Ritchie Explorer S-53G Surface Mount Compass, Gray/Blue Dial
- Brand:
- Ritchie
- Part no:
- S-53G
Image: Fisheries Supply
Where to buy
Specifications
- Card
- Direct read
- Built-in compensators
- Yes
The Ritchie Explorer S-53G is a surface mount compass with a gray housing and a blue dial. It sits low and compact on the deck with no holes to cut, and it has a 2-3/4 inch dial. The movement uses a hardened steel pivot and sapphire jewel, with no plastic. It has internal 12V green night lighting, a movable sun shield and built-in compensators for adjusting deviation. Ritchie gives it a 5-year warranty and builds it in the USA.
Our take
The built-in compensators on the Explorer S-53G let you adjust deviation yourself after it is mounted, and the internal 12V green night light keeps the dial readable after dark. The surface mount design means no hole cut in the deck.
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.