In addition I recommend to have a hand bearing compass. fluxgate compass - no moving parts uses coils of wire and uses electricity to amplify the directional signal.GPS compass - these use multiple satellites that pinpoint location they determine True North.
#How to use a compass how to#
How to make sure you always get home safely Align yourself with the buoys and check whether your compass matches. Most marine charts show the exact course for entering harbors and marinas. The easiest way to check for misalignment is by paying attention when you enter or leave your marina. I'll get into the reasons for misalignment below. If the compass isn't properly calibrated it can cause trouble. If you want to know what I use, read my article here. You don't have to go overboard when buying a good, reliable compass.
They last you a lifetime and will serve you well. There fairly inexpensive, so in my opinion it's better to skip the new sonar-fishfinder-thing and get a reliable compass. There will come a day you really wish you had one. If your boat doesn't have a compass, get one asap. I feel much more secure navigating any waters using a compass than all the chartplotters in the world. Chartplotters are great, but they won't beat a compass in the reliability game. I would much prefer a compass over any electrical system. If you carry a compass and a paper chart, you're practically unbeatable. And sadly, it's as underutilized as it is useful. The only place it's useless is near the magnetic poles, but who goes there for their sailing trip ( - dare)? It doesn't require any power, it doesn't rely on electronics or satellite. It's the most important and reliable navigational instrument around. Why it's important to have oneĪ well-compensated compass gets you home, period. Calculating and planning your course to steer (CTS) is a different subject and outside the scope of this article. Generally, you can simply use the above method, but it can prove inaccurate with longer journeys due to drift and tidal currents. You keep course by making sure your lubber line stays put. You set course by steering the boat to the direction where the lubber line on the compass matches the degree you chose exactly. Marine navigation chart with pair of dividers
#How to use a compass full#
To learn how to plot a course on a chart step-by-step, read our full illustrated guide here. You can determine the course by drawing a line between these two points and reading the angle (degrees). You start by determining your starting position (the easiest is taking your marina - typically it will be on the map). The compass card is the rotating card that says North, South, and so on. The lubber line is used to mark your direction on the compass card.
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