220 Dauntless: Water Leak Around Ritchie Flushmount Compass

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Author Topic:   220 Dauntless: Water Leak Around Ritchie Flushmount Compass

whalerron posted 05-19-2014 08:15 AM ET (US)
I have a 2004 220 Dauntless and last night I removed the ceiling panel from the console. That panel is a vinyl covered piece of marine plywood and it is very wet. I noticed drops of water hanging on the bottom of the Ritchie flush mount compass which protrudes through the console roof above that ceiling panel. The compass mount is sealed to the console and it appears to me that rain water is actually leaking down around the compass globe where it meets the plastic body. From there the water appears to leak into the compass body where it then drips out from underneath onto the console ceiling panel. So, my question is about the original Ritchie flush-mount compass which is used on these boats. Should the compass itself be waterproof? Has anyone else noticed rain water leaks under these compasses and if so, what was done to remedy the problem?
Thanks.
Jefecinco posted 05-19-2014 10:46 AM ET (US)
If you have a pitot type speedometer check the hose connection in the console. The hoses often leak where they connect to the speedometer and spray water onto the adjacent areas.
Butch
whalerron posted 05-19-2014 10:23 PM ET (US)
I don't have a speedometer on this boat. The portion of the console which houses the gauges and controls is separated from the head portion of the console by a vinyl covered divider and it would be nearly impossible for water to get from the top underside of one half to the top underside of the other.
myakka posted 05-21-2014 05:22 AM ET (US)
I have not noticed that happening on mine. I have noticed that I loose the back lighting on the compass for a few days every time I wash the console. I'll check this weekend
whalerron posted 05-21-2014 11:43 AM ET (US)
My 2004 220 Dauntless has a Ritchie F50 flush mount compass installed as original equipment. I contacted Ritchie navigation and asked them if water can leak through this compass. The answer is yes:
"Yes, I am afraid that water CAN lead around the glass and through the compass body. We do make a watertight version and the part number is F-50-WT. You can order it from a dealer of your choice and it would be a special order with a lead time of 10 days to 2 weeks."
This presents a problem with these boats because that compass sits directly over the ceiling in the head portion of the console. That ceiling is wrapped on the visible side with foam back vinyl and the ceiling panel itself is plywood. The water drips from the compass onto the plywood and is then trapped against the wood by the vinyl.
I will be ordering the waterproof version of the compass.
whalerron posted 05-22-2014 10:14 PM ET (US)
I just talked with Jamestown Distributors and they have ordered the Ritchie Explorer F50-WT compass for me. This is a special order compass and it is a water-tight compass which will not allow water to leak past it and into my Dauntless console. If have one of these boats, I encourage you to order one of these compasses before your console headliner is ruined by water leaking past the compass.

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Author	Topic: 220 Dauntless: Water Leak Around Ritchie Flushmount Compass
whalerron	posted 05-19-2014 08:15 AM ET (US) I have a 2004 220 Dauntless and last night I removed the ceiling panel from the console. That panel is a vinyl covered piece of marine plywood and it is very wet. I noticed drops of water hanging on the bottom of the Ritchie flush mount compass which protrudes through the console roof above that ceiling panel. The compass mount is sealed to the console and it appears to me that rain water is actually leaking down around the compass globe where it meets the plastic body. From there the water appears to leak into the compass body where it then drips out from underneath onto the console ceiling panel. So, my question is about the original Ritchie flush-mount compass which is used on these boats. Should the compass itself be waterproof? Has anyone else noticed rain water leaks under these compasses and if so, what was done to remedy the problem? Thanks.
Jefecinco	posted 05-19-2014 10:46 AM ET (US) If you have a pitot type speedometer check the hose connection in the console. The hoses often leak where they connect to the speedometer and spray water onto the adjacent areas. Butch
whalerron	posted 05-19-2014 10:23 PM ET (US) I don't have a speedometer on this boat. The portion of the console which houses the gauges and controls is separated from the head portion of the console by a vinyl covered divider and it would be nearly impossible for water to get from the top underside of one half to the top underside of the other.
myakka	posted 05-21-2014 05:22 AM ET (US) I have not noticed that happening on mine. I have noticed that I loose the back lighting on the compass for a few days every time I wash the console. I'll check this weekend
whalerron	posted 05-21-2014 11:43 AM ET (US) My 2004 220 Dauntless has a Ritchie F50 flush mount compass installed as original equipment. I contacted Ritchie navigation and asked them if water can leak through this compass. The answer is yes: "Yes, I am afraid that water CAN lead around the glass and through the compass body. We do make a watertight version and the part number is F-50-WT. You can order it from a dealer of your choice and it would be a special order with a lead time of 10 days to 2 weeks." This presents a problem with these boats because that compass sits directly over the ceiling in the head portion of the console. That ceiling is wrapped on the visible side with foam back vinyl and the ceiling panel itself is plywood. The water drips from the compass onto the plywood and is then trapped against the wood by the vinyl. I will be ordering the waterproof version of the compass.
whalerron	posted 05-22-2014 10:14 PM ET (US) I just talked with Jamestown Distributors and they have ordered the Ritchie Explorer F50-WT compass for me. This is a special order compass and it is a water-tight compass which will not allow water to leak past it and into my Dauntless console. If have one of these boats, I encourage you to order one of these compasses before your console headliner is ruined by water leaking past the compass.