Best Marine Compass Reviewed
Venturing onto the water can be a dangerous undertaking. Regardless of other hazards out there – one of the most common mishaps for many is getting lost. On the open ocean, it’s very easy to lose one’s bearings, but sea-going fishermen aren’t the only ones that have trouble traveling the right path. Inshore waters and lakes are just as prone to thick fog and unfamiliar stretches of shoreline where the boater can’t tell which way is the right way to go.
Marine electronics have made a huge difference to how we get around on the water, and GPS navigation is almost standard these days. But for anyone serious about fishing and boating offshore and in unpredictable environments; the GPS commonly works in tandem with a quality marine compass. We've done the research and reviewed the top picks on the market today. Read on to find yours.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 14 hrs of research

Affordable
Very well-built
Extremely versatile













Top 10 Picks
1. Ritchie X-10B-M


Affordable
Very well-built
Extremely versatile
Requires power source for night lighting
The Ritchie X-10B-M compass is a great all-rounder suitable for a variety of uses, and it’s very affordable.
Mount Anywhere
With an adjustable, reversible mounting bracket this compass can be mounted through a range of 300⁰, meaning you can put it just about anywhere. Its broad direct-read dial is easy to see.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Bracket mount
2” dial
12V green lighting
Built in compensators
5 year warranty
Price/Value
This is a very affordable compass that’s suitable for a variety of uses.
Verdict
The X-10B-M is a great choice for anyone looking for a non-specific compass that can be mounted almost anywhere within their craft or vehicle.
2. Ritchie RA-93


5 year warranty
Low glare finish
Detachable mount system for storage/security
Moveable sunshield
Direct read dial suited to eye level mounting
The RA-93 is another low profile surface mount compass, comparable to the Explorer S-53 with a couple of different features.
Suited to the Sun
The RA-93 is finished in a glare-minimising grey tint and contains a high-visibility blue dial, meeting the needs of anglers fishing from open-decked boats. The moveable sunshield further shades the dial from glare whichever direction the sun may be.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Low profile surface mount
Push button removal system
2 ¾” direct read dial
No glare finish and high visibility dial
12V green lighting
5 year warranty
Price/Value
Costing slightly less than the Ritchie S-53; the RA-93 is another great value, high quality compass for simple mounting situations.
Verdict
The RA-53 is a good choice for a variety of navigation applications and has extra features for open-decked boats.
3. JSHANMEI LED


Mount on any angle
Good quality
Shade out glare with sun visor
Direct read dial suited to viewing at eye level
The JSANMEI is a simple bracket-mounting compass making it an easily adjustable navigation tool for boaters.
Mount on many Surfaces
The bracket mount that comes with this compass makes it suitable for fitting on surfaces that aren’t level. This makes mounting easy no matter where; as the compass can be swivelled to sit level in the mount.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Adjustable bracket mount
Adjustable sun visor
Accuracy compensators
12V red illumination
Dial 2.4”; height 5.5”; width 4.2”
Price/Value
This is one of the least expensive compasses on this list, and considering its quality manufacture – makes it great value for money.
Verdict
The JSANMEI is a great, low-cost alternative to some of the better-known compass manufacturers. It’s a good choice for a variety of mounting applications and won’t break the bank.
4. Ritchie Explorer S-53
5 year warranty
Fully repairable compass
Detachable mount system for storage/security
Direct read dial suited to eye-level viewing only
The S-53 is a low profile surface mount compass, keeping it out of the way without having to cut a hole in the dash to fit it.
Low Profile, Direct Read
This compass is designed to be mounted on a flat surface, and is fantastic for modern, compact helms because of its unobtrusive, low profile. The big, direct read dial is easy to read at eye level.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Low profile surface mount
Push button removal system
Moveable sunshield
Built in compensators
12V green lighting
2 ¾” direct read dial
5 year warranty
Price/Value
The S-53 is a low/mid-range price compass, making it ideal for a variety of applications. It’s great value for money.
Verdict
The Ritchie Explores S-53 is a great compass for simple helm/dash mounting where it can be positioned on a flat surface and is viewable at eye level. It’s packed with reliable features and backed by a 5 year warranty.
5. SS-1002 Ritchie


5 year warranty
Large dial
Highly visible numerical display
Flush mount
Has to be mounted flat below the operators line of sight
High price
The Ritchie SS-1002 is a flush-mounting compass designed to be fitted flush where the operator can view it from above. It is high performance gear and stable no matter the conditions.
Made for Headings
The SS-1002 is designed with racing in mind, where speed is all-important. Ritchie meets this requirement with the extra-large numerals displayed on the dial – making it super easy to read and fix a heading by degrees.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Flush mount
3 ¾” flat-card dial
Extra-large white numerals
45⁰ lubber lines
12V green lighting
Compensators built in
5 year warranty
Price/Value
The SS-1002 is a high-end piece of navigation equipment, and the price reflects this. For the serious navigator looking for top quality equipment it’s worth it.
Verdict
The SS-1002 is a pretty serious piece of kit and costs substantially more than some of the more basic compasses. For anyone spending a lot of time on the water and reliant on their compass this may be the way to go; otherwise there are plenty of other options.
6. Brunton Dash


Low profile, unobtrusive mount
Easily visible from all angles
Suitable for boats and kayaks
No light source included for use at night
The Brunton Dash Mount fits flush onto the boat’s bulkhead or even the deck of a kayak to give a simple, low profile look.
Simple Compass
There’s very little to go wrong with this compass – there are no lights included (so it doesn’t require a power source) and no moving or swivelling parts of the frame or attachment to fail.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Flush mount
Flat dial
3” dial
Price/Value
The Brunton compass fits into the low/mid-price range along with several of the Ritchie compasses, and is great value for a simple, reliable product.
Verdict
This is a good buy for those wanting a reliable, simple, easy to use compass without the hassle of hooking up to power for light.
7. F-83 Ritchie


Versatility
5 year warranty
Flush mount
Moveable sunshield
High price
The F-83 is another high-performance marine compass from Ritchie. It incorporates a Combi-Dial for dial visibility from different angles.
Combi-Dial
The Combi-Dial dial of this compass incorporates both flat and direct-read dial features so that the compass can be read from either above or at eye level; or somewhere between.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Flush mount
3” Combi-Dial
12V green lighting
Compensators built in
5 year warranty
Price/Value
The F-83 is another expensive compass for those looking for high quality equipment. Its design is very versatile however.
Verdict
The F-83 Voyager compass is a high quality compass from Ritchie and is a versatile instrument, being flush mounted but able to be viewed from varied angles due to the Combi-Dial.
8. B-51 Ritchie


Bulkhead that can be mounted between 40-9
Very durable
High performance
High price
This compass is best designed for larger sailboats and features a bulkhead design that can be mounted from 90-40⁰. It comes with a 45⁰ clinometer.
High Performance
As another of Ritchie’s top end collection of compasses, the B-51 is known for the steadiness and quick lock-on of the compass itself, for certainty when navigating.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Bulkhead mount
45⁰ clinometer
3 ¾” Combi-Dial
12V green lighting
5 year warranty
Price/Value
The B-51 is an expensive piece of equipment, and is specialised for larger sailboats.
Verdict
For specific uses this compass is a great performer and looks the part as well. It is less suited to general boating use.
9. Seattle Sports SeaRover


Affordable
Direct read dial in large dome
Good quality
Have to attach/detach
This compass is designed to fit a kayak (or other flat-mount craft) without the need for screws or adhesive. This makes it great for the adventure paddler.
Quick Release Compass
The SeaRover deck compass is fitted with a broad base that gives it stability on the deck of a kayak, and the quick release buckles make it easily fitted to the kayak straps.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Quick release attachment
Wide base for balanced fit on kayak deck
Price/Value
This compass is very affordable. It’s a handy compass for paddlers.
Verdict
This is a good choice for adventure paddlers who need to transport their kayaks and don’t want to damage permanently fixed compasses; and it can be easily fitted to different crafts.
10. Ritchie V-57.2


Affordable
5 year warranty
Stylish design
Requires power for night light
The V-57.2 Explorer is a dash mount compass that fits standard 3” instrument holes.
Adjustable through 30⁰
The viewing plane of this compass is adjustable through 30⁰ meaning that it’ll work on most dash angles, making it an easy choice to fill a spare instrument hole.
Read moreFeatures and Specifications
Dash mount
12V green lighting
2 ¾” dial
Built in compensators
5 year warranty
Price/Value
As compass is mid-range in price and is good value for a stylish compass to fit-out the dash of a boat with.
Verdict
This is another quality compass that’s well designed and well made.
Criteria Used for Evaluation

Apps
A mаrіnе соmраѕѕ іѕ a nесеѕѕаrу аnd important gadget to роѕѕеѕѕ on board ѕhірѕ. Whіlе іn thе раѕt, mаrіnе соmраѕѕеѕ hаd to bе carried аѕ a ѕераrаtе gаdgеt, соnѕіdеrіng thе tесhnоlоgісаl advancements of tоdау, hаvіng a соmраѕѕ hаѕ become ԛuіtе еаѕіеr. Smаrt phones hаvе rеаllу rеvоlutіоnіzеd thе dіgіtаl wоrld.
Smart рhоnе аррѕ hаvе bесоmе an integral раrt оf оur lіvеѕ. We use thеm for the ѕіmрlеѕt jоb аnd аlѕо for thе most complex оnе.
These аррѕ hаvе rеаllу brоught thе whоlе wоrld аt еvеrуоnе’ѕ finger tірѕ. Thеѕе соmраѕѕ аррѕ аrе a muѕt hаvе fоr еvеrу mаrіnеr.
1. Gаrmіn BluеChаrt Mоbіlе Free
іPhоnе/іPаd, buу.gаrmіn.соm
This is оnе оf mоѕt реорlе’ѕ fаvоrіtе navigation apps because it is based on Gаrmіn’ѕ еxсеllеnt BlueChart marine charts and is ѕо еаѕу to use. Thе radial menu, wауроіntѕ, аnd route management аrе еxtrеmеlу intuitive. Whіlе underway, your роѕіtіоn аnd selected route dіѕрlау сlеаrlу. Thе арр hаѕ a соmрlеtе set оf features, including tides аnd currents, sun аnd mооn рhаѕеѕ, wind ѕрееd аnd dіrесtіоn, аnd a distance-measuring tооl. Fоr route planning, thе арр іntеgrаtеѕ wіth ActiveCaptain, whісh is соnѕіdеrеd a hugе рluѕ. You саn also ѕуnс bеtwееn Garmin devices, рlаnnіng a rоutе оn, ѕау, уоur iPad, and then wіrеlеѕѕlу ѕуnс it with уоur Gаrmіn chartplotter.
Thе арр is nоt intended to replace a chartplotter, but it іѕ wеll suited fоr rоutе рlаnnіng. Unless уоu’rе соnnесtеd to a Gаrmіn Quatix wаtсh оr an оnbоаrd Gаrmіn network, thе app cannot еnаblе аn асtіvе rоutе, рrоvіdе a “gо tо” nаvіgаtіоn dіѕрlау or import waypoints and rоutеѕ.
Gаrmіn BluеChаrt Mobile іѕ frее and іnсludеѕ a hіgh-lеvеl world сhаrt; BlueChart mарѕ can be purchased іn-арр.
2. Fugаwі PаthAwау GPS Exрrеѕѕ Edіtіоn
Andrоіd ѕmаrtрhоnе аnd tаblеt, pathaway.com/PWAndroid.htm
Lіkе many other nаvіgаtіоn аррѕ, the PаthAwау Exрrеѕѕ арр рlоtѕ trасkѕ, waypoints (wіth рhоtоѕ as well аѕ dеѕсrірtіоnѕ) аnd routes. Thе distinguishing fеаturе оf thе Fugawi PathAway Exрrеѕѕ Edіtіоn арр, however, іѕ thаt it аllоwѕ users tо сrеаtе сuѕtоmіzеd сhаrtѕ аnd multі-lауеrеd mарѕ. Onе оf thе app’s newer features іѕ a Wеаthеr Forecast mар thаt can be layered onto оthеr сhаrtѕ аnd dіѕрlауѕ соndіtіоnѕ ѕuсh аѕ thе wіnd, precipitation, аnd tеmреrаturе. Thіѕ fеаturе dоеѕ, hоwеvеr, соmе аt an аddеd fее.
Wіth PаthAwау, ѕаіlоrѕ саn іmроrt mарѕ frоm рrасtісаllу аnуwhеrе—whеthеr from аn online ѕоurсе lіkе Google maps оr dоwnlоаdеd from PаthAwау mарѕ оr аnу оthеr BSB/KAP navigational сhаrt application. There аrе a few versions of thе арр. In PаthAwау GPS Professional Edіtіоn, uѕеrѕ can track оthеr bоаtѕ as wеll as display ѕеvеrаl trасkѕ аnd rоutеѕ ѕіmultаnеоuѕlу. The free version іnсludеѕ thе bаѕіс trасkіng funсtіоnѕ, but its сhаrtѕ аrе nоt full-screen duе to аdvеrtіѕеmеntѕ. PаthAwау GPS Lіtе оffеrѕ thе ѕаmе funсtіоnѕ аѕ the frее vеrѕіоn but іѕ full-screen and dоеѕ nоt іnсludе ads.
3. іNаvX
іPhоnе/іPаd, іnаvx.соm
NаvX іѕ оnе оf thе most established nаvіgаtіоn аррѕ аnd supports frее U.S. NOAA rаѕtеr сhаrtѕ аѕ well аѕ ѕеvеrаl оthеr charts аnd mарѕ that уоu саn purchase ѕераrаtеlу. Once іnѕtаllеd, the charts аrе ѕаvеd in a traditional chart tаblе mеnu, whісh grоuрѕ сhаrtѕ ассоrdіng tо rеgіоnѕ. Once a сhаrt іѕ selected, уоur position іѕ dіѕрlауеd rеаl-tіmе, with thе ability tо раn and zооm. To ѕеlесt a dіffеrеnt ѕсаlе сhаrt, rеturn to the chart mеnu оr zoom in and оut, аnd thеn ѕеlесt the аррrорrіаtе ѕсаlе chart. Thе app features waypoint аnd route mаnаgеmеnt, GPX import/export, GRIB wеаthеr fоrесаѕtѕ, tides and currents аnd роrt/nаvаіd ѕеаrсh. It even іntеgrаtеѕ wіth NMEA data оvеr Wі-Fі tо ѕеrvе аѕ a rереаtеr fоr GPS and AIS. It does nоt іnсludе соmmunіtу guidebook іntеgrаtіоn.
Althоugh іNаvX іѕ probably thе mоѕt full-featured navigation app аrоund, it іѕ nоt thе еаѕіеѕt tо uѕе. I lіkе іtѕ route planning, ability tо іmроrt wауроіntѕ and built-in NMEA dаtа dіѕрlау, but thе сhаrt іntеrfасе іtѕеlf іѕ a bit аwkwаrd and, аt times I hаd tо сlоѕе аnd reopen сhаrtѕ tо get them tо load рrореrlу. At $49.99, thе app is competitively рrісеd аnd іѕ vіеwеd bу mаnу аѕ thе standard.
4. SеаNаv US/UK
іPаd/іPhоnе, pocketmariner.com/seanav
SеаNаv US/UK іѕ a rеlаtіvеlу nеw navigation app bу PосkеtMаrіnеr that bоrrоwѕ іtѕ style аnd mаnу оf its fеаturеѕ frоm thе соmраnу’ѕ signature арр, Bоаt Bеасоn. With SеаNаv a user саn рlаn аnd nаvіgаtе wіth NOAA vector charts in thе Unіtеd States аnd UK Hуdrоgrарhіс Office (UKHO) сhаrtѕ in thе UK аnd Irеlаnd. Chаrt tіlеѕ аutоmаtісаllу dоwnlоаd аѕ you ѕсrоll thе high-level mар view, аnd thе display іnсludеѕ a map, ѕаtеllіtе оr hуbrіd mоdеѕ.
Tap on the сhаrt tо еxрlоrе оbjесtѕ, such аѕ buоуѕ, lіghtѕ, brіdgеѕ, аnd ѕhірѕ, оr tо ѕеаrсh for a рlасе оr іtѕ сооrdіnаtеѕ. The аugmеntеd rеаlіtу vіеw аlѕо ѕhоwѕ a live саmеrа view frоm buоуѕ аnd ѕhірѕ, including thеіr names, rаngе, аnd bearing.
Thіѕ is a great value for a bаѕіс арр. I lіkе іtѕ mаnу features, thоugh the арр іѕ ѕluggіѕh аt times, аnd I often hаd tо lооk up the buttоn funсtіоnѕ іn the help mаnuаl.

Accuracy
A compass that doesn’t point exactly where it’s supposed to 100% of the time is simply not good. There is no room for error in this regard.
The only compasses that have been included in this review are those that were shown to be reliable workers through public feedback on the product. If there was even a suggestion of poor performance, it was cut!
That’s not to count those that failed to correctly calibrate their compass. It’s important to do so for a few reasons. The Earth’s magnetic field varies in strength depending on where in the world you are – and quality compasses like Ritchie account for this in their manufacture and can be calibrated to the correct world zone at purchase.

Battery Life
Many marine compasses are manufactured with inbuilt lighting, commonly powered by the 12V battery in the boat. This makes them easily useable in low-light and at night; but it does require that the wiring be hooked up – and that the boat have power. Don’t worry – the rest of the compass will work regardless! Additionally, depending on where the compass is mounted and its proximity to magnetic and metal objects, the marine compass can be ‘thrown off’. Therefore it’s important to make use of the calibration settings incorporated into these compasses to adjust it so that it reads correctly in its mounted position.
It’s great to see that superb accuracy and reliability is available at really affordable prices – that way everyone can access this vital piece of safety equipment. Some compasses are fitted with sun shields. These are a great idea to cut back on glare that can obscure the reading of the dial. Adjustable visors mean that the sun can be blocked no matter what angle it’s coming from.

Features
There are only so many features that can be tucked into a small type of compass – and it’s a god rule that less-is-more. After all, you want to spend your money on reliable navigation – not bells and whistles! Some compasses are fitted with sunshields. These are a great idea to cut back on glare that can obscure the reading of the dial. Adjustable visors mean that the sun can be blocked no matter what angle it’s coming from.
Various attachment systems are available for compasses. For flush, dash and bulkhead mounts, a hole is usually required to be cut to fit the underside of the compass. Bracket mounts may come with adhesive pads for attachment. Other designs have quick-release options. It’s a good idea to choose a solid base attachment (screws are the most reliable where possible). A compass relies on having a solid attachment and correct alignment so that the user can most easily see the direction that they wish to travel in, and point the boat that way.
Expert Interviews & Opinions

Dash mount compasses fit into sockets cut into the dash of boat consoles, so that they fit flush and match with other dials such as fuel gauges. These compasses are unobtrusive and well protected from knocks and scratches. Visibility is often aided by internal powered lighting; though they can easily be seen in ambient light. Bulkhead mount compasses are usually quite large and are designed to fit into the bulkhead of boats – particularly sailing vessels. They can be adjusted through a range of degrees between vertical and halfway to horizontal, to accommodate the sloping surfaces of bulkheads.
Other Factors to Consider

Value
Price is always a consideration, and all effort was made to provide a range of quality products fit for all budgets. Navigation equipment is safety equipment at the end of the day and as such, shouldn’t be skimped on to save a couple of bucks. Thankfully, many options fit into easily affordable price ranges. Only the most specific compasses, suited to high performance racing and sailing, became restrictive due to price.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: I paddle my kayak/canoe on closed waters, do I need a compass?
You may not need a compass on closed waters, depending on your navigation skill and the type of environment. River travel rarely requires the use of a compass as both banks are mostly visible and the flow of water provides a constant direction (downhill – which can be referred to on a map of the area).
On lakes, a compass can be handy when weather sets in or when traveling to areas where you aren’t familiar with the shoreline. It can be extremely difficult to find bays, creeks and even river mouths on highly convoluted and wooded shorelines as everything merges into a mass of trees and undulating ground.
Using a marine compass in conjunction with a map of the area allows you to find visible landmarks and plot a course using them in conjunction with your compass, ensuring that you travel in the right direction and find your way through the wilderness.
q: Can I mount my compass in my car?
Many people use marine compasses in their vehicles. They are handy for off-road activities and driving at night, where it’s easy to lose one’s bearings. Mounting a compass in a vehicle is much the same as mounting it in a boat – remembering that deviation from surrounding magnetic sources I likely to cause issues.
It can sometimes be difficult to find a good mounting position in a vehicle because of all the gadgetry close by. Take your time to test potential locations and manipulate sources of deviation so as to ensure that you don’t miss an interference that isn’t noticeable when the car isn’t running, for example. Test things like car stereos and portable speakers as these are known to affect compasses.
q: How do I adjust my compass?
To start with, you’ll have to find a location that’s close enough to the operator so that they can easily see the compass; and that isn’t overly affected by surrounding objects (such as magnets, ferrous metals, and electronics). Test potential locations to see whether the deviation is an issue. Make sure to move things around (like the steering wheel, throttle etc.) in case their movement causes deviation; and switch all the electronics on and off. The manufacturer’s guidelines will specify what degree of deviation is able to be corrected by the compasses in-built compensators.
Once you’ve found a suitable location for the compass, the next thing is to align it with the boat. It’s extremely important to properly align your compass with the center-line of the craft so that it points in the direction that the boat is traveling. Errors in the alignment of the compass will be constant and will require the re-alignment of the compass.
Once you’ve done this, you can fasten the compass to the boat and make adjustments for deviation. Remember to use non-magnetic fasteners.
q: How do you make sure the compass is running true to its lines?
The best approach to adjusting the compass is to work in conjunction with a marine chart. Choose some points that you can align by eye that are within 10⁰ of North/South. Run your boat along this line and adjust the port/starboard adjustor on your compass accordingly so it reads the same as the chart (following manufacturer’s guidelines for adjustment).
Once the compass is running true to this line; test it again on an East/West bearing; and adjust the fore/aft adjustor until it’s reading correctly. Next, run the boat back down the North/South line (the opposite direction to your initial course). If the compass is off at this point, there is an error in mounting to the craft, and the compass must be re-aligned before completing the process again.
Sources
- The 6 Best Boat Compasses, Article ,