Compasses

Small, portable compasses will be an ideal solution for a hike or an RV trip as they do not consume a lot of space, are quite reliable and perform the main function of a compass – help you determine your exact position by pointing to “magnetic North”. An indisputable advantage of this kind of compass is its small size and budget-friendly price. Though, it is hardly an option for marine applications as marine compasses are far more complex than the ones you usually take when you go hiking. Marine compasses are bigger and, as a rule, are mounted into the boat's instrument panel.

When choosing a marine compass, first pay attention to the mounting type, taking into consideration the dimensions and layout of the piloting area. You can go with a flush mount compass if the dash panel is small and you'd like to save some space. If your boat features a vertical dash, you can go with a dash mount compass. Though, if you do not feel like you are planning to cut the dash to install the compass, you can go with the bracket mounting, which will allow to install your compass either on the dash or on the deck. Plus, with this type of mounting you can choose the angle to observe indications.

Also, think of the dial type of a compass. Using a direct dial type, you will need to put the compass right in front of you. For this dial type it is better to keep the compass closer to the eyes as the lubber line is in front of the compass. Flat card dial compasses allow for looking down to read the heading, as the lubber line is at the rear of the device. There is also a combi dial type, which allows for getting the precise readability at any angle. Besides, you also need to think of the size of your compass to make sure that the device that you purchase will work perfectly for your boat.