How to Set a Heading on a Base Plate Compass

When you know the magnetic direction you want to travel, you must set that direction on your compass.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Base Plate Compasses

1. Hold your base plate compass faceup in front of your chest. Ignore the compass needle.
2. Hold the compass housing steady with one hand. With the other, twist the base plate until the direction of travel line intersects the degree mark on the compass housing for the direction you want to travel.
3. Let the compass needle float freely until it comes to rest - it now points to magnetic north.
4. Do not change the setting from step 2. Rotate the entire compass around the needle until the orienting arrow in the base of the compass housing is perfectly aligned with the needle. The north side of the needle should now be pointing at the zero degree mark on the compass housing.
5. With everything still carefully aligned from step 4, sight along the direction of travel line. That is the direction you want to travel.

Tips & Warnings

• You must convert a map direction to a magnetic direction before you can travel using your compass.
• Avoid confusing the "N" end of the compass needle with the "S" end.