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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Compass repair:Replace fluid and seal?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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monty0
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts
Initially Posted - 07/16/2007 :  23:15:36  Show Profile
Upon boarding our boat a month ago we discovered a drip that we traced back to our Saturn bulkheak compass ( We assume it is an old relic like the rest of the boat). Seems the seal of the lens lost its grab power and the liquid proceeded to fall to gravity.

The compass is now in a container on a shelf with a puddle of fluid beneath it. We find it hard to throw out the old if there is a possiblity to bringing it back to life.

Does anyone have any experience or advice in replacing fluid in a compass and sealing it back up?
Monty

1977 Catalina 25 #66 SRSK "Prana"
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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts
Response Posted - 07/17/2007 :  00:24:04  Show Profile  Visit tmhansen's Homepage
We had a similar problem with our compass. I found a company that could repair it, including replacing the dome which showed its age. The cost to ship it to them and have the work done was as much as a new compass so I opted for new. I did not find a kit that would allow me to do the work myself.
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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3436 Posts
Response Posted - 07/17/2007 :  05:21:54  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage
Interesting topic - Never thought of replacing the fluid and resealing. I bet someone has tried it and I wonder how it worked out. My thought would have had the throw out mentality. Beuing that the case, I wonder if the new Saturn Bulkhead compasses have the exact dimensions as the old one and would fit in as an exact replacement with no rework to the hole. Also, if there are any other substitutes that work well as replacements. (Not looking at the West Marine catalog right now but thought that the new saturn Bulkhead had a different face/card inside - read two ways...but that dimensions may be same as old one ?)
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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts
Response Posted - 07/17/2007 :  06:33:15  Show Profile
I replaced the fluid in my old Sunto compass a few years ago. I don't remember too much about it other than it was a messy job.The re-fill hole was real small and even with a tiny funnel there was spillag because you need to fill the globe to overflowing so that therre are no air bubbles. The resultsof my repair job were temporary; the new seal let go in less than a year and the new fluid began to leak out same as the old. Eventually I had to break down and buy a new compass. I'm also a big fan of repairing stuff, even when it means fabricating parts from scratch and not all compasses are built the same,but I think you'll find that most small bulkhead compasses are not made to be repaired.
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rclift
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts
Response Posted - 07/17/2007 :  23:28:55  Show Profile
Monty, I had the same issue with the Saturn Compass on my boat. Unfortunately the Saturn compass can't be refilled or repaired like some of the better quality units. In my case the lens just started cracking and leaking fluid. They still manufacture the same model and it fits just as the old one did. However, the new compass doesn't compensate for the angle of the bulkhead and is much more difficult to read. You were able to make an adjustment to level the card in the older units. You could make the new one work by adding a teak mounting block that would compensate for the bulkhead angle but that causes it to stick out further from the bulkhead.

This is the description from Defender.com

Saturn Compass
3-3/4 Compass with cover included
Bulkhead mount., direct read card

Item #: 803092
Manufacturer: RULE INDUSTRIES
Model #: A149
Shipping Weight: 1.50 Lbs.
Our Price: $79.95
Edited by - rclift on 07/17/2007 23:33:16
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monty0
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts
Response Posted - 07/18/2007 :  18:30:39  Show Profile
Thanks for the information, folks. A new Saturn seems to be the way to go. I plan to measure the
hole in the bulkhead and check its dimensions with what I'll need for a Saturn A149.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.