Can you use a Compass ?

During a recent conversation about mounting a satellite dish I got a compass out and proceeded to look around for a good southwest view. The twenties something homeowner looked at that compass like I recovered it from a UFO. I realized that most of the younger generation has no idea how to navigate using basic skills. I’ll run down a few basics here but you should really make sure you can use a compass and a map as this skill can be very useful. Generally referred to as dead reckoning you can plot your movement across terrain, water or air space.

The most useful navigation aid for earthlings is the Sun it rises in the East and Sets in the West everyday without fail. If you are lost at sea off the Carolina coast “land is towards the setting sun”, simple but you would be shocked how many people never thought about that and died.

A compass does not tell you where you are it can only tell you which way to go but it is up to you to know which way that is. The basic compass will be made up of a needle floating in the center of a round card. The card will be either marked in degrees 0-360 or N,S,E,W or both. Lay the compass on something flat and level away from metal objects and the needle will point NORTH. Next rotate the compass body or card so that the needle and the N or 0 (zero) match up and now you know which way is which. Did you ever hear someone say “pull a 180” it is a reference to going the opposite direction on a compass. On a compass North is 0 degrees and south is 180 degrees so East is 90 degrees and West is 270 degrees. It truly is a very simple item to use but can be more valuable than gold if you need it. The most valued possession of ancient sea captains was their compass and they often kept them under lock and key.....