I would appreciate any thoughts on compasses for heavily trailered boats.
I am thinking about buying a PLASTIMO Contest 101 or Mini for my our C16. We trailer a bunch and I worry about how such a compass would take the abuse of bumpy and dirt roads?
I've had my Contest 101 for a year now (on my 19) and I trailer every single time I go sailing. So far I am very pleased - it shows no harm from the bumpy rides. Defender has them for $205.
I mounted my full size Suunto compass to the compression post using a detachable mast mount from Layline that, at least in theory, makes it easy to mount and remove.
However, I usually leave it in place while trailering and I have not had any problems yet.
Also, that mounting system keeps it out of the way and protects it from UV sun damage.
I like big compass cards with big numbers so they are easy to read.
(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/1930fordroadster/ComPac%2019/DSC00400.jpg)
I put this compass on a teak stand off ring so depth of the compass did not go through both outside and inside bulkheads.
It's a Ritchie bulkhead mount. I'd go smaller for a CP-16 and would not worry about road bumps or bouncing off waves.
If I was to pick a compass again, I'd want the headings to be viewed BOTH from looking down into the compass and looking straight dead level with the compass.
skip.
Thanks for the responses and pictures. Our boat has a hole in the bulkhead where a Ritchie was mounted. It was to cloudy to read and the gimbals were broken. I broke the gimbals when I tried polishing out the globe with a buffer. (Nothing ventured nothing gained!) With your recommendations I will go ahead with the Contest 101.
regards charlie