Plastimo Iris 50 Hand Bearing Yellow (P63871).
An iconic product in the Plastimo range, the Iris 50 is the highly dependable companion of yachtsmen, regatta addicts and top-notch racers worldwide. Handbearing and traditional compass : regularly praised by technical press and prestigious skippers alike, as the most reliable, sturdy and handy handbearing compass.
> FEATURES
• Balanced for Zone A-B (North Hemisphere, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Central Pacific, Tahiti and Reunion Island) .
• Good protection against hard knocks : the smooth finish feels soft in your hand, and it will not slip, even if it is wet.
• No parallax error : a prism projects the reading of the bearing to infinity. This also contributes to a more comfortable operation, as you do not need to alternate close-reading to read the card and infinite-reading to take bearings.
• Optimum conditions to take bearings, thanks to the superb card stability and the wide 20° field of view, which will accommodate the roughest sea conditions.
• Most accurate bearing : the pivot and very hard stone are a guarantee of long life and shock resistance of your compass.
• Soft bottom cell : engineered using ultra-sonic welding, it acts like an expansion diaphragm, preventing the formation of bubbles and leaks.
• Course reading from above the compass : you can read your compass like a standard compass, with no need to look through the prism.
• Outstanding legibilityof the card, with one-degree graduations.
• Built-inphotoluminescent lighting,completely maintenance-free, impervious to corrosion, operates without batteries or radio-active tritium.
• Two functions : handbearing and traditional compass.
• Graduation : every 1°.
• Field of view : 20°.
• Clearance : 12°.
• Red lubber lines.
• Weight : 105 g.
• Good protection against hard knocks : the smooth finish feels soft in your hand, and it will not slip, even if it is wet.
• No parallax error : a prism projects the reading of the bearing to infinity. This also contributes to a more comfortable operation, as you do not need to alternate close-reading to read the card and infinite-reading to take bearings.
• Optimum conditions to take bearings, thanks to the superb card stability and the wide 20° field of view, which will accommodate the roughest sea conditions.
• Most accurate bearing : the pivot and very hard stone are a guarantee of long life and shock resistance of your compass.
• Soft bottom cell : engineered using ultra-sonic welding, it acts like an expansion diaphragm, preventing the formation of bubbles and leaks.
• Course reading from above the compass : you can read your compass like a standard compass, with no need to look through the prism.
• Outstanding legibilityof the card, with one-degree graduations.
• Built-inphotoluminescent lighting,completely maintenance-free, impervious to corrosion, operates without batteries or radio-active tritium.
• Two functions : handbearing and traditional compass.
• Graduation : every 1°.
• Field of view : 20°.
• Clearance : 12°.
• Red lubber lines.
• Weight : 105 g.
> FAQS
• I plan to sail in a geographical area which is different than the zone my compass is designed for. Can I use my current compass?
All Plastimo compasses are balanced manually : with a standard procedure for Zone A* models, and using a specific magnetic field simulator for all other area compasses. Balancing the compass consists in adjusting the card so that it is perfectly horizontal. If you sail to far away from the area for which your compass was originally balanced, the card will dip and the precision can be affected by a few degrees. For a long passage in a different zone, the acquisition of a compass specifically balanced for that area is a wise investment.
• My compass has a bubble. What should I do?
The cell of the Plastimo compasses is designed to be completely fluid filled. If you see a permanent bubble, in a temperature range from –20° to +60°C, it means that your compass is leaking (as the fluid tends to evaporate, you may not have noticed the leak). Contact our after-sales department for advice.
• Minimal care to ensure years of reliable service…
Rinsing your compass with fresh water and soap is the only minimal requirement. Solvants, abrasive or corrosive cleaners must absolutely be banned. Sunlight and cold temperatures accelerate the ageing process of materials. Do not hesitate to protect your compass in all seasons (either by taking it down for wintering, or by protecting it with a hood or even a simple cloth which inhibits UV-rays).
• My compass does not indicate the right course. Why?
If you notice a course discrepancy of exactly 180°, the answer is probably that you are not reading your compass properly. With a flat card, the lubber line marks your heading at the back of the compass. With a conical or cylindrical card, course reading is done on the front of the compass.
On the Contest 101 model, the rear lubber line allows reading from inside the cabin.
For any other course discrepancy, the compass deviation should be minimised :
Make sure that your compass is mounted at least 70 cm from objects generating local magnetic fields (compass, fire extinguisher, loudspeaker, electric wires and equipment, metallic parts of steering system, camera, tools, analogic instruments…) and at least 1 metre away from the main engine and the windscreen wipers motor.
Deviation correction :
If deviation is no more than 7° : simply draw a deviation table assessing the error, and keep it for future reference.
If deviation is between 7 and 20° : we recommend that you have your compass compensated as a start, and then draw a deviation table. The compensation procedure is a delicate operation and should ideally be carried out by a professional compass adjuster.
All Plastimo compasses are balanced manually : with a standard procedure for Zone A* models, and using a specific magnetic field simulator for all other area compasses. Balancing the compass consists in adjusting the card so that it is perfectly horizontal. If you sail to far away from the area for which your compass was originally balanced, the card will dip and the precision can be affected by a few degrees. For a long passage in a different zone, the acquisition of a compass specifically balanced for that area is a wise investment.
• My compass has a bubble. What should I do?
The cell of the Plastimo compasses is designed to be completely fluid filled. If you see a permanent bubble, in a temperature range from –20° to +60°C, it means that your compass is leaking (as the fluid tends to evaporate, you may not have noticed the leak). Contact our after-sales department for advice.
• Minimal care to ensure years of reliable service…
Rinsing your compass with fresh water and soap is the only minimal requirement. Solvants, abrasive or corrosive cleaners must absolutely be banned. Sunlight and cold temperatures accelerate the ageing process of materials. Do not hesitate to protect your compass in all seasons (either by taking it down for wintering, or by protecting it with a hood or even a simple cloth which inhibits UV-rays).
• My compass does not indicate the right course. Why?
If you notice a course discrepancy of exactly 180°, the answer is probably that you are not reading your compass properly. With a flat card, the lubber line marks your heading at the back of the compass. With a conical or cylindrical card, course reading is done on the front of the compass.
On the Contest 101 model, the rear lubber line allows reading from inside the cabin.
For any other course discrepancy, the compass deviation should be minimised :
Make sure that your compass is mounted at least 70 cm from objects generating local magnetic fields (compass, fire extinguisher, loudspeaker, electric wires and equipment, metallic parts of steering system, camera, tools, analogic instruments…) and at least 1 metre away from the main engine and the windscreen wipers motor.
Deviation correction :
If deviation is no more than 7° : simply draw a deviation table assessing the error, and keep it for future reference.
If deviation is between 7 and 20° : we recommend that you have your compass compensated as a start, and then draw a deviation table. The compensation procedure is a delicate operation and should ideally be carried out by a professional compass adjuster.