Ritchie Helmsman HB-845 Steel Boat Compass, 3-3/4 in Flat Dial
- Brand:
- Ritchie
- Part no:
- HB-845
Image: Fisheries Supply
Where to buy
Specifications
- Card
- Flat
- Built-in compensators
- Yes
Manuals
- Instructions (PDF)images.boatid.com
The Ritchie Helmsman HB-845 is a 3-3/4 inch flat card compass made for smaller steel-hulled boats. Adjusters on its base let you correct for deviation from the ferrous metal around it. The card is graduated in 5 degree steps with large numerals, and a PowerDamp baffle keeps it from spinning or jumping. It has green night lighting at 12V and an internal gimbal system for pitch and roll.
Our take
The PowerDamp baffle on the HB-845's flat card is there to stop spinning and dial jumping, so the heading should stay readable when the boat is moving hard. The card is only offered with 5 degree graduations, so expect to read it in 5 degree steps.
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.