this afternoon spring cleaning my boat. I notice that my Grady installed compass is losing it's fluid. I might have asked this before, but can it be filled? If so, what fluid do they use? Where does one fill it? Thanks.
 
They do leak over time and you can refill it. It's a whole lot easier to replace it.
If it is a Ritchie compass (which it probably is if it is the original), you can use their factory reconditioning service, which really is a discounted swap-for-new:
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/care-maintenance/service/factory-reconditioning-program/

I did this a couple years ago and got the current version of the identical compass but with the upgraded LED illumination. Looks and works great.

Good luck
 
West Marine lists Richie compass oil but check your store's inventory first before making the trip since I have found that most marine supply stores don't stock it. Depending on your compass's age, it may be filled with mineral oil. If it's earlier than 2000, it is probably so filled. The newer oil is synthetic but it can be added to a mineral oil compass.
That said, if it is mineral oil, you can pick that up in a drug store and is a lot cheaper than the Richie oil.
Let us know what you finally do.
 
Thanks guys! It is a Ritchie and oem from 2008. I think I will go the Ritchie route. You guys are awesome. Thanks again.
 
SmokyMtnGrady said:
Thanks guys! It is a Ritchie and oem from 2008. I think I will go the Ritchie route. You guys are awesome. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Let me know how it turns out with the upgrade to LED and rehab. Mine is ok, but may do a refresh on it just because.
 
They will stand behind their product. Their headquarters along with a service center was in Pembroke, MA. I see that the service center is no longer there. I took my compass in from an early GW and they swapped it out (their choice to either fix or swap out). They chose the latter to get one in my hands quick. They were very easy to work with.
 
I found refilling it is a lot easier than replacing a compass. If you replace it, setting it up for you boat involves a professional. Compasses have to set up to not see others items that might affect its trueness. I have to refill my compass every 4 or five years, mine leaks around the fill plug, there’s an o ring around the plug that just drips. I just get an o ring from the local hardware store, maybe that’s why it fails after a few years, but fulling it is easy.

To fill remove the 4 top screw and lift it up and out, there’s a wire for the light so don’t rip the wire out. Flip it over , remove the fill plug, I use a plastic squeeze bottle picked it up a Walmart, with a small hole long stem top, it’s like the kind that you would use for vinegar to put on you French fries.

The oil that is in the compass is mineral spirits you can pick it up anywhere.
Just my two cent worth.
 
Ritchie still does repair in Pembroke, Ma. In addition they have several other authorized 3rd party sites that do repairs. Check out the list on their website for other locations.
 
Didn't see it on the site. I'll recheck. Great news as it is near by.... Thanks.
 
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