Sea Ray Compass

Scotyp

Member
Oct 4, 2017
58
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 340
Engines
6.2 L Mercruisers
Taking a poll as to what others have done in the way to adding a compass to their boat when it came without one. I have a 1998 Bowrider 210 I bought used last year. I dont want to do flush mount but it does have the compass platform on top of the dash preformed for drilling the hole. Are bracket mounts the way to go or surface? Also,what size is appropriate and is it difficult to wire in the light to the electrical system? Thanks all in advance!
 
Go to effort to flush mount. It will look better and the location is most likely preferred by Sea Ray to keep it away from magnetic fields that will throw the compass off. Wiring the lift would be a simple matter of connect to the dash light circuit.
 
my compass is just a decoration on the dash....I never use it....I just use my GPS......if my boat did not have one I would not add one personally....

cliff
 
If you use your boat to go places that you need a compass (ie as a back up for chartplotter, or if you navigate in fog or at night) then I would use a flush mounted one. If you don't have a chartplotter, you might be better off using the spot for a mount for a small GPS/sonar plotter.
 
I did a flush mount last year. I have a 205 sport. I used the factory location on the helm. Drilling the hole was the trickiest part. Normally you would want to drill down through the gel coat but the windshield was in the way. Since I didn't want to remove the glass I elected to drill up from below. I taped off the gel coat with painters tape. I had my son hold a piece of 2 X 8 down on top of the drilling location. I was trying not to chip the gel coat by drill up from underneath. It worked well with no chipping! Drilled pilot holes for the screws and chamfered the holes. Again so as not chip the gel coat. Bedded the compass in some caulk. Wiring was simple. Just ran the wire to the switch for the navigation lights. Anytime my lights are on are on the compass is lit.

I rarely need the compass. Hard to get lost on the inland lakes I'm on. It just looks very nautical especially at night. Makes me feel like one of you guys with the big boats!!
 
Sea Ray installs Ritchie compasses on new boats. Take a look at their catalog and compare to the option list for your boat in the "Specifications" available in t he SROC knowledge base. You will need to join to gain access, but it is free….all you need the HIN# and to be sure your boat is registered with Sea Ray with you are the owner.
 
my compass is just a decoration on the dash....I never use it....I just use my GPS......if my boat did not have one I would not add one personally....

cliff[/
my compass is just a decoration on the dash....I never use it....I just use my GPS......if my boat did not have one I would not add one personally....

cliff
i have a chartplotter and I use my compass all the time.
 
Thanks for the ideas everyone! Looks like I have some options to ponder!
 
I drive the big boys which are loaded with all the latest Raymarine electronics, to include night vision, multiple cameras pointing everywhere.....and still the most important piece of navigating equipment to me, is the compass.

That little thing has never failed me.

Capt. Rusty
 

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