Note from David Fend (DeFENDer):
Two weeks ago we noticed our compass had lost all it's fluid
overnight!!! The SP-5 on my C36 holds nearly a quart of
mineral oil...all this oil travels down the pedestal into
the cable cover in the back compartment overhead, down
the back bulhead and into the matress...fun! The repair
is free! If your compass was born from 1990 to 1996, get
it fixed, Island Marine Instrument is affiliated with Fisheries
Supply which is the drop off and pick up place.
In 1990 Ritchie redesigned the 5-inch Globemaster to use
a new plastic bowl and urethane expansion diaphragm. This
change affected the model SP-5 and D-515 used on sailboats.
In my experience, most all Catalina 36 and larger use these
compasses. The SP-5 is the open pedastal mount and the D-515
has the domehead hood with sliding door. This affects 6-inch
compasses built between 1994 and 1996 also.
The urethane diaphragm material has experienced a high failure
rate. The diaphragm material was changed in 1996 and Ritchie
has extended the nomal warranty period for this failure
indefinitely until all the bad materials have been changed
out. The problem
exists on all 5-inch Globemasters with serial numbers between
90010001and 9601001. This number can be found on the side
of the compass bowl by lifting off the stainless binnacle
cover and light (It's a good idea to take off the cover
periodically and hose the compass down with fresh water anyway).
If in
this range of numbers or if the compass has a bubble already,
mark the compass alignment with the base, release the horizontal
clamping screw and lift out the compass capsule. Look at
the underside of the compass bowl. If the diaphragm is
visibly black it needs to be changed immediately. Those that
have
already been corrected will have a beige colored expansion
diaphragm visible.
Island Marine Instrument is the preferred warranty service
site for Ritchie in the Pacific Northwest. Please call our
toll-free line at (888)539-2757 for instructions on how to
get it to us.
Bill Haimes
Island Marine Instrument Co Inc
888.539.2757
visit: www.islandmarineinst.com
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