Ritchie Helmsman HF-742 Flush Mount Compass, Black
- Brand:
- Ritchie
- Part no:
- HF-742
Image: Fisheries Supply
Where to buy
Specifications
- Mount
- Flush
- Card
- Flat
- Built-in compensators
- Yes
The Helmsman HF-742 is a flush mount compass with a 3 3/4 inch flat card dial in black. It has built-in compensators for adjusting deviation, a movable sun shield and 12V green NiteVu lighting. The movement uses a hardened steel pivot with a sapphire jewel, and an internal gimbal keeps the card steady in pitch and roll. The card also carries extra 45° lubber lines, and a PowerDamp baffle works against spinning and dial jumping.
Our take
The PowerDamp baffle on the flat card is there to stop spinning and dial jumping at speed and in rough conditions, so the card should stay readable in a chop. The internal gimbal adds stability through pitch and roll.
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.
