A common mistake made by many skippers when they are far offshore, and perhaps in foul weather or poor visibility, is their failure to trust the compass, charts and other simple navigational instrument.

Many boaters will try to rely on their own instincts, which are often wrong, particularly in cases of disorientation which can occur easily when in fog or out of land view.

Every boat, regardless of size, that ventures offshore should be equipped with a compass and up-to-date charts for the area waters.  You may think you don't need them, but the Coast Guard Auxiliary points out the day may come when a heavy fog rolls in, obscuring the coastline, possibly even the sun, and you'll be lost without them.  Even in protected waters, it is possible, without a compass aboard, to think you are steering toward shore when actually you are headed offshore in the opposite direction.

The compass is perhaps the most vital piece of navigational equipment on your boat.  Buy one and get accustomed to using it. Trust it.  Even on clear days, you can gain confidence in the instrument by using it to help make notes of directions and distances from given points.  Comes the day when all around you is nothing but cotton, you will have gained experience with the compass that will help you cope with the situation.

There are many sizes of compasses on the market. Inexperience models can be purchased for around $25. Usually they are small ones, most suitable for small boats.  But, they have a tendency to be "nervous" and hard to read. A better compass in the $40 to $75 range is worth the investment.

Mounting the compass properly on your vessel is most important.  Details of compass care and installation are covered fully in Coast Guard Auxiliary free public boating classes.  Basically, the compass should be so placed that the line on the instrument which indicates the reading (the lubber's line) is directly over the boat's keel or centerline.  To keep compass error to a minimum, locate the instrument as far as possible away from metal, batteries and electric wiring.

A compass, from time to time, may require adjustment for variation (the difference between true north and magnetic north) and for deviation caused by wiring or metal objects on the boat which affect compass readings.

As a navigational tool, the marine chart is a boater's roadmap and it becomes especially valuable when the skipper is outside of home waters.  In unfamiliar areas, the nautical chart shows exact locations of aids to navigation, major landmarks, depth of water, composition of the bottom and similar useful information.