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COMPASS ADJUSTMENTS.................................................................................................................1

VARIATION:...........................................................................................................................................4

GETTING DEVIATION:.......................................................................................................................5

DEVIATION............................................................................................................................................5

COMPASS DEVIATION BY HEAVENLY BODY OBSERVATION..............................................8

COMPASSES

COMPASS ADJUSTMENTS
- to eliminate or reduce deviation

COEFFICIENT A- coefficient of constant deviation

COEFFICIENT B - coeff. of semi-circular deviation (sine)
COEFFICIENT C- coeff. of semi-circular deviation (cosine)
COEFFICIENT D- coeff. of quadrantal or inter-cardinal deviation
(sine)
COEFFICIENT E- coeff. of quadrantal deviation (cosine)

heeling magnets/atwartship magnets = N S

flinder’s bar/ fore and aft magnets = E W

QUADRANTAL SPHERES- inter-cadinal magnets (NE, SW, SE, NW)

-0860
1. if the blue ends of the magnetic are aft and the fore and aft
tray is at the top, you should add same magnet.
2. if the red end of the magnets are aft , you should lower the
fore and aft tray.

093 degrees
1. if the blue ends of the magnets are forward, you should raise
the fore and aft tray.

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2. if the red ends of the magnets are forward & the fore and aft
tray’s at the bottom, you should remove some magnets.
3. if the red ends of the magnets are aft, you should raise the
fore and aft tray.

003 degrees
1. if the blue ends of the magnets are to port and athwartship
tray is at the bottom, you should reverse the magnets.
2. if the red ends are to starboard, the athwartship magnets
should be lowered.
3. Raise or lower athwartship magnets.
4. If the red end are to starboard & the athwartship tray is at the
bottom , you should remove some magnets.
5. If the red ends are to port and the tray is at the bottom, you
should raise the tray.
6. If the red ends are to port ,the atwartship magnets should be
raised.

356 degrees
1. If the blue ends of the magnets are to starboard and the
athwartship tray is at the bottom, you should remove some
magnets.
2. If the red ends of the magnets are to starboard and the
athwartship tray is at the top you should add some more
magnets.
3. If the red ends of the magnets are to port , you should lower
the athwartship tray.

NOTES:
1. Before a magnetic compass is adjusted, certain correctors
must be checked to ensure that they are free of permanent
magnetism. Those corrections are:
FLINDER’S BAR AND QUADRANTAL SPHERES

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2. Magnets are placed in horizontal trays in the compass binnacle

to compensate the:
PERMANENT MAGNETISM OF THE VESSEL
3. The flinder’s bar and the quadrantal spheres should be tested
for permanent magnetism at what interval? ANNUALLY
4. The flinder’s bar in a magnetic compass compensates for the
INDUCED MAGNETISM IN VERTICAL SOFT IRON.
5. The vertical components of the earth’s magnetic field causes
induced magnetism in vertical soft iron. This changes of Lat when
you are adjusting a compass, what connects for the coefficient of
the deviation?
FLINDER’S BAR
6. When adjusting a magnetic compass using fore and aft
permanent magnets you should---USE THE MAGNETS IN RANGE
FROM THE BOTTOM UP OF THE TRAYS AT THE LOWEST POINT OF
THE TRAVEL.
7. Which statements about the flinder’s bar of the magnetic
compass is correct?
IT COMPENSATES FOR THE ERROR CAUSED BY THE VERTICAL
COMPONENT OF THE EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD.
8. The single magnet placed underneath the compass in the
binnacle is used to compensate for ---DEVIATION CAUSED BY THE
VESSEL’ S INCLINATION FROM THE VERTICAL.
9. Heeling error is defined as the change of deviation for a heel of
----
0
1 WHILE THE VESSEL IS ON A COMPASS HEADING 0000 T
10. To center a compass bowl in this binnacle , you should have
the ship on an even keel, heading North or South and adjust the
screws until----NO CHANGE OF HEADING BY COMPASS IS
OBSERVED IF YOU RAISE OR LOWER THE HEEELING MAGNET.
11. What are the only magnetic corrector that corrects for both
permanent and induced effects of magnetism? HEELING
MAGNETS

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12. Which of the following compensates for error introduced

when a vessel heels over? A SINGLE VERTICAL MAGNET BENEATH
THE COMPASS
13. The purpose of the soft iron spheres mounted on the binnacle
is to compensate for--- INDUCED MAGNETISM IN THE HORIZONTAL
SOFT IRON.
14. When correcting a magnetic compass, a deviation table
should be made---
AFTER ADJUSTING THE FORE AND AFT ATHWARTSHIP PERMANENT
MAGNETS.
15. You are about to go to sea and adjust the magnetic
compass.To expedite the adjustments at sea, in what order
should be the following dockside adjustments be made:
FLINDER’S BAR FIRST, THEN THE SPHERES AND HEELING
MAGNETS.

VARIATION:
DEFINITION:
TO CORRECT VARIATION IN CHARTS:
GET THE DIFFERENCE OF THE PRESENT YEAR AND THE YEAR OF
THE CHART MADE.
THEN, MULTIPLY THE DIFFERENCE TO THE RATE OF CORRECTION
PER YEAR.

PROBLEMS:
1. VARIATION IS 2-25 E (1954) INCREASING ABOUT 1’ ANNUALLY.
SOLUTION:
PRESENT YEAR 1997
YEAR MADE 1954
DIFF = 43 YRS.
X 1’
= 43 MINUTES
VARIATION = 2 -35’

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VAR (1997)= 3 - 18 EAST

GETTING DEVIATION:
DEFINITION:
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED:
FORMULAS:
COMPARED WITH THE TRUE BEARING:
COMPASS BEST ERROR WEST
COMPASS LEAST ERROR EAST

DEVIATION
= DIFFERENCE OF COMPASS ERROR AND VARIATION AND NAME
AFTER THE GREATER
= OR MAGNETIC COURSE BEST, DEVIATION WEST AND MAGNETIC
COURSE LEAST ERROR EAST AS COMPARED WITH TRUE
COURSE ONLY IF CORRECTING
= REVERSE THE ABOVE IF COMPARED WITH COMPASS COURSE,IF
UNCORRECTING
COMPASS COURSE BEST ERROR WEST, LEAST ERROR EAST
= CORRECTING:
COMPASS COURSE =
DEVIATION =
MAGNETIC COURSE=
VARIATION =
TRUE COURSE
UNCORRECTING IS THE REVERSE
THE CODE IS “ CAN DEAD MAN VOTE TWICE”
CORRECTING ADD THE EASTERLY AND SUBTRACT WESTERLY
REVERSE THE ABOVE IF UNCORRECTING

GETTING THE ERROR:

COMPASS ERROR = VARIATION ~ DEVIATION
• NAME ACCORDING TO THE GREATER
• COMPASS ERROR = TRUE COURSE - COMPASS COURSE

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PROBLEMS:
1. YOU ARE ON COURSE OF 251 PGC & 241 PSC, WHEN YOU
OBSERVE A RANGE IN LINE OF 192 PGC. THE CHART INDICATES
THAT THE RANGE IS IN LINE OF 194 DEG TRUE. THE VARIATION IS
16E. WHAT IS THE DEVIATION ?
ANSWER:
GYRO ERROR = 2 DEG E T/C = 253 DEG
DEVIATION = 4 DEG WEST
2. YOUR VESSEL IS PROCEEDING OF A CHANNEL AND YOU SEE A
RANGE OF LIGHT THAT ARE IN LINE AHEAD. THE CHART INDICATES
THAT THE DIRECTION OF LIGHTS IS 196 DEG TRUE AND THE
VARIATION IS 7 DEG E. IF THE BEARING OF YOUR VESSEL AT THE
TIME OF THE SIGHTING IS 190 PSC, WHAT IS THE CORRECT
DEVIATION?
ANSWER:
DEVIATION = 3 DEG WEST
3. YOUR VESSEL IS PROCEEDING COURSE 166 DEG PSC. VAR FOR
THE AREA IS 8 WEST & DEVIATION IS 3 WEST. THE WIND IS FROM
THE WEST- SOUTHWEST PRODUCING 2 DEG LEEWAY. WHAT TRUE
COURSE ARE YOU MAKING GOOD?
ANSWER:
TRUE COURSE MAKING GOOD= 153 DEG
4. YOU DESIRE TO MAKE GOOD A TRUE COURSE OF 132 DEG. THE
VAR IS 10 WEST, MAGNETIC COMPASS DEV IS 5 DEG E & GYRO
ERROR IS 5 WEST. A NORTHEAST BY EAST WIND PRODUCES A 5
DEG LEEWAY . WHAT IS THE COURSE TO STEER PER STANDARD
COMPASS TO MAKE TRUE COURSE GOOD ?
ANSWER:
C/C TO STEER = 132 DEG
5. YOUR VESSEL IS PROCEEDING UP A CHANNEL AND YOU SEE A
PAIR OF RANGE LIGHTS THAT ARE IN LINE AHEAD. THE CHART
INDICATES THAT THE DIRECTION OF THIS PAIR IS 147 DEG TRUE &

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THE VAR IS 5 DEG EAST. IF THE HEADING OF YOUR VESSEL AT THE

TIME OF OBSERVATION IS 148 DEG PSC. WHAT IS THE DEVATION ?
ANSWER:
DEVIATION = 6 DEG WEST
6. WHILE ENROUTE FROM MONTEVIRGO TO WALVIS BAY,
AVESSEL’S COURSE IS 116 PSC. IF THE VARIATION FOR LOCALITY
IS 25 WEST AND THE DEVIATION IS 6 WEST. WHAT IS THE TRUE
COURSE MADE GOOD IF A WEST WIND PRODUCES A 1 DEG
LEEWAY.
ANSWER:
TRUE COURSE MADE GOOD = 084 DEG TRUE
7. YOUR VESSEL IS PROCEEDING DOWN A CHANNEL AND YOU SEE
A PAIR OF RANGE LIGHTS THAT ARE IN LINE AHEAD. THE CHART
INDICATES THAT THE DIRECTION OF THIS PAIR OF LIGHTS IS 229
DEG TRUE AND VARIATION IS 6 WEST. IF THE HEADING OF YOUR
VESSEL AT THE TIME OF OBSERVATION IS 232 DEG PSC, WHAT IS
THE CORRECT DEVIATION ?
ANSWER:
DEVIATION = 3 EAST
8. WHILE EN ROUTE FROM SYDNEY TO THE PANAMA CANAL ,
VESSEL’S TRUE COURSE IS 071 VAR IS 14 E DEVIATION IS 4 WEST .
A NORTH BREEZE CAUSES A 2 DEG LEEWAY. WHAT COURSE
WOULD YOU STEER PSC IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD THE TRUE
COURSE?
ANSWER:
COURSE TO STEER PSC = 059 DEG
9. IF YOU TAKE BEARINGS OF 313 DEG TRUE AND 076 DEG TO
TWO PROMINENT OBJECTS. WHAT BEARING OF THE THIRD OBJECT
WILL PROVIDE THE BEST FIX.
ANSWER:
30 DEG NOT LESS THAN AND 120 NOT MORE THAN
10. THE TRUE COURSE BETWEEN TWO POINTS IS 106 YOUR GYRO
HAS AN ERROR OF 2 DEG EAST AND YOU MAKE AN ALLOWANCE OF

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2 DEG LEEWAY FOR A SOUTH WIND. WHAT GYRO COURSE SHOULD

BE STEERED TO MAKE THE TRUE COURSE GOOD?
ANSWER:
106 DEG PSC
11. THE TRUE COURSE BETWEEN TWO POINTS IS 023 DEG. YOUR
GYRO HAS AN ERROR OF 1 WEST AND YOU MAKE AN ALLOWANCE
OF 4 DEG LEEWAY FOR AN EAST WIND. WHAT G/C SHOULD BE
STEERED TO MAKE THE TRUE COURSE GOOD?
ANSWER:
028 DEG PGC
12. YOU DESIRE TO MAKE GOOD A TRUE COURSE OF 203. THE
VARIATION IS 19 EAST, MAGNETIC DEVIATION IS 2 DEG WEST AND
GYRO COMPASS ERROR IS 1 DEG EAST. A WESTERLY WIND
PRODUCES A 3 DEG LEEWAY. WHAT IN THE COURSE OT STEER PER
MAGNETIC COMPASS TO MAKE THE TRUE COURSE GOOD.?
ANSWER:
COURSE = 189 DEG PSC

COMPASS DEVIATION BY HEAVENLY BODY OBSERVATION

FORMULAS:
UPON SUNSET AND SUNRISE:
SIN AMPLITUDE = SIN DECLINATION SEC LATITUDE
• ALWAYS NAME FIRST EAST OR WEST, IN RELATION TO SUNRISE
OR SUNSET
• IF SUNSET WEST, SUNRISE EAST
• THEN INSERT THE NAME OF THE DECLINATION

AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN SUNRISE AND SUNSET

TAN AZIMUTH = SIN LHA+/-
(COS LAT X TAN DEC)- (SIN LAT X COS LHA +/-)
•
• IF THE DECLINATION AND LATITUDE DIFFERENT NAMES -
DECLINATION IS TREATED NEGATIVE

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• IF THE ACUTE ANGLE AS CALCULATED IS NEGATIVE, IT IS

NECESSARY TO ADD 180 DEG TO OBTAIN THE DESIRED
AZIMUTH ANGLE
• AZIMUTH ANGLE IS MEASURED FROM 0 DEG AT THE NORTH OR
SOUTH REFERENCE DIRECTION CLOCKWISE OR COUNTER-
CLOCKWISE THROUGH THE 180 DEG. IT IS LABELED WITH THE
DIRECTION AS THE PREFIX AND THE DIRECTION OF
MEASUREMENT FROM THE REFERENCE DIRECTION AS A SUFFIX.
• AZIMUTH ANGLE CAN BE CONVERTED TO TRUE AZIMUTH BY
THE FF:
NORTH LAT : LHA GREATER THAN 180 DEG .....Zn = Z
LHA LESS THAN 180 DEG .......Zn = 360 - Z
SOUTH LAT: LHA GREATER THAN 180..........Zn = 180 - Z
LHA LESS THAN 180.............Zn = 180 + Z
DERIVATIONS OF FORMULAS:
USING COSINE AND SINE LAWS:
sin a = sin A sin b
sin B
substitute in this formula:
sin a cos B = cos b sin c - sin b cos c cos A
then,
sin A cot B = sin c cot b - cos c cos A
cot Z = cos L tan d - sin L cos LHA
sin LHA
tan Z = sin LHA
cos L tan d - sin L cos LHA
substituting:
sin d/cos d for tan d

tan Z = cos d sin LHA

cos L sin d - sin L cos d cos LHA

IF ALTITUDE IS GIVEN: (ALTITUDE AZIMUTH)

LAW OF SINES;

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SIN AZIMUTH = COS DEC X SIN T (LHA)

COS ALTITUDE
LIMITATIONS: when the azimuth is near 90 or declination is less
than 23 degrees.USE THE FORMULAS LHA /ALT BY “ON THE PRIME
VERTICAL”

LAW OF COSINES:
COS AZIMUTH = SIN DEC - SIN ALT SIN ALT
COS L COS H
DERIVATIONS: ( law of cosines for sides )
cos b = cos c cos a + sin c sin a cos B
cos ( 90-d )= cos( 90 - L )cos( 90 - h ) + sin (90 - L)sin co-alt cos Z
sin d = sin L sin alt + cos L cos h cos Z

SOLVING BY ABC TABLES:

TABLE A = COT LHA X TAN LAT
TABLE B = CSC LHA X TAN DEC
TABLE C = A +/- B = C
COT AZIMUTH = C X LAT COS ( 1/x shift tan)
• NAMED “A” OPPOSITE TO LAT except THE LHA IS BETWEEN 90
AND 270
• NAMED “B” AS DECLINATION
• A & B SAME NAMES ADD
• A & B DIFFERENT NAMES SUBTRACT
• CORRECTION IS ALWAYS NAMED THE SAME OF THE GREATER
OF THE QUANTITIES.
• AZIMUTH IS NAMED SAME AS COMBINED NAMES OF A & B AND
THE LHA

BY POLARIS OBSERVATION:
ENTER TO POLE STAR TABLE OF NAUTICAL ALMANAC
COLUMN LHA & LATITUDE
AZIMUTH =
POLARIS =

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COMPASS ERROR= COMPASS BEST ERROR WEST

COMPASS LEAST ERROR EAST

BY TABLE 249:
ENTER TAB 249
UNDER COLUMN LAT INTERSECTING LHA GET THE VALUE OF Z.
THEN APPLY THE FOLLOWING RULES:
NORTH LAT : LHA GREATER THAN 180 DEG .....Zn = Z
LHA LESS THAN 180 DEG .......Zn = 360 - Z
SOUTH LAT: LHA GREATER THAN 180..........Zn = 180 - Z
LHA LESS THAN 180.............Zn = 180 + Z

GYRO ERROR:
GYRO BEARING ~ TRUE BEARING = GYRO ERROR
• GYRO BEST ERROR WEST AND GYRO LEAST ERROR EAST
PROBLEMS:
1. GIVEN:
MAY 26, 1979
ANTARES STAR C/BEARING = 240 DEG
CT = 18H - 08M - 05S CHRONO ERROR = 3 SEC FAST
DR LONG = 111 DEG E.
DR LAT = 9 DEG N

SOLUTION:
CT = 18 - 08 - 05
= 3 SEC FAST
CT = 18 - 08 - 02
GHA = 204 - 01.1
SHA = 112 - 57.5 DECLINATION = S 26-23.2
GHA = 316 - 58.6
LONG = 111- 01.4 ( + E )
LHA = 428
- 360
LHA STAR = 068 DEG E

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TRUE AZIMUTH= 239.4 DEG

GYRO/ AZ = 240 DEG
COMPASS ERROR = 0.6 DEG WEST

2. GIVEN:
LAT 13-52 N LONG 119-32.0 E
BEARING = 109
DECLINATION = S 19-08.9
GHA = 157 - 38.7
LHA = 277 W

SOLUTION:
TRUE AZIMUTH= 110.3
C/ AZIMUTH = 109
COMPASS ERROR = 1.3 E

3. ON MAY 24, 1979 THE DR POSITION LATITUDE 17 NORTH 117

DEG EAST . GYRO COMPASS 209 DEG TRUE. THE POLARIS 001 CT=
17H 11M 20S CHRONO ERROR = 14 SECONDS FAST.
ANSWER:
COMPASS ERROR IS 0.4 WEST

4. POSITION IS 38-10.8 N LONG 16-55.8 E ON BOARD M/S STAR

LEIKANGER. THE BEARING OF THE SUN IS 185.5 DEG PER GYRO
COMPASS . GHA IS 350-16.4, DECLINATION IS 20- 15.9 DEG. FIND
THE GYRO ERROR?
SOLUTION:
LHA = 367 - 12.2 = 7 - 12.2
T/B = 187.9 DEG
G/B = 185.5 DEG
GYRO ERROR= 2.4 EAST

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5. THE LATITUDE OF THE OBSERVER IS 30 - 25 N; THE

DECLINATION OF THE CELESTIAL BODY IS 22 - 06.2 N; THE LHA IS
39-54.7 W. FIND THE AZIMUTH.
SOLUTION:
(-)86.6 + 180 = N 93.4 W = 266.6 DEG TRUE
6. THE LATITUDE OF THE OBSERVER IS 30 - 25 S; THE
DECLINATION OF THE CELESTIAL BODY IS 22 - 06.2 N THE
MERIDIAN ANGLE IS 39 - 54.7 E.
REQUIRED AZIMUTH OF THE BODY:
SOLUTION:
Z = (-)41 + 180 = S 139 E
Z = 041 DEG TRUE

7. GIVEN: ( ON BOARD STAR LANGANGER)

LATTITUDE 48 - 15.3 N
LONG 162 - 07.4 E DECLINATION N 17 - 35.4
LHA = 382 = 22 E = 338 W
ANSWER:
T/B = 217.9 DEG
G/B = 216.5 DEG
ERROR = 1.4 DEG EAST
8. THE LATITUDE OF THE OBSERVER IS 30-00 N; THE CENTER OF
THE SUN IS IN THE VISIBLE HORIZON; THE DECLINATION IS 18 -00
N. FIND THE AZIMUTH:
SOLUTION:
COMPUTATION OF THE AZ ANGLE IS MADE FOR AN ALTITUDE OD
(-)00 41.4 ,THEN
DIP AT THE HEIGHT OF EYE - 6.2
REFRACTION AT (-)6.2 ALTITUDE - 35.3
PARALLAX + 0.1
- 41.4
BY:
COS Z = sin d - sin L sin h
cos L cos h

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Z = 68-40.0

9. THE SUN WAS OBSERVED ON APRIL 11, 1979, CT = 07H 10M 20

S AND COMPASS BRG 269 DEG WITH CHRONO ERROR OF 5 SEC
FAST. FIND THE TRUE AZIMUTH OF THE SUN WHILE IN LONG 118-
45 EAST AND 12-09 N. LHA IS 406 DEG ; DECLINATION IS 8 - 11.2
DEG NORTH.
SOLUTION:
T/B = 269.5 DEG
G/B = 269.0 DEG
ERR = 000.5 EAST

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