BUY OR NOT TO BUY A SILVA 70 COMPASS

[Lock and Load]

Hi all, what are the options?
Local paddling around the gower with some trips over to pembroke island hoping. North wales trips and some cornwall action.
Bitching and rough water paddling etc...

Are they a waist of money or well werth the spend?
When rescuing other boats do they get smatched or scratched?
Do they break off?

They are not cheep?

Regards,
Chris

[Jimski89]

Hi Chris,

I use a Silva 80 mounted on the front hatch cover. Its cheaper, bigger and it will be at least 4 inches closer. All this amounts to your compass being easier to read.



All the best,

[GrahamKing]

I use one and am pleased with it. It can be mounted further aft than the usual recess forward of the front hatch, which makes it easier to read. I've never had any problem with the mounting which, flimsy as it looks, has stood up well to hard use. However, on one occasion the glass bowl of the compass separated from the plastic body during a rescue off the Calf of Man. Very easily fixed, once ashore, using a bead of Sikaflex. Don't waste money on the illuminated version - the switch will be out of reach, and the electrics are inadequately waterproofed.

[Lock and Load]

Cheers everyone.
I will have a think.
Chris

[MikeB]

Which one? The one intended to mount in a recess? The 70 P - Or the one which mounts in a bracket and can be used as a sighting compass? The 70 UN.

I've had a 70P on several boats over about 15 years - its never been damaged or broken while doing rescue practise, but then I tend to ask folk to be a bit careful! I'd imagine the UN would be more vulnerable tho.

It's certainly a very useful thing to have. Mike.