Ritchie Navigator FN-203 Flush Mount Compass, 4-1/2 in, 12V
- Brand:
- Ritchie
- Part no:
- FN-203
Image: Fisheries Supply
Where to buy
Specifications
- Mount
- Flush
- Built-in compensators
- Yes
The Ritchie Navigator FN-203 is a flush mount compass with a 4-1/2 in black CombiDial, wired for 12V DC. Its dial mixes a conventional flat card with a direct-read face, and it has built-in compensators and green lighting. The bowl is fiberglass-reinforced Valox, and an internal gimbal system keeps the card steady in pitch and roll. It weighs 2 lb 10 oz.
Our take
Built-in compensators let you adjust for deviation on the FN-203 itself, and the 12V green NiteVu lighting keeps the card readable after dark. The flush body is low-profile, which the maker pitches as a secure installation.
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.