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Your cart is empty.Explorer compass, MFG# B-51, bracket mount, black housing, 2. 75" direct reading black dial, moveable sun shield, green illumination, compensators, 5 year .
DONNIE B. ROMERO
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024
Seems to be OK. Wish I would have bought one a little larger.
Renne Lohoefener
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2022
I bought this compass for use in a small sailing dinghy. Before mounting it I decided to test the light. The wires providing power to the light (12v) are very small in diameter and both the positive and negative wires are covered by the same gray insulation. You can only tell the positive from the negative wires by the positive being copper colored and the negative silver. I split the wires apart and then carefully stripped the insulation so that I could solder the short wires from the light to longer wires intended for the eventual mounting. But when the positive and negative wires were applied directly to a 12v battery's terminals, no light. The instructions say that if the wires are reversed (positive to negative, etc.) the light won't be harmed, it just won't work, so thinking maybe it was wired backwards, I tried that. Still no light. So I emailed the Service department and about a week later they responded. After clarifying that I had tried reversing the wires, they sent me a new light to replace the original one at no cost. I haven't tried the replacement light to make sure it works. This compass is about twice the cost of comparable compasses made and assembled overseas. To the company's credit they did send a replacement light at no cost but, given the cost of the compass, you would expect everything to work. They compass does seem to be accurate when compared to headings generated by GPS.
Alan
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2022
The led light doesn't come on at all even though it draws 10 mA at 12 volts. I was going to use it to map a cave so it's worthless and others say it isn't free shipping on returns.
jandee
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2018
I have purchased several of the little $10 compasses at auto parts stores and was lucky to get six months out of them. One was digital and the digits went all wonky one day without warning. The others leaked fluid on my dashboard after three months use. When I saw this was basically a marine compass, I figured I couldn't go wrong. I'm happy to report that it's been over a year and it's still hanging in there. I only did the initial adjusting and it's stayed pretty true ever since. I'd purchase another!
cb750
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2016
Mounted the marine version on my motorcycle's windshield. Drilled a hole through the folding base & bolted it on with the center bolt of windshield (Harley-style batwing fairing by Reckless Motorcycles). Tightened up the mfr's screws holding the base to the compass, so it would stop drooping.MOTORCYCLE MAGNETIC FIELD THROWS OFF THIS COMPASS BADLY! Built-in tuning adjustments are no help - not nearly strong enough to cancel that kind of field. Compass always indicates South. My answer: Park bike by itself, away from all cars & metal objects. Replace the windshield bolt (1/4-20 for you Harley guys) with a BRASS one from hardware store, to eliminate any field from that. Then curl a stiff piece of steel fencing wire so it fits under the bolt too. (Make sure it's NOT magnetized, or use 12-gauge copper electrician wire). Bring the other end around to the front of the compass. Curl it through the hole of a small "donut" magnet from hardware store. Squeeze it down tight so magnet can't escape. Use it to mount the magnet at the furthest distance from compass that you've determined (by testing) will barely cancel the bike's field. If that doesn't work, turn magnet around to magnet's other pole and try again. Mine had to be as close as half an inch to the compass to cancel the bike's field. Once you have that distance, bend wire to move magnet side-to-side until you get correct heading. Then turn bike N/S/E/W to make sure it follows them all. It should follow the earth's field, not the bike's, and not your correction magnet. While testing make sure compass is level so it floats freely & not dragging.That method worked well in my driveway. Will test on road tomorrow.
Daniel P.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2015
I was reluctant to buy this compass after seeing all the negative reviews. I took the chance, the price was right. I mounted and wired it up in my boat. At first I could not see the backlight. But in the pitch black night of the mobile bay, the light works just fine. The compass holds a readable heading in choppy water which is a plus. The unit is much nicer than I expected. I cannot comment oh how the unit will last in a saltwater environment, but I'm sure it would be fine. If I had it you do all over again, I'd go ahead and spend 100.00 or more since my navigation relies on this unit.
L. DeMers
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2014
I love this little compass. This is the second one I have bought in 20 years or so, and there is no equal for my uses. My wife and I live on a sailboat during the 6 months of Lake Superior spring/summer/fall and this little compass provides tremendous service mounted on the forward bulkhead of our V-Berth, where we sleep. You see, we are usually anchored out at night, and knowing where the boat is pointing at night tells me if the winds have changed -which may put us in a dangerous position as far as wind driven waves, with the anchor dragging and allowing the boat to be washed ashore, etc. Something that will disturb your sleep a bit for sure. So, I usually check the boat heading 2-3 times at night, by simply reading the compass and knowing where that points us. It has a small LED light inside that we use along with a little push-button switch wired to the vessels 12vdc power buss. Oh, and it has a compensator magnet too, for zeroing out any metal near by, and giving the boat another accurate way of determining it's heading. Ritchie is the premier maker of compasses, and this product shows that quality throughout.Larry
S. A. ROBBINS
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2010
This is an excellent compass for the money. It installs easily, works well under all conditions and appears quite accurate. I compared it to a GPS and both indicated the same heading. It also appears quite rugged and well made. I have had it on our boat for a couple years now and zero problems with it. I compared it to other compasses and selected this one based on size, cost, reliability and manufacturer's reputation.
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