B 37 Cruiser Fluxgate Compass

[Chit Chat]

I’ve had a quick look on the site but can’t find the answer. Does anyone know where the fluxgate compass is on a B 37 Cruiser ? Thanks

[Symphony]

Probably in the hanging locker in the aft cabin.

[tiger79]

Yes, mine's in the top aft corner of the hanging locker in the starboard aft cabin.

[Chit Chat]

Thanks both
I’ll have a look there
Appreciated

[Salty]

I’ve had a quick look on the site but can’t find the answer. Does anyone know where the fluxgate compass is on a B 37 Cruiser ? Thanks

I think that it’s location will depend very much upon who fitted the autopilot system in the first place. Sometimes they are fitted prior to the boat being delivered to its original owner, and if the boat was delivered locally or somewhere else. If that should be the case then it’s likely that a specific installer would use a standard layout and if so someone might be able to give you guidance. However if the boat was delivered originally to a charter firm, some choose not to have an autopilot system fitted at all. My B36 is an ex-charter boat and I fitted an autopilot system myself using the manufacturers own guidelines, but at the end of the day it’s final location was my best guess as to where suited the manufacturers guidelines best.

With so many variables, the flux gate compass could be fitted more or less anywhere that suits the instruments installation recommendations. Your best option is for you to make a thorough search of your own vessel, and for you to note the location of all items you find or were not aware of during that search.

My hint would be to locate the course computer, then look at the wires that connect into the computer and from that determine which wire comes from the flux gate compass. Then follow that particular wire back to its source and enter its location into your autopilot handbook.

Good luck with that !!

[Konan the Bavarian]

Have a look in the space between the cockpit sole & the cover below the helm, from the aft cabin

[Lyra]

Same as Konan - on the aft bulkhead (on the side facing the space where the rudder mechanism is)

[tiger79]

Same as Konan - on the aft bulkhead (on the side facing the space where the rudder mechanism is)

Do you have a Cruiser 37 now?

[Lyra]

Do you have a Cruiser 37 now?

No, but I assume that for similar sizes of the cruiser line the structure is roughly the same (assuming roughly same years - poster did not mention the year).

[tiger79]

Do you have a Cruiser 37 now?

No, but I assume that for similar sizes of the cruiser line the structure is roughly the same (assuming roughly same years - poster did not mention the year).

It's a 2013 boat, the same model as mine.

[Symphony]

Same as Konan - on the aft bulkhead (on the side facing the space where the rudder mechanism is)

That was a common location on older boats. My 2001 37 had it placed there, but when I installed a new autopilot, I placed the new fluxgate in the aft cabin locker. This is more consistent with the instructions from Raymarine that it is best placed towards the centre of the boat, but away from large lumps of metal. Given that the engine is in the middle of the boat, the ideal is not really achievable and the aft cabin locker is a good compromise. Also makes wiring easier as the best place for the control box is on the inner bulkhead in the aft cabin near the access hatch to the binnacle.

However as tiger79 says the factory fit on the Farr designed boats like his 37 and my 33 is in the aft cabin locker.

[Mirror45184]

HI ChitChat,
Locate the Course Computer first, then follow the wires from there! Happy hunting1
Cheers

[diverphil]

ours is in the locker in the port aft cabin, fitted to the rear side of the locker and a warning sticker on the outside of locker. on a 33 cruiser 2006

[Craig]

In the 2010 B 38 the fluxgate compass was located in the Forward cabin in the locker near the hanging locker on the starboard side.

We nearly crashed the boat as my wife stores her bras in this locker. She moved her Bra ( Had wire support) and turned the boat nearly 70 degrees as a result.

Fluxgate compass was installed at the factory and is a black box about 1/2 size of your fist.

Craig
"Shirley Valentine"
Gold Coast
Australia

[Chit Chat]

Thanks again, all
It was hiding in the hanging locker

[Mirror45184]

If it is in the hanging locker make sure to only use plastic coat hangers! Metal ones will affect the compass! I do recall an amusing story where there was an error with the fluxgate compass due to an underwire bra!