A magnetic compass fitted on the dashboard of a yacht is inevitably close to the magnetic fields produced by the electric and electronic systems on board. This condition is called “variation”.
Only a skilled technician should set the compass to correct the variation and supply an accurate deviation schedule. This procedure is called “compass compensation” or “compass setting”.
Compensate the compass after the yacht launch or when replacing it, in order to eliminate possible mistakes due to the compass position.
Do not approach the compass to steel or iron objects or objects made of other ferrous materials (e.g. tools, wrenches, batteries, etc..). The ferrous materials close to the compass alter the readings and make them unreliable.
The compass delivered with the yacht is not compensated for change or deviation. Any electrical or metallic item located in its proximity may influence the compass. The yacht’s owner is responsible for the compass compensation. Compensation should be carried out after installing additional electronic equipment or once a year after a prolonged period of mooring or ground lay-up. Compensation should be carried out only by authorized and qualified personnel. As a compass can rarely be set to zero variation on all courses, the technician in charge of its compensation should give you a card containing the corrections to be applied to navigation calculations. Always keep this card available on the main helm station.
For further information on use and maintenance, please refer to the manufacturer’s manual.