Boat Compasses

Boat Compasses Resources and Information

Compasses are an important instrument in your boat’s navigation system. Boat compasses allow boat operators to determine the direction in which their prow is pointed. You can use this information to consult a map and navigate your vessel in a desired direction. PartsVu offers boat compasses from trust manufacturers, like Ritchie Navigation, Furuno, SI-TEX, Clipper, Raymarine, Davis Instruments, Simrad, Digital Yacht and others.

Looking for more marine products? Check out our selection of Boat Accessories, Parts, and Products, or Boating Electronics and Navigation. 

Boat Compasses FAQs

Why should I use a compass for marine navigation?

Carrying a compass may seem a little antiquated with all of the modern GPS technologies available to boaters. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Although we may not use our compasses nearly as much as we used to, electronic devices are vulnerable to failure. Traditional compasses provide an important navigational backup that every boater needs.

Stay on course with these compass selections from PartsVu.

• Ritchie B-51 Explorer Compass – Bracket Mount – Black or White

• Ritchie S-53 Explorer Compass – Surface Mount – Black or White

• Ritchie Dash Mount Compass

• Davis Instrument Hand Bearing Compass – Illuminated

What makes Ritchie Navigation compasses so unique? 

GPS devices are exceptional at collecting data and extrapolating from that information. The position you’re at. Your current travel speed. The direction you came from, etc. However, GPS data has no bearing on your real-time heading — which is also affected by factors such as wind, current and the unique characteristics of your boat.

Whether you’re dead in the water, moving on a plane or moving slowly against a tide, a Ritchie compass provides the reliable real-time headings needed for straight-line steering in all situations. This is especially crucial in no-power, dead reckoning scenarios with no land in sight. When all you have to work with is a paper chart, a pencil and a Ritchie.

When augmented by the certainty of a Ritchie magnetic compass, GPS becomes the dead-on technology it is meant to be. The resulting synergy continually optimizes overall vessel performance, ensures straight-line steering, and maximizes fuel efficiency.

How do I operate my Ritchie Navigation SportAbout compass?

Place the lanyard around your neck or wrist to help prevent loss or damage. Hold the Compass unit in a comfortable position at eye level approximately one foot in front of your eye so that you can easily view both the QuikSight V-Notch and the Lubber Line. Simply line up the V-Notch with the object to which you have selected to make a bearing; allow the compass dial to settle. The Bearing from you to the object may be read directly from the Lubber Line.

A Line of Position should now be drawn on your chart or map using the bearing you have just taken drawing the line through the object you used for the bearing. A second bearing should be taken, again to a known object or reference point on your chart or map. This bearing should be taken several times and the bearings averaged for accuracy. The point at which the two lines cross is your position or fix. A more accurate fix may be determined by using three lines

of position. When possible, the bearings should be taken at 45° or more apart from each other. When taking a fix using three lines of position they will generally form a small triangle. Your position to any other place may be measured using the scale on the chart or map.

To facilitate reading the dial in the dark simply bend one of the Chem Sticks, shake and insert in the hole in the silicon bezel. Each Chem Stick will provide approximately six hours of illumination. It may be necessary to tip the compass slightly to light the top of the dial. By pulling the Chem Stick part way out of the compass it may be used as a Map or Work Light.

Keep Chem Stick in original foil wrap ready to use. Do not puncture or cut plastic container. Ingredients are non-toxic and non-flammable, but may permanently stain clothing or furniture. Contact with skin or eyes may cause temporary discomfort. In case of skin or eye contact, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not drink or ingest contents. After activation, do not bend Chem Stick. After use, dispose of in refuse container. Not for use by children under 5 years of age without adult supervision.

What makes the Furuno PG700 Heading Sensor NMEA 2000 so unique?

The PG-700 is a rate compensated heading sensor that incorporates innovative electromagnetic compass technology for highly accurate and stable readouts of your ship's heading. These sophisticated components are contained within a rugged, compact case. Unique design elements make the PG-700 virtually maintenance-free and easy to install. The PG-700 heading sensor detects terrestrial magnetism and produces compass data that can be utilized in CAN bus network.

What makes the Davis hand bearing compass unique? 

Davis Hand Bearing Compasses are excellent for yachtsmen, racers, and fishermen as an aid to position finding and steering. The instruments let you easily obtain quick magnetic bearings on shore or floating objects. Simply align front and rear sights on an object and read off bearing. Use to take a quick bearing or position set, determine angular gain or loss on the competition while racing, check distance offshore, establish lee-bow set while cruising or racing in currents, determine drift vector, and plot a line of position. All Hand Bearing Compasses feature stable, liquid-damped compass card graduated in 5° segments. Bold graduations every 15° for easy reading. Lightweight design for easier bearing. High impact plastic housing. Lanyard included.

The Illuminated model has solid-state LED ( Light Emitting Diode) illumination system which floods the compass capsule and sight vane with soft light. The LED will last for the lifetime of the compass. Batteries, which are included, will last up to 10 times longer than with regular bulbs. Average LED “half-life” is approximately 10 years if operated continuously. The compass has a positive “push-on” switching action, with vinyl boot water protection. Battery housing has high watertight integrity. Compasses are designed for Northern Hemisphere only.

How do I operate my Davis hand bearing compass?

Hold the compass in a relaxed position at arms length, with the yellow cursor line facing you. With the compass slightly tipped so both pointers are visible, rotate your arm and upper body until both pointers are in-line with the object being sighted (figure 1). Read the magnetic bearing as it appears at the yellow cursor line.

A line of position (LOP) is simple to obtain (figure 2). Find an object that is easy to identify on a chart and take a sighting to determine its magnetic bearing. Draw a line from the object using its magnetic bearing and you know that you are somewhere along that line of position. Take a sighting of another object and plot its line of position. Your position is where the two lines cross (figure 3). Tip: Three sightings plotted on the chart (three LOP's) is even more accurate and these sightings form a triangle when plotted; you are somewhere inside that triangle.

This is easiest and most accurate when your compass course is roughly parallel to the shoreline. You must also know your speed over ground. Note the exact time that you are abeam of (perpendicular to) or 45° off a prominent object on shore like a lighthouse, smoke stack or radio tower. Take the exact time again when you are perpendicular to or 45° off the object. Plot these sightings on the chart and, with your distance run as one leg, you have a right triangle (figure 4). Your speed multiplied by the time equals both your distance offshore (A) and the distance run (B). Tip: Another method to determine distance offshore is to take two sightings off the same object exactly 60 minutes apart and plot the two lines of position. Open a pair of dividers to match your distance traveled in 60 minutes. Draw your actual travel line of position (A) parallel to the compass course you are steering at the point where the angle is the same width as your distance traveled (figure 5).