how to determine a compass course

by Dr. Elliot Lakin 7 min read

• When the compass deviation is east of the Magnetic North (east deviation D), the Compass Course CC of the boat can be calculated from the Magnetic Course MC by applying the formula: CC = MC – Deviation East i.e. Compass Course = Magnetic Course minusthe Deviation East of the compass.

Full Answer

How to calculate the compass course by the true course?

North (east deviation D), the Compass Course CC of the boat can be calculated from the Magnetic Course MC by applying the formula: CC = MC – Deviation East i.e. Compass Course = Magnetic Course minus the Deviation East of the compass. In other words,

How do you find the magnetic course of a compass?

Feb 16, 2022 · how to calculate true course from compass course. By February 16, 2022 high country realty brian head No Comments. drum brake replacement near hamburg 0 international pilot salary per hour near hamburg skydiving containers for …

What are the characteristics of a compass?

Measure the compass reading of this new line - this is your new Course to Steer. If your data and assumptions are good (boat speed, current set and drift) then you will end up at Point B when you sail this course. Your Course Over Ground may look like an S-shaped curve, but you will have sailed the most optimal course.

How do you calculate the direction of a compass?

Jun 16, 2008 · 1) True Course (TC): This is the course measured from your navigation plotter when you plot your flight on your map. Remember that because of the projection of the map, it is best to read this course in the middle of the leg. 2) True Heading (TH): Now that you have a true course, we need to correct for winds which will give us a true heading.

How do I find a compass course?

The error is the compass deviation, which vary from a few degrees east to a few degrees west of Magnetic North as the boat turns around. i.e. Compass Course = Magnetic Course minus the Deviation East of the compass.

How do you calculate compass course to steer?

Staring at Point A, draw a line bearing 255 True with a length of 2.5nm. This is the current. Next, draw a line from the end of the current line to Point B. Measure the compass reading of this new line - this is your new Course to Steer.

How do I know what course to steer?

The course to steer formula: How to plot a course to steer on a nautical chartDraw your ground track from start point (A) through and beyond your end point (B).Measure the distance of your ground track from A to B using your dividers, measure this against the scale on your chart to determine the distance.More items...

How is magnetic course determined?

2:544:43How to Calculate Magnetic Course - For Student Pilots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's going to be true course plus a negative magnetic variation in other words it's going to beMoreThat's going to be true course plus a negative magnetic variation in other words it's going to be true course minus eleven point seven five minus 12 minus 12 point two five.

Do you add or subtract leeway?

Now the fix is simple: in order to get the true heading correct, we must subtract the value of the leeway with his sign. Let's take an example. If we sail with a true heading of 50 degrees and a leeway of 10 degrees on the starboard, then tack to the left, we have to apply the formula Pv= Rv – ( +/- leeway).

How do you convert true course to magnetic?

When converting true to magnetic heading, you'd do the opposite and subtract an Easterly, or add a Westerly, magnetic variation. This is where the saying East is least, West is best stems from. The PHAK gives an example of variation: Flying in the Washington, D.C., area, for example, the variation is 10° west.

How do you chart a nautical course?

How to plot a course on a chart:Draw a line from point A to B - using parallel rules, from starting mark to next mark.Check the line for safety - if not, move end mark until you get a safe leg.Measure and mark the heading - transfer the leg to compass.Measure and mark the distance - measure the legs.More items...

How do you find the true course and distance made good with tidal stream or current?

The ground track or course made good is normally shown with two arrows pointing in the direction of travel. And the tidal vector is drawn with three arrows pointing in the direction in which the tide is setting. Clearly all bearings and distances must use the same units of measurements.

How do you calculate set and drift?

Set and drift are two terms used to describe the effect currents have on your boat....Find the distance to your destination in nautical miles.Divide this distance by your average speed in knots. ... Multiply this time by the average speed (drift) of the current. ... From your destination, plot the set of the current.More items...•Dec 13, 2016

What is the difference between true course and magnetic course?

Magnetic Course: True course corrected for magnetic variation. Magnetic Heading: True heading corrected for magnetic variation. You can determine the magnetic variation from a sectional map. True Course: The aircraft's course over the ground relative to true north.Jan 9, 2020

Where can I find true course?

A ship's true course is determined by the direction from the ship to the geographic north pole (also called true north). Navigation charts andthe compass are labeled with true north, but setting a ship's course is not merely a matter of steering in relation to the north pole.

What is compass course?

Definition of compass course : the course with respect to true north in which a ship or an aircraft is intended to travel.

How long does it take to sail from A to B?

Draw a line from A to be, and measure and note it’s length (8 miles) and direction. If your boat speed is eight knots, it will take you an hour to sail from A to B normally. This means you will be exposed to one hour of current - so the current will sweep you 2.5nm in that time.

What is CTE in autopilot?

Many autopilots have a Cross Track Error (or "CTE") mode of navigation. In normal course mode, most autopilots point at the next programmed mark, which works well enough without big currents.

What happens if your autopilot isn't integrated with your GPS?

If your autopilot isn't integrated with your GPS, you will adjust it step by step to the course to steer as your GPS changes waypoints. You're all set if you put in the CTS calculation in the course, just follow the numbers.

When were marine compasses invented?

Marine compass. In China compasses have been in use since the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) when they were referred to as “south-pointers”. However, at first these magnets were only employed for geomancy much like Feng Shui. Eventually, during the Sung dynasty (1000 CE) many trading ships were then able to sail as far as Saudi ...

What is magnetic course?

The magnetic course (mc) is the course after magnetic variation has been considered, but without compensation for magnetic deviation. This means that we are dealing with the rewritten equation from above:#N#tc − var = cc + dev = mc .

What is the secular variation of the magnetic field?

This means that at the surface of the earth, both the strength and direction of the magnetic field will vary over the years. This gradual change is called the secular variation of the magnetic field. Therefore, the encountered magnetic variation not only changes with location, but also varies over time. .

Where does the Earth's magnetic field come from?

It is believed that the Earth's magnetic field is produced by electrical currents that originate in the hot, liquid, outer core of the rotating Earth. The flow of electric currents in this core is continually changing, so the magnetic field produced by those currents also changes.

Who believed that the magnetic north pole coincided with the geographic north pole?

In the fin-de-siècle of the 16th century mariners believed that the magnetic north pole coincided with the geographic north pole. Any suggestion otherwise had been denied by Pedro de Medina. Magnetic observations made by explorers in subsequent decades showed however that these suggestions were true.

What is magnetic deviation?

Magnetic deviation is the second commonly correctable error – this time within the ship – which is caused by magnetic forces brought on by pieces of metal, such as an engine or an anchor. Moreover, cockpit plotters and other electric equipment or wiring – if too close to the compass – can also introduce a compass error.

Compass Course to Magnetic Course

Read the compass and determine the current compass course or heading. For example, an aircraft or ship traveling due south according to the compass would have a compass course of 180 degrees.

Magnetic Course to True Course

Locate the magnetic deviation of the ship or plane. In airplanes, this information is located on a placard below the magnetic compass that will give the deviation for various headings in 15 degree increments.

Tip

Remember, always add when dealing with variation or deviation to the west and subtract if it is to the east. As the old saying goes, "East is least ( - ), West is best ( + )."

Magnetic Compass Deviation vs Variation – Video Transcript

Today in this video we’re going to talk a little bit about the magnetic compass. Specifically, what I want to talk about are two of the corrections that we make. One is called deviation and the other is called variation.

Deviation

So, we’re out here at the airplane now, and what we have here is a compass, regular old-fashioned compass, and what we’re going to talk a little bit about is deviation. Really what deviation is, is simply a magnetic interference that causes the compass to show incorrectly.

Variation

Okay so now we’re back in the classroom again. Now we’re going to talk a little bit more about variation. Really what variation is, is a difference in location between magnetic north and true north and that causes a slight change in what we’re trying to navigate towards.

How is course similar to bearing?

Course. Course is very similar to bearing in that it’s the desired direction for your route of flight. If you are going directly from one airport to the other, your course and bearing will be the same along the route of flight. If you are flying from an airport to a VOR to another airport, your course will change in each leg, as will your bearing.

What is the difference between a track and a heading?

Heading is the direction the airplane is pointed, whereas track is the actual direction of the airplane tracking across the ground. Bearing is the angle between any two points, whereas course is your intended path of travel to your destination. In the rest of this post we’ll elaborate on each of these points and then also provide ...

Why is bearing confusing?

Bearing can be confusing sometimes because has some overlap with course. Bearing is simply the angle or direction between two points. A practical application of this is in VOR navigation. It’s a common thing to hear someone say “we are bearing 090 from the station”.

What is heading in airplanes?

This does not factor for wind, or the actual movement of the airplane across the ground. It only refers to what the compass reads based on where the nose is pointed.

image

Marine Compass

  • In China compasses have been in use since the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE) when they were referred to as “south-pointers”. However, at first these magnets were only employed for geomancymuch like Feng Shui. Eventually, during the Sung dynasty (1000 CE) many trading ships were then able to sail as far as Saudi Arabia applying compasses for actual marin…
See more on sailingissues.com

Magnetic Variation

  • In the fin-de-siècle of the 16th century mariners believed that the magnetic north pole coincided with the geographic north pole. Any suggestion otherwise had been denied by Pedro de Medina. Magnetic observations made by explorers in subsequent decades showed however that these suggestions were true. But it took until the early nineteenth century, to pinpoint the magnetic nor…
See more on sailingissues.com

Correcting For Variation

  • The overlayed compass roses aboveon the right illustrate the difference between true North and magnetic North when the magnetic variation “var” is 10° West. From the image we find: tc = cc + var in which “cc” and “tc” stand for “compass course” and “true course”, respectively. To convert a true course into a compass course we need first assign a “ ” to a Western and a “ ” to an Eastern …
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Magnetic Deviation

  • Magnetic deviation is the second commonly correctable error – this time withinthe ship – which is caused by magnetic forces brought on by pieces of metal, such as an engine or an anchor. Moreover, cockpit plotters and other electric equipment or wiring – if too close to the compass – can also introduce a compass error. Pertinently, the deviation varies with the ship's heading (HD…
See more on sailingissues.com

Heading

Image
Heading is probably the most confusing term out of all of these because it can most easily be used in conversation to replace track, bearing, or course. By definition though, heading is actually just the direction that the nose is pointed. This does not factor for wind, or the actual movement of the airplane across the groun…
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Track

  • Track is the easiest of these four to understand in my mind,because it simply refers to how you are actually tracking over the ground. Whennavigating in the air, your track is really all that matters in terms ofgetting to where you want to go. If you need to go northeast to yourdestination, and have a significant wind from the west, your heading might beto the north in order to achieve a tr…
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Bearing

  • Bearing can be confusing sometimes because has some overlap with course. Bearing is simply the angle or direction between two points. A practical application of this is in VOR navigation. It’s a common thing to hear someone say “we are bearing 090 from the station”. This simply means that off of the VOR they are tracking on the 090 radial outbound from the station. In relation to th…
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Course

  • Course is very similar to bearing in that it’s the desireddirection for your route of flight. If you are going directly from one airportto the other, your course and bearing will be the same along the route of flight.If you are flying from an airport to a VOR to another airport, your course willchange in each leg, as will your bearing.
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Example

  • For this example we’re going to work backwards through the above mentioned directions. Assume you are departing an airport and your destination is directly eastbound. When you take off the course between the departing airport and destination airport is 090. In this instance the bearing of the destination airport off of your departing airport is also 090. This is also the direction you wan…
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Does A GPS Use True Or Magnetic Heading?

  • The above example assumes you are using the compass in yourairplane (hence why it requires so many steps to calibrate the differencebetween your true course all the way down to your actual compass heading). Butwhat about a GPS? By definition it’s not using earth’s magnetic fields as a wayof navigation, but rather positioning information provided by satellites. So ifit shows your “de…
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