Opaque binnacle compass lens

[bfloyd825]

Is there any way to polish a binnacle compass lens. My compass is getting hard to read. It is kind of opaque looking. The previous owner must not have kept it covered. I hate to spend the money to replace the compass. It seems like it could be polished but, I hate to completely ruin it trying to clear the lens. I was thinking about getting one of the headlight lens kits and trying that.

[southshoreS24]

going to assume that it is plastic then and is either yellowing or scratched or both. you could try the headlight restorer kits for cars. They are basically a wax/compound and some very fine sandpaper at varying grits. be cautious because once you start doing this you may have to do it more often.

[davidpm]

We sent ours back to the factory. They didn't charge much and it came back looking new.

[T37SOLARE]

I had my 26 year old Ritchie Globmaster rebuilt to new condition for $180 by a local service center. A hell of a lot better than replacing it for $1200...

[newpbs]

I also was able to find someone to rebuild my ritchie compass. Looks just like new too. Mine was crazed and lost oil.

Paul

[redline]

Many moons ago part of a summer job was refurbishing industrial instruments, and we used Brasso to polish plastic dial gauges. Tedious, but it works. And if not, you still have a use for the leftover Brasso.

I have a pair of Plastimo Olympic 135 binnacle compasses, which periodically need refilling. This year I have a bubble on starboard, so far port is still good. If they would both do it at the same time I think I'd just replace them, but having one 12 years younger than the other may look odd, yet replacing one in good (bubble-free) condition seems pointless. And there's all that time I spent on my LED conversion for them. But... they don't need polishing.

[dohenyboy]

try toothpaste. worked for me. cheap and if it won't hurt your teeth if cannot hurt the plastic. if it does not work on the boat you can always brush your teeth with it.

[Rxman47]

My Ritchie lens was opaque as well, sent to Ritchie they refurbed it for $96,
can,t tell it from new. Google Ritchie for customer service #.
John

[bfloyd825]

Good ideas. I just did not want to potentially ruin it. I have heard about toothpaste on port lights. I think I may try that and if that does not work I will sent it out to be refurbed.

Thanks guys.

[FishSticks]

You will likely get a much better result by replacing the dome. I just had an old Constellation refurbished by WT Brownley in Norfolk Their workmanship is supberb and the price was very reasonable. My old eyes are lovin' that new dome. Looks brand new.