How to Make a Good Compass Better!

[sketchrbob]

For those of you who have a compass mounted toward the center of your boat, it may be a little difficult to read the lubber line. An easy solution is to paint a 45° lubber line -- often a standard feature on such compasses as the Ritchie Helmsman --but not included on smaller compasses.

You can paint it on one or both sides if the co-pilot wants to see it. To do this, make a mark 45° from the center lubber line -- if your compass is of the Direct Read variety this would be at 315° with the lubber line reading 0°.

Take two strips of masking tape and tape them to the dome about 1/16" apart either side of your mark. You might want to use a bright yellow enamel for paint. After the paint sets, remove the masking tape and you have your 45° line.

To steer using this, simply set your course by the center lubber line, observe what the yellow 45° line shows and steer by that. Bob W

[hambone]

Good info Bob. I will have to do this as mine is in the middle of the boat.

H

[Sea Wolf]

If you want a lubber line like that, you can make one out of a small narrow rectangle of yellow or any other color plastic tape, and simply stick it on the compass at the desired spot. It's easier to remove than paint. I add marks like that on binoculars to indicate the proper right eye adjustment for the diopter balance for myself.

Joe.

[thataway]

The offset lubber line has been used for many years on sail boats, because often the helmsman is sitting on one side of the boat or other. The skipper often is able to quickly calculate the 45 degree difference in his head, and steer this course via the offset lubber line.