Originally Posted by
boguing
They still are weighted pasta, and I don't know if you noticed but it leads to a problem which is known about in flying and more or less ignored in sailing. That added weight gets left behind if you move sideways. In boats it makes steering South harder, but in a side-slipping aircraft it's possible to fly in a complete circle with the compass apparently motionless.
My Pa's idea was to remove the weight but to stop the needle from dipping.
I never really thought that through, but it's blindingly obvious now you point it out.
How does your Pa's compass stop the needle dipping without inhibiting its rotation?
KenV - you're right of course - precision is the correct word, and I'm kicking myself for getting pulled up on that one. Particularly with regard to compasses with their many sources of inaccuracy...