CORRECTING AND

UNCORRECTING THE
COMPASS
“Correcting” is converting a magnetic (M)
direction to true (T).
“Uncorrecting” is converting from true to a
magnetic direction. “True” direction is relative to
true north (north pole). Variation is the failure of the
compass to point to true north.
 CORRECTING THE COMPASS
Can C = COMPASS COURSE
Dead D = DEVIATION E(+) W (-)
Man M = MAGNETIC COURSE
Vote V = VARIATION E(+) W (-)
Twice T = TRUE COURSE
 UNCORRECTING THE COMPASS
Teenage T = TRUE COURSE
Virgins V = VARIATION E(-) W (+)
Made M = MAGNETIC COURSE
Dull D = DEVIATION E(-) W (+)
Companion C = COMPASS COURSE
MAGNETIC VARIATION CORRECTION
Variation is the difference in degrees and minutes between True North
on the chart you are looking at and Magnetic North at that place at a
given time. You can then apply the rate of variation every year to find
variation at that location in any given year.
The amount by which magnetic North or South moves over time is
called Variation and the degree by which Variation changes year on
year can be measured and predicted. Your charts will show you the
variance for the area the chart covers on a specific year and it’ll also
tell you by how much that variance will change every year. This
information is usually found on the compass rose on your chart.
3 POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Variation at given date

2. Annual change in variation

3. Present year
MAGNETIC VARIATION IN A COMPASS ROSE
EXAMPLE NO. 1
GIVEN:
Variation on given date: 4 ̊ 15’ W 2009
Annual change in variation : (8’ E)

1. Get the total change of variation

2020 = present year
2009 (-)
11 years
x 8’ E
88’ E (NOTE : 60’ = 1̊ )
÷ 60’
1̊̊ 28’ E (total change in variation)
RULE:
Same Direction / Sign – ADD (variation is increasing)
Different Direction / Sign – SUBTRACT (variation is decreasing)

4 ̊ 15’ W (Variation on given date)

(-) 1 ̊ 28’ E (Total change in variation)
2̊ 47’ W variation in 2020
EXAMPLE No. 1
• A vessel is steering course 120 ̊ by compass. The deviation is 6 ̊ W and the
variation of the place is 3 ̊ E. Find:
a. Magnetic Course
b. True Course
c. Compass Error
EXAMPLE No. 2
• A vessel is on course 154 ̊True. The variation of the locality is 6 ̊ W and the
deviation is 4 ̊E. Find:
a. Magnetic Course
b. Compass Course
c. Compass Error
EXAMPLE No. 3
• A vessel is on course 312 ̊True. The variation from the compass rose is 3 ̊ 12’ W
2008 with an annual change of 7’ E and the deviation is 5 ̊E. Find:
a. Corrected variation for the year 2021
b. Magnetic Course
c. Compass Course