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A tour through the basics of magnetic, fluxgate, gyro, and GPS compasses, looking at how each works and its pros and cons. Includes a compass periodic inspection checklist.
[Cruising World, 3 September 2003]
Brief but pithy periodic checklist to keep your steering compasses accurate and, long-lived.
[Cruising World, September 2003]
Magnetic flux gate compasses can provide electronic heading information to other instruments, such as radar, autopilots, and plotters. Short primer on how they work.
[BoatUS]Note: For additional How-To resources regarding compasses, see the separate topic Navigation Skills.
Dials in magnetic compasses should be balanced to compensate for dip caused by the earth′s magnetic field, which differs significantly as you go south. Short explanation shows map of the zones.
[Ritchie Navigation, Pembroke, MA, USA]
Two step-by-step methods (with or without GPS) of adjusting the built-in magnets in your compass to reduce compass deviation.
[Ritchie Navigation, Pembroke, MA, USA]
The chapter on adjusting magnetic compasses from the 1995 edition of The American Practical Navigator, originally published in 1802 and updated by NIMA. 32 pages on deviation, heeling adjustments, degaussing compensation, and other methods of reducing compass error.
[I'd Rather Be Sailing, Dania, FL, USA]
Free PC software (MSDOS) to compile a compass deviation and variation table. Done while you sail the vessel in a uniform circle at constant speed.
[Yandina Ltd., Beaufort, SC, USA]
A short but comprensive list of things you can do to make sure the compasses on board your boat stay pointing north.
[Cruising World, 3 September 2003]
A wide and deep list of inspections and tests you can do to be sure your (or your perspective) boat has no electrical or related problems affecting the compass. An excellent reference when adding or refitting electrical components. The pages are shareware; the author requests a small donation from users.
[Robb Zuk, Salt Spring Island, Canada]
Binoculars and Hand-bearing Compasses
Electronic compasses [on steel boats] can have sensors placed inside the mast or on a radar post and thus removed from steel′s magnetic clutches.
Geoff Payne
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