TWL: Trivia... FYI...
-
Release candidate 2 of Windows XP seems to run the Capn 6.1 without
any problems. Ill be trying it on the RTM (Released to Manufacturing)
code over the next few weeks to make sure it works before I head south. -
I use a Dell 17" monitor on the bridge with a Toshiba laptop and a
ThinkPad at the lower helm. The monitor has been "out in the elements"
but under the enclosed Bimini for 8 months--still works fine. I want to
see how long it lasts, and then try another monitor with Corrosion
Blocker applied. Visibility is marginally adequate if "zoomed in" tight.
I'll make an enclosure for it before I head south next month. Just
can't spring for the expensive screens yet. -
I have an old Danforth Constellation compass that I drained the oil
out of a few years ago due to a huge bubble. It sat around on the lower
helm taking up space so I decided I either had to fix it or "float test"
it. I took it apart, cleaned everything up and filled it with some
cheap barbeque lighter fluid. It's been 3 weeks, no bubbles, no leaks.
A friend told me about the lighter fluid technique and his compass is
still fine after 5 years. I figure it will also make a fine Molotov
cocktail if I'm attacked in some third world country :) -
I had the folks at Ideal Windlass craft me a custom unit which has 2
gypsies and a drum. I also widened the bow pulpit with 3/8 SS plate to
hold a Danforth HT 60 and a CQR 45. I split the chain locker and have
200' of HT 5/16 on the CQR side and 145' on the Danforth side. Two golf
cart batteries drive the windlass and my Freedom 2500 echo charger keeps
the batteries charged. I'm a very satisfied customer...Regards....
Phil Rosch
Old Harbor Consulting
M/V "Curmudgeon" MT44TC
Currently Moored inBlock IslandRI.
(401) 742-6970 (Cell)
On the subject of compass fluid.
While it is true that BBQ lighter fliud, light kerosene, mineral oil etc
may work, you may also run into a situation where the fluid is not
compatible with the materials used inside the compass.
To gather samples for my power squadron classes on compasses, I rounded up
a number of "junked" compasses.
Some had already lost their fluid, others had bubbles, yet others had
yellowed os badly you could not read the card.
That gave me a wonderful opprtunity experiment.
Manufacturers use different fluids. A good compass with compensation
bellows can use afluid with expansion characteristics, but some of the
domed units cannot. They use instead a silicone fluid with very little
expansion over the normal tempature range.
This oil can be very expensive.
In addition, the cards are often made of a plastic material that has
neutral boyancy in the specific fluid selected for the compass. This
reduces the pressure on the pivot.
I can report that Danforth compasses do not take kindly to isopropyl
alcohol. Within 24 hours you get a perfectly frosted globe!
Some mineral oils will lift the paint or numbers of the card. or cause the
black paint to flake off and float all around the insides.
Neither light or heavy mineral oil sold in drug stores is an exact match
for the oils used in Aquameter compasses or Ritchie compasses. The
density is something in between.
So by all means try to repair the old one, just be careful and try to
determine the exact nature of the original fluid before you fill 'er up.
Cheers
Arild
PS
I did end up with three good refurbished compasses.
[mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com]On Behalf Of Philip J.
Rosch
- I have an old Danforth Constellation compass that I drained the oil
out of a few years ago due to a huge bubble. It sat around on the lower
helm taking up space so I decided I either had to fix it or "float test"
it. I took it apart, cleaned everything up and filled it with some
cheap barbeque lighter fluid. It's been 3 weeks, no bubbles, no leaks.
A friend told me about the lighter fluid technique and his compass is
still fine after 5 years. I figure it will also make a fine Molotov
cocktail if I'm attacked in some third world country :)
I recently "let the magic fluid out" of a compass that I was futzing with.
It had an air bubble anyway, but I much rather that I hadn't drenched my
desk with the contents. So I find out that it's $80 to get it fixed, and for
a compass that costs $115 new (Ritchie HB-71), well, it didn't seem worth
it. A buddy of mine told me that the compass was filled with a refined,
filtered kerosene. I was able to find some at a local aircraft shop- got the
last can for $5. A week later, and a tiny air bubble has formed, but nothing
to worry about. Much better than half empty!
Anyway, that Boy Scout Fluid sounds kinda dangerous. Maybe check the Web for
"Compass Fluid"? The can that I bought was hand-lettered, so no brands here.
Doug Barnard
rebuilding a 20' Skipjack
"Fiesta Bimbo"
trawler-crawler wannabe
dbarnard@virtualacreage.com writes:
I recently "let the magic fluid out" of a compass that I was futzing
with.
I have been successful in refilling compasses (Richie) with USP
Mineral Oil from the drugstore (also acts as a reliable laxative). I
understand in olden days compasses were filled with very high
percentage ethyl-alcohol (drinkable if diluted with orange juice),
however there seemed to be an inexplicable shrinkage of the fluid and
excessive happiness on part of the sailors.... hence the laxative
type oil <grin>
George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario