Silva 85 Flush Mount Marine Compass – 85mm Magnetic Boat Compass

Navigate with confidence using the Silva 85 Flush Mount Marine Compass, a compact and reliable magnetic steering compass designed for sailing yachts, powerboats, trailer boats and smaller recreational vessels.

Featuring an 85mm compass card, a 360° rotating memory ring and three lubber lines, the Silva 85 provides clear heading information in a practical flat-bottom design.

Its well-dampened compass card is designed for stable, readable performance when travelling at speed or navigating in rough conditions.

Unlike electronic navigation instruments, the Silva 85 requires no electrical power, batteries or satellite reception to indicate magnetic direction.

The compact flush-mount construction also allows installation on a suitable flat surface without cutting a large opening in the boat.

Whether you're replacing an older marine compass, fitting out a new boat or adding an independent heading reference to your navigation equipment, the Silva 85 is a practical choice.

Available online from Barton Marine NZ, supplying marine compasses, boating equipment and navigation accessories throughout New Zealand.

Key Features

• Genuine Silva 85 Marine Steering Compass

• 85mm apparent compass card diameter

• Compact flat-bottom flush-mount design

• 360° rotating memory ring for marking a desired course

• Three lubber lines for reading from different positions

• Clear compass card with 5° graduations

• Well-dampened card for stable readings

• Suitable for compatible sailboats and powerboats

• Designed for smaller boats and higher-speed navigation

• Manufacturer-stated accuracy of ±1°

• No batteries or electrical power required

• Non-illuminated compass

• Durable acrylic and ABS construction

• Scratch-resistant clear acrylic compass bowl

• Sapphire jewel bearing and hardened steel pivot

• Approximately 120mm overall diameter

• Approximately 67mm overall height

• Compact 26mm base height

• Weight approximately 300g

• Supplied with compass unit and mounting kit

• Designed for suitable marine steering and navigation applications

Technical Specifications

Important: The supplied compass is appropriate for New Zealand and Southern Hemisphere navigation.

Reliable Magnetic Navigation for Boats

A magnetic compass remains a useful navigation instrument aboard recreational vessels.

The Silva 85 provides a heading reference that operates independently of GPS satellites, batteries and electronic navigation displays.

This makes it valuable for:

• Steering a selected magnetic heading

• Maintaining a consistent course

• Cross-checking electronic navigation information

• General coastal cruising

• Recreational sailing

• Powerboat navigation

A magnetic compass is not a substitute for charts, safe navigation practices or other appropriate equipment, but it provides an important independent source of directional information.

85mm Compass Card for Clear Readability

The Silva 85 features an apparent compass card diameter of 85mm.

Its flat card includes clear directional markings with graduations every 5 degrees.

This allows the helmsman to identify and maintain a selected magnetic heading.

The compass is designed for easy reading from suitable steering positions, making it practical for boats with limited instrument space.

360° Rotating Memory Ring

The Silva 85 features a 360° rotating memory ring around the compass.

The ring allows the helmsman to mark a desired course as a visual reference.

Once the ring is positioned, it can help the operator maintain the selected heading without repeatedly checking the numerical scale.

This is useful during:

• Coastal cruising

• Recreational sailing

• Powerboat passages

• General course keeping

• Steering between navigation points

The memory ring is a steering aid. It does not automatically correct for magnetic variation, compass deviation, wind or current.

Three Lubber Lines for Different Viewing Positions

The Silva 85 features three lubber lines.

These include a central lubber line and two angled side-view lines.

The arrangement allows the compass to be read from different positions around the helm.

This is particularly useful on smaller sailing boats where the helmsman may move from one side of the cockpit to the other.

It can also be helpful when the compass is mounted in a position that is not directly in front of the steering seat.

Silva 85 vs Silva 85E Marine Compass

Silva offers both the standard Silva 85 and the Silva 85E Illuminated Compass.

Silva 85 – Standard Compass

• 85mm compass card

• No built-in illumination

• No electrical wiring required

• Rotating memory ring

• Three lubber lines

• Compact flush-mount design

• Suitable for daytime use or use with suitable external lighting

Silva 85E – Illuminated Compass

• 85mm compass card

• Built-in 12V red illumination

• Rotating memory ring

• Three lubber lines

• Compact flush-mount design

• Suitable for low-light and night-time reading

• Requires 12V power for illumination

The main difference: The Silva 85 is non-illuminated, while the Silva 85E includes built-in 12V red lighting.

Both provide magnetic heading information independently of electrical power.