Hand bearing for Southern Hemisphere

[rockDAWG]

What is the difference between the regular and this:

Weems & Plath Hand Bearing Compass For Southern Hemisphere 2004S

Weems & Plath Hand Bearing Compass 2004

The Southern Hemisphere one is one third less than the counter part. I will be using it for Chesapeake bay,, Bermuda, coast of Florida.

Checked with the Weens and Plath site, no info could be found.

[btrayfors]

Compasses made for use in the northern hemisphere sometimes have a counterweight on the south end, since as you near the north pole there is a magnetic attraction downwards which, left uncorrected, in some compasses could cause the needle to scrape the housing.

Those made for use in the southern hemisphere have the counterweight on the north end.

This is only a problem with small compasses which have very little clearance for the needle to move up and down. Not usually a problem with marine compasses, which generally can be used in both hemispheres without problems.

I'm an affectionado of hand-bearing compasses, but have for some years used a better solution: a good pair of binoculars with a built-in compass. I use Fujinon's Polaris model, and with these it is very easy to take accurate magnetic bearings.

Bill

[SEMIJim]

I have a Plastimo Iris 50 hand-bearing com pass and quite like it.

Jim

[75R20]

Plastimo Iris 100 lighted hand bearing compass here. Very nice for both day and night, along with Fujinon Mariner XL's
Kary
S/V Mariah
#49080

[rbarkas]

In Australia (at 42 deg south) a Weems and Plath northern hemisphere hand bearing compass will not work. The card rubs on the housing. Weems and Plath were really good about taking care of this, they replaced it with the correct southern hemisphere compass and I received it in days, even before my old one could have arrived back at their warehouse. If my experience was a guide it's best to get a compass set for the correct hemisphere.

[rockDAWG]

Gentlemen, thanks for taking time to answer/comment my question. I guess I will bite the bullet to get the one for my region.

Fair winds,