...Does that little bubble affect the performance of the compass?...
It affects performance on more than one level. If it is large enough it can affect damping. And any bubble, at all, dancing around the compass as the boat moves, distracts the helmsman. It can be repaired by a professional at some unknown cost.
The extensive bruising on the clear dome might be polished out, too (this can be seen in my photo). But none of this should be necessary when buying a new compass.
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
