Plastimo Compass Removal

[Arnold Hollander]

I have a 1995 Beneteau Oceanis with a Plastimo compass mounted on top of the icebox which is forward of the wheel. I need to know how to remove it without damaging it.  I need an oil refill and want to send it in to the manufacturer. 

There are some screws to remove the bezel. There are no bolts visible to remove the compass.  The icebox has no openings for access.  Is the Plastimo threaded to be unscrewed?

Does anyone have a contact phone or email for Plastimo service. 

Thank you for past help

Arnold Hollander 

Burnham Harbor Chicago

[Mike Caudill]

Good luck with your repair to the Plastimo compass.  It is a closed system and not intended for maintenance.  I’ve tried many times to add more solution and it has failed every time.  There are 4 screws under a plastic cover with lettering on the collar.  I used a jewelers screw driver to remove the cap.  Once you get to a point where you can’t find where to add the solution it is covered with melted plastic which had to remove to get to the access port.  

I would suggest before you invest many hours trying to fix what seems like a really easy repair job, consider ignoring the bubble or purchase a new compass.  Good luck!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 17, 2023, at 03:26, Arnold Hollander <arnoldbever...@gmail.com> wrote:



--
Largest Beneteau group, over **1500** members and growing.
 
To post to this group, send email to Benetea...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Beneteau-Owne...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Beneteau-Owners
Contact beno...@gmail.com if you have a list management question
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Beneteau Owners" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to beneteau-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/beneteau-owners/CAGWgRMLWsbJEFfTw-5_NUf9%2BTqMTgADLx2LyeZnfB%3D_Ddk%3DxQw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mark J Wilme]

It depends on which Plastimo compass it is.   If it is the 135 (see pic here : https://defender.com/media/catalog/product/cache/3106cf6870ef61da8313fd82d69c8643/catalogimages/plastimo/offshore-135-compass-white-black-23493.jpg )

There should be 4 screws at 2, 5, 7 and 11 o-clock (shown in photo) possibly with white or grey cover caps on them. Underneath these may be self tapping screws in which case they will come straight out. OR they could be machine screws with nuts underneath in which case you will need to access below either via a cover panel or by removing a display unit at the helm or something.

 

I went through similar 10+ years ago - I found that it was costly for the manufacturer to service the unit. I tried to do it myself - I purchased mineral oil and a syringe but with mediocre results (I still had an air bubble). I ended up simply replacing the unit - I would likely have purchased from a) Fisheries, b) Defender or c) Ebay at that time

I just checked and assuming it is the 135 Defender sell it for $431 and Atlantic Rigging have it for $364

--

[Mike Caudill]

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 17, 2023, at 08:15, Mark J Wilme <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/beneteau-owners/CAKE%2BOPUWpEhhUhJkQBXvai6MFZaqYx8sF3WBH4d%2BA5ExqckGUQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[chris evans]

There is oval tabs that pry out with a small screw driver revealing screws .

--

[RichSail99]

I was able to remove and refill my Plastimo for one season and the bubble returned.  To remove - see pics below.  Pry the 4 ea "banana" plastic plugs to expose the screws.  My compass had 22-24 ga light wires that had to bee cut and respliced.  The pics did not attach in order but I'm sure you can adjust that.  Once you expose the compass bottom, the fill screw is hidden under some melted plastic.  To fill, I used Ritchie fluid with the compass tipped.  Insert the screw and rotate the compass right again then back to fill position and add more fluid.  Repeat till full.  Then I placed the compass in the freezer overnight with the screw loose or removed.  Did the final fill and inserted the screw with a small amount of thread sealant under the screw head.  In my case, the plastic ring that accepts the diaphragm ring screws had hairline cracks that couldn't be fixed.  I found a replacement Plastimo on BoaterBits for $150 cheaper than US pricing.  I couldn't find the BoaterBits website but did see WaveInn.

https://www.tradeinn.com/waveinn/en/plastimo-olimpic-135-compass-with-black-flat-card-binnacle/139675815/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=19057901&country=us&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4bipBhCyARIsAFsieCxmDOv8fa26SvQvVPbrNyxD2txWbhfH1BC5rVEqpcw1u_DFI-CxyXsaApjgEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I left the file as a word document so people can expand the pictures

. 

[RichSail99]

Brain fart - the website was https://www.boat-click.com/