Compass Error and Deviation
MAGNETIC COMPASS GYRO COMPASS
T T
M
V G/E
D
C G
Compass LEAST, Error EAST, Compass BEST, Error WEST
True Magnetic True True
Magnetic Compass Compass Gyro
Variation Deviation Compass Error Gyro Error
Correcting Uncorrecting Correcting Uncorrecting
C G
E + E ─
E + D E ─ G/E
W─ W+
W─ M W+ T
V
T
While your vessel is proceeding down a channel, you noticed a range of lights
in line with your vessel’s mast. If your vessel is on course 001˚ pgc and the
charted value of the range of lights is 359˚ T, what is your gyro error?
a. 2˚ W b. 2˚ E c. 1˚ E d. 1˚ W
GØ = 001˚ = 361˚
TØ = 359˚
G/E = 2˚ W
2) Your vessel is proceeding up a channel and you see a pair of range lights that
are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is
014˚ T and the variation 11˚ E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the
sighting is 009˚ psc, what is the correct deviation?
a. 5˚ E b. 5˚ W c. 6˚ E d. 6˚ W
Solution 1 Solution 2
T = 014˚ T = 014˚
C = 009˚ V = 011˚ E
C/E = 005˚ E M = 003˚
V = 011˚ (E) W C = 009˚
D = 006˚ W D = 006˚ W
3) Entering a harbor on course 338˚ pgc and 329˚ psc, you took a bearing
on a range and got 058˚ pgc. The true bearing from the chart is 060˚ T
and the variation for the area is 14˚ E. What is the correct deviation?
a. 3˚ E b. 3˚ W c. 5˚ W d. 5˚ E
Solution 1 Solution 2
TØ = 060˚ TØ = 060˚
GØ = 058˚ GØ = 058˚
G/E = 002˚ E G/E = 002˚ E
G/C = 338˚ G/C = 338˚
T/C = 340˚ T/C = 340˚
C/C = 329˚ V = 014˚ E
C/E = 011˚ E M/C = 326˚
V = 014˚ (E) W C/C = 329˚
D = 003˚ W D = 003˚ W
Wind Leeway
What is the true course made good? What is the course to steer pgc/psc?
E + E ─
W─ W+
+ ─ ─ +
4) You are steering 154˚ pgc. The wind is SW, causing a 4˚ leeway. The
gyro error is 3˚ E, variation is 11˚ W and deviation is 7˚ E. What is the
true course made good?
a. 153˚ T b. 158˚ T c. 161˚ T d. 164˚ T
G/C = 154˚
G/E = 003˚ E +
T/C = 157˚
─ Leeway = 004˚
True course made good = 153˚
5) You are steering 154˚ psc. The wind is SW, causing a 4˚ leeway. The
gyro error is 3˚ E, variation is 11˚ W and deviation is 7˚ E. What is the
true course made good?
a. 154˚ T b. 150˚ T c. 146˚ T d. 153˚ T
Solution 1 Solution 2
C/C = 154˚ D = 007˚ E
D = 007˚ E + V = 011˚ W -
M/C = 161˚ C/E = 004˚ W
V = 011˚ W - C/C = 154˚
T/C = 150˚ T/C = 150˚
─ Leeway = 004˚ ─ Leeway = 004˚
True course made good = 146˚ True course made good = 146˚
6) Your vessel is steering 299˚ psc. Variation for the area is 7˚ W, deviation is
4° W and gyro error is 1˚ W. The wind is S’ly, producing a 3˚ leeway. What
is the true course made good?
a. 291˚ T b. 285˚ T c. 307˚ T d. 313˚ T
Solution 1 Solution 2
C/C = 299˚ D = 004˚ W
D = 004˚ W V = 007˚ W
M/C = 295˚ C/E = 011˚ W
V = 007˚ W C/C = 299˚
T/C = 288˚ T/C = 288˚
+ Leeway = 003˚ + Leeway = 003˚
True course made good = 291˚ True course made good = 291˚
7) You wish to steer a true course of 154˚. The wind is SW, causing a 4˚ leeway.
The gyro error is 3˚ E, variation is 11˚ W and deviation is 7˚ E. What is the
course to steer psc to make good the true course?
a. 154˚ b. 158˚ c. 162˚ d. 153˚
Solution 1 Solution 2
T/C = 154˚ D = 007˚ E
V = 011˚ W V = 011˚ W
M/C = 165˚ C/E = 004˚ W
D = 007˚ E T/C = 154˚
C/C = 158˚ C/C = 158˚
+ Leeway = 004˚ + Leeway = 004˚
Course to steer = 162˚ Course to steer = 162˚
8) You wish to steer a true course of 299˚ Variation is 7˚ W, deviation is 4˚ W
and gyro error is 1˚ W. The wind is S’ly, producing a 3˚ leeway. What is the
course to steer psc to make good the true course?
a. 291˚ b. 285˚ c. 307˚ d. 313˚
Solution 1 Solution 2
D = 004˚ W
T/C = 299˚ V = 007˚ W
V = 007˚ W
C/E = 011˚ W
M/C = 306˚
T/C = 299˚
D = 004˚ W
C/C = 310˚ C/C = 310˚
– Leeway = 003˚ – Leeway = 003˚
Course to steer = 307˚ Course to steer = 307˚
