Hand-bearing Compass

A portable compass designed to measure the magnetic bearing of a visible object.

The user sights a landmark, navigation mark, celestial body or other vessel while reading its bearing. Successive bearings can establish a position fix, monitor whether a contact’s bearing is changing or help follow a planned bearing.

Readings are magnetic unless converted and can be affected by nearby metal, electrical equipment, local magnetic variation, compass error and vessel movement. Reliable use therefore requires a steady sight, awareness of error and suitable plotting or comparison with other information.