Solving For Compass Deviation

While proceeding up a channel on a course of

010° T per gyro compass you notice a pair of
range lights in alignment with the masts of your
vessel when viewed forward. A check on the
chart shows the range to be 009° T and the
variation on the compass rose to be 15° W. If the
ship's course is 026° psc, what is the deviation
on the present heading?

SOLUTION:

Have you heard that "true virgin makes dull

companion"? We are going to use that
•
mnemonic.

TRUE= 009°
VARIATION = 15° W
MAGNETIC= 024°
DEVIATION = - ?
COMPASS = 026°
As we can see in tabulation above, we have no
entry for the deviation. So what value and sign
of deviation are we going to add or minus to the
magnetic?

Since our magnetic is 024° and our compass is

026°, so we can now understand that the
deviation must be 2°. But what will be the sign?
In true to compass (uncorrecting), west is to be
ad ,ded. So 2° W will be the deviation.
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