Shop Ritchie Navigation Compasses

With a history dating back to 1850 when the physicist Edward S. Ritchie began to develop the first US manufactured magnetic marine compass, Ritchie Navigation, through continuous innovation and improvement of its compass designs, remains an industry leader in the manufacture of recreational and commercial magnetic compasses. With models designed for all types of boats, there is a Ritchie compass to meet your boat's needs.

Compass Selection

Selecting the right compass depends on your boat type and mounting preferences. Our Ritchie selection includes five basic types: Flush, Surface, Bulkhead, Bracket, and Binnacle mount.

• Flush-mount compasses are positioned in a cutout, with half above and half below the surface.
• Bracket-mount compasses are versatile, fitting surfaces with various tilt angles, and they're easily removable for storage or security.
• Bulkhead-mount compasses suit smaller sailboats and powerboats, matching instrument styles. Visibility is good in the cockpit, and some can mount at up to 45° angles. The are often installed on the aft bulkhead of tiller-steered sailboats, where the helmsperson can easily see the compass card.
• Surface-mount compasses sit on surfaces and can be easily removed with two buttons, requiring no large holes for installation.
• Binnacle-mount compasses, used on wheel-steered sailboats or powerboats with limited under-surface space, mount on the surface or steering pedestal.

General Rules for Compass Selection and Installation

1. Bigger is better for stability and legibility. Small compasses are not fun nor easy to use.
2. Legibility and location are crucial. You have to be able to look ahead of your boat, then at the compass, and then ahead, without strain.
3. Compasses should be mounted away from magnetic sources, including large steel objects and speakers.

Compass Cards

Traditional compasses come in three types: direct reading, flat and dual read.

Direct reading cards allow users to read the heading from the side, eliminating the need to peer into the compass. Ritchie's Explorer Dash-Mount Compass is a good example of a compass with a direct read card.

Flat cards require users to look inside the compass dome at the forward side of the card. These compasses typically feature lubberlines and additional lines at 45° and 90° to the boat’s heading. The Ritchie Flush-Mount Voyager Compass, SuperSport Flush-Mount Compass, and Binnacle-Mount Navigator Compass are examples of compasses with flat cards.

Dual reading cards function as both direct and flat cards, common in bulkhead-mounted sailboat compasses, offering easy reading from above and from the sides. Ritchie's Bulkhead-Mount Navigator CombiDial Compass, which includes a built-in clinometer, is a good example of this type of compass.

What are the "PowerDamp" and "CombiDamp" Features?

PowerDamp and CombiDamp are two Ritchie proprietary terms for the use of a low viscosity fluid and a special baffle under the compass card. This prevents the compass card from lifting or spinning when traveling in rough conditions.