Compass Accuracy

[Nodak7mm]

Hi Guys,

Currently rigging my boat for venturing out the west coast, have all USCG required items, installing new VHF (raymarine 48 with 8' antenna), and picked up a Ritchie compass (X-15, flush mount) to back up my gps. Anyhow the new compass appears to be appx 20 degrees off of what my GPS says and my trusty old silva. The compass has no correction adjustment and I don't like the error, plan to return it and get something better. Am I being to picky for just back up reference??

Rod

[ESOX]

No screw to correct the compass? too weird. I'd get a new compass.
BTW make sure your gps is displaying true N, Not magnetic N.

[Getaway]

Do you have any electronics mounted close to your compass? They will throw your compass off if anything is too close. I would remove your compass and check it with no metal objects near it. If it reads right, then changing compasses won't help any. I have my gps mounted right behind my compass and it throws the compass off by a couple of degrees.

[FishTales]

Years ago, I went out the Clinton River and wanted to go to Brandenburg Park area.
After a short while out there, I noticed when I would turn the boat, I was still going north.
I had a screwdriver laying up on the dash right behind my compass and found out no matter which way I would turn the boat I was always going north, needless to say, the screwdriver was magnetic and held my compass in place.
As soon as I moved it, everything was okay.