Ritchie Explorer S-53 Surface Mount Compass, Black
- Brand:
- Ritchie
- Part no:
- S-53
Image: Fisheries Supply
Where to buy
Specifications
- Card
- Direct read
- Built-in compensators
- Yes
The Explorer S-53 is a Ritchie surface mount compass with a 2-3/4 in direct read dial in black. It sits low and mounts on top of the deck, so no holes need to be cut, and a push button releases it for storage. The movement has a hardened steel pivot and sapphire jewel, with no plastic. It includes internal 12V green night lighting, a movable sun shield and built-in compensators for adjusting out deviation. Ritchie backs it with a 5-year warranty.
Our take
The S-53 mounts on the surface and releases with a push button, so you can take it off the boat for storage without any hole to fill. Its built-in compensators let you trim out deviation after it is installed.
From our buying guide
Ritchie says a magnetic compass needs no electrical power to work, and that a GPS gives course over ground, not heading. Magnets, ferrous metals and current-carrying devices near it can cause deviation, so the spot matters too.
Check before you buy:
- It's balanced for where you boat. Ritchie advises buying the zone central to where you boat.
- The dial suits your helm. A flat card is read from above, and a direct-read dial from directly in front.
- You can compensate it, since not every compass has built-in compensators.