Topographical Maps & finding your way with a Compass:

Topographical maps depict land areas in detail,  Unlike charts, (which depict water areas in detail),

Topographical maps (top left) detail natural and artificial land features above water, including elevation contours, shorelines.

Shown also are cultural features such as roads, churches, schools, arenas, water towers, rail lines etc; They are intended for use by the general public on land.

Though sometimes used by boaters where no charts are available, topographic maps, published by Natural Resources Canada, and some provincial authorities, do not show underwater hazards, marine aids to navigation, marine traffic routes or channels, or anchorage areas.  With a compass bearing device - (inset, the map below), they are indispensable tools for hikers and canoeists.

too close, magnetic pull from the cell-phone will cause a magnetic compass to provide a false direction.

Finding your way with a Compass:

Even when visibility is good, it's still easy to lose your sense of direction while out on the water, especially when cruising off the main route through a myriad of strikingly beautiful, but similar islands!

Man has been using the earth's magnetic field for hundreds of years.  Even if today's satellite technology should fail, (and it does from time to time), a properly installed and calibrated magnetic compass can always be relied upon to help an operator of a pleasure craft  find directions.

Practice using your compass during the day when visibility is good.  (Use a pencil to make notes on your charts showing the actual time it takes & compass heading to get from place to place.  This will come in handy if you are ever caught in fog or darkness, but remember to go slow & use sound signals.  In heavy fog, it's best to stop until it clears!)

Keep in mind though, electrical devices, cell-phones, and most metallic objects placed (close) to a magnetic compass will cause it to provide false information.  So make a note of the compass reading before loading your pleasure craft.   Compare the reading after loading to see if it has been affected.  If you have GPS, compare readings while underway.  If it's more than 5° out, you should have it adjusted.

Remember; when using your compass, make sure that knives, tools or electrical devices are not laying close to it.  If your compass is mounted, watch it when you activate an electrical device, (I.e. windshield wipers).  Even just a few degrees of error, will take you way off target, even over a moderate distance.