Richie Compass Notice

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