Catalina 350 International Association

Hi,

I have bought a 350 fairly recently. A previous owner had removed the compass that I presume sits on top of the pedestal. In its place went an axiom 12. I want to get a compass reinstalled. Does anyone have pictures of the original compass and how it sits in relationship to any other instruments and plotters and tubing that people may have. I am looking for some inspiration as I want to reposition the plotter as it sits inside an navpod and kind of gets in the way of my view looking forwards, this could be worse especially if I have to mount it even higher to get the compass in under.

The current hand rail is also not well supported and moves when you hold onto it. It is not long enough to go onto these sections that I have circled in blue in the image. How was the rail done originally? Any specific dimensions and sizes would also be great eg. tubing, compass diameter etc

Thanks

Fraser

Fraser, you are correct. The compass sits on top of the pedestal between the 2 bars of the pedestal guard as pictured below.



The pedestal guard is fastened to the pedestal via a pair of feet. Each has a pair of threaded studs that go through the top of the pedestal and are secured with washers and nuts. The tubing for the guard sits inside the feet and is secured with set screws.

In your pic in the blue circle it shows the molded base into which the rail should ideally sit in. I say "ideally" as I know that last time I looked mine does not but instead the rail stops about an inch above it. The reason for this is (on my boat) I guessed as being that the wiring bundle on the left side was just too much to pass through the slot cut out in the base of the rail if/when actually sat fully down in the intended position, I didn't want to risk problems by trying to push/pull the wiring bundles into place or passing some of the wires going up through the left rail to the rhs rail. I suspect that many owners have the same as I do (Hull #69). As Ken mentioned the rail is held by two feet on the top of the pedestal and that is also what my boat relies upon that single pair of feet at the top of the pedestal and it works ok, very stiff when used as a handhold in bumpy sea, never moves.

Looking at your pics if i was in your position I would consider looking at the exact location of the navpod on the rail and take the measurements of the navpod for the 7" axiom, then work out if a straight swap to a 7" axiom and navpod would give you the desired visibilty. I did similar to this as I had a navpod holding one ST60 instrument and swapped to a navpod plus Axiom 7". If I had been starting from scratch I would have maybe placed it an inch lower for the optimum height for the admiral but the exchange was very straightforward using the existing drilled points.


If you look at this thread
https://catalina350.com/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 9362#p9362

You can see a pic I posted of my boat after the navpod with one instrument and 7" axiom you can also see the compass and the feet holding the rail (and also a snap on drinks holder on the rail).

Thanks for the suggestion.