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.
Those are lubber lines that are used as a reference to steer the boat. when you're sitting directly behind the compass, you steer by the red lubber line. If you move from a position directly behind the compass to a position on the other side of the cockpit, you can steer by using one of the other lubber lines, depending on which side of the cockpit the compass is mounted on. The actual compass heading won't change, but you'll be steering to a point on the compass 45 deg. from the actual heading.
In the photo, the actual compass heading appears to be about 105 deg. If you move to a seat to starboard of the compass, then you could steer to the other lubber line to a compass point of 60 deg.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
I had a beautiful Suunto sport compass built into the cockpit bulkhead of a 13ft Laser Precision dinghy called a Zuma. My daughter sails it now and it’s decked out in dayglow orange, lime green and cerulean. The sail, the bootstripe and the compass all match in color.
After a few years in the deep freeze of New England winters the seal on the compass burst and the oil ran out. The compass card no longer floats in the oil so for all intents and purposes the compass is toast. You cannot purchase this compass in the Zuma color scheme from any dealer.
I have never removed the compass hoping someday someone would come up with a solution to make a compass repair that would allow it to hold oil once again. There is a rubber gland on the back of the compass that was compromised by the cold weather. I’ve wondered how to replace it only to be told that it “can’t be done - no way, no how”.
I’m absolutely sure there’s some part number you have to order to replace the gland, but good luck. It’s been years. The boat still sails fine however...
Good luck repairing your compass. Please let me know what you come up with.
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.