Compass

A compass is an instrument that helps a ship’s navigator determine direction and measure the boat’s heading (the direction at which the vessel is pointing.) There are different types of compass but the magnetic compass is the most widely used and known.

It contains a free-floating magnetic element that will align in a north-south direction, pointing towards the earth’s magnetic North Pole. The magnetic North Pole is approximately 1,000 miles from the geographic North Pole however a skilled navigator will be able to determine true North by finding the magnetic North and then correcting for deviation and variation.