Many of the charts & tables found on this site are PDFs.

For a larger compass, the $200 Plastimo is a good buy. For a smaller model, go with a Ritchie or Danforth.

The field of 16 compasses. Top row, left to right: Danforth C561, Brunton 150, Ritchie FB500, Plastimo Olympic 135. Second row from top: Danforth C402, C. Plath Merkur, Plastimo Offshore 135, Ritchie FN201. Third row from top: Danforth C399-3, Ritchie SS-1002, Ritchie FN203, Ritchie SS2000W. Bottom row: Ritchie HF742W, Plastimo Offshore 105, Plastimo Offshore 90, Plastimo Olympic 100.

In the age of GPS, DGPS, WAAS GPS and handheld GPS systems, how important is the magnetic steering compass? Just ask anyone who has been disoriented at night, turned around in the fog, or been on the receiving end of an electrical storm. Magnetic compasses are installed at almost every helm for a reason—to provide a reliable heading from which one can navigate, independent of all the other on-board systems. When referenced against today’s technologies, the heading from a magnetic steering compass is a silent backup that carries a lot of clout. …