I have had a chat with a leading commercial compass adjustor and he suspects my 30 year old compass is dead!!...he says they may last 1/2 that time. He also found that by doing a simple test he gave me to try, he has seen as many as 50% of "new" compasses in a marine store that are toast; the pivot points don't travel well apparently. This is about a 1/2 boat unit hit if this is the case and one more item for the TODO list....
Oh yes, the "secret" test: you take a tape measure, extend it and approach the compass slowly with it until the compass rotates about 2-3 degrees, then remove the tape. do this in opposite direction also. If the compass doesn't return to the original start point, the pivots are shot.
By this point I think we are well down the priority list of SSCC [ Seaworthiness, Safety, Comfort, Cosmetic] and are closely approaching "cosmetic" items; such as painting, varnishing,etc. The only remaining major purchase now is a life-raft.
The TODO list will never be empty, the question is when is it close enough?
This will be last posting until "phase 3", pre-departure in July when I'm back from Saudi, then the wedding of my niece in Nova Scotia.
Over and out for now,
Bruce
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