Your compass will continue to give accurate readings under all these circumstances . Ritchie compasses are built to give many years of accurate heading information. You can, however, extend the life even further by properly caring for your compass. The main cause of compass damage is from the sun. Ultraviolet rays may cause fading and discoloration.
Excessive heat can cause crazing and seal damage.
Heat becomes quite intense when the sun is beating down on your compass while your boat is at rest, even on a cool day. The best way to protect your compass from the sun is to cover it when your are not using your boat. Ritchie sells a number of custom fit compass covers that should be available at your local marine retailer. Covers do not need to be custom fit to work, and as long as you keep the sun off with a light colored cover you can expect your compass to look and work well for many years. If you need to store your boat during cold weather it is recommend that you remove your compass and store it inside.