What are errors of magnetic compass?

  1. Turning Error

A turn from the north lags or indicates a turn in the opposite direction. So to roll out on the correct heading one must roll out of the turn, past the correct heading.A turn from the south leads. So to roll out on the correct heading one must roll out of the turn, before reaching the correct heading.

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REMEMBER:  THE SOUTH LEADS AND THE NORTH LAGS and THERE IS NO ACCELERATION / DECELERATION ERROR ON A NORTH OR SOUTH HEADING.

  1. Acceleration and Deceleration Error

When on an east or west heading, any increase in airspeed (Acceleration) will cause the magnetic compass to indicate a false turn toward the north, and any decrease in airspeed (deceleration) will cause the magnetic compass to indicate a false turn toward the south.

REMEMBER:  ACCELERATE NORTH & DECELERATE SOUTH and THERE IS NO TURNING ERROR ON A EAST OR WEST HEADING.

About the author

Amit Sharma

Graduated from M.E.R.I. Mumbai (Mumbai University), After a brief sailing founded this website with the idea to bring the maritime education online which must be free and available for all at all times and to find basic solutions that are of extreme importance to a seafarer by our innovative ideas.