Free compass workbench
Use a compass without losing the reference frame
Practise true, magnetic, and compass bearings with variation, deviation, hand-bearing lines, and a simple chart fix. It is an independent revision aid, not official RYA training or assessment.
Direct answer
A compass bearing must be labelled as true, magnetic, or compass. Convert between them by applying variation and deviation with the correct sign, then use hand-bearing position lines on the chart to check or fix your position.
- Best for
- True, magnetic, compass, variation, deviation
- Includes
- Rose, deviation table, position-line fix
- Practice mode
- Workbench, converter, quiz
- Cost
- Free, no login required
True, magnetic, compass
Compass workbench
Drag the heading and hand-bearing sight to see variation, heading-dependent deviation, and position lines as spatial ideas.
Chart direction
After variation
After deviation
True
047
Magnetic
050
Compass
051
True to compass
Going from true to compass, west corrections add and east corrections subtract.
Variation
3.0 W
Deviation
0.9 W
Live sight
Orange line: the corrected true bearing to the selected object.
Position line
Teal line: the reciprocal plotted back from the object.
Fix status
No position lines yet. Aim at a charted object, then lock its bearing.