Shop marine navigation products from Bainbridge International Retail, including Plastimo compasses, handbearing compasses, boat compasses, and navigation accessories for sailors, cruisers, dinghies, kayaks, and small boats. Bainbridge has served the marine industry since 1917, is the official U.S. distributor of Plastimo, and now offers select navigation products direct to retail customers online.
Compass Balancing Zones Explained
Marine compasses are balanced for different regions of the world because the Earth’s magnetic field affects compass cards differently depending on location. Choosing the correct compass zone helps keep the compass card stable, accurate, and easy to read.
Zone A – Northern Hemisphere
Best for the United States, Canada, Europe, and most northern boating regions.
Zone B – Equatorial / Mid-Southern Regions
Used for regions such as the South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Central Pacific, Tahiti, and Réunion.
Zone C – Southern Hemisphere / South Pacific
Used for Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and the South Pacific.
Zone ABC – Worldwide / Globally Balanced
Designed for use across multiple zones and long-distance cruising.
For most U.S. boaters, Zone A or Zone AB is typically the right choice. Sailors traveling internationally or across multiple compass zones may prefer a Zone ABC worldwide-balanced compass.
For U.S. customers, eligible products ship from our U.S. warehouse locations. Orders over $150 ship free within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and the Plastimo Iris 50 Compass ships free.
