Translations:AY Honors/Navigation/Answer Key/47/en
"Boxing a compass" means to name the points on the compass in a clockwise order starting with north. With eight cardinal points, this would be:
- north
- northeast
- east
- southeast
- south
- southwest
- west
- northwest.
The compass is used along with a geometry compass, dividers, parallel rules, a straightedge, and a protractor to find the boat’s position on charts. When the sky is overcast and there is no land in sight, it is very easy to get disoriented. The compass will keep you on course and help you find your way back to port. Compasses are meant to be mounted on bulkheads, atop consoles, gimbals, or brackets. Some are flushed and mounted. Flush mounts are better because they transmit less vibration than a bracket-mount compass. The compass should have a guard to protect it from damage and a hood to eliminate sun glare.
