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Plastimo has specialized in marine navigation instruments since 1972. Its compass range combines French manufacturing with decades of marine-specific design experience, clear readability and practical installation options for sailboats, powerboats and small craft. Plastimo offers everything from portable hand-bearing compasses to larger steering compasses for offshore and blue-water sailing.

Plastimo marine compasses are made in France. The brand's compass expertise is closely connected to Lorient, France, where Plastimo established its Navigation department in 1972 and developed the original Contest compass. This long-standing French marine heritage continues to shape Plastimo's approach to compass design and manufacturing.

A magnetic compass must compensate for differences in magnetic inclination around the world. Plastimo's universal-balance technology allows certain compass models to operate across multiple magnetic zones. For sailors who travel between regions or plan extended cruising, an ABC-zoned or universally balanced compass can provide broader geographic compatibility without requiring a different compass for each region.

Compass zones identify the magnetic region for which a compass is balanced. Zone A generally covers Northern Hemisphere regions with moderate magnetic inclination, Zone B covers regions closer to the magnetic equator and Zone C covers Southern Hemisphere regions with greater magnetic inclination. AB models provide broader northern and equatorial compatibility, while ABC models are designed for wider worldwide use. Check the zone listed for the specific compass before purchasing.

Consider your boat type and size, steering position, mounting location and normal viewing distance. Also consider whether you need night lighting, a portable hand-bearing compass or a permanently installed steering compass, and whether your cruising area requires a particular magnetic zone. Plastimo offers hand-bearing, bulkhead, flush-mount, bracket-mounted and pedestal compass options for different boats and helm arrangements.

The Plastimo Iris family includes portable and hand-bearing compasses for bearings and general onboard navigation. Offshore models are fixed steering compasses offered in several sizes and mounting configurations. Contest compasses are designed primarily around sailboat bulkhead installation, while Olympic compasses use larger cards intended for easier reading from steering positions on larger sailboats. Mini Contest models bring the Contest concept to smaller sailboats and sportboats.

A hand-bearing compass can be used to take bearings on landmarks, check headings from different positions onboard or provide portable navigation on dinghies, kayaks and small boats. The Plastimo Iris 50 functions as both a hand-bearing and traditional compass. Its optical system is designed for accurate reading without parallax error, while photoluminescent illumination supports use in low-light conditions.

Plastimo Offshore compasses are designed for clear heading information from the helm and durable marine installation. Depending on the model, features can include universal balance, LED lighting, protective hoods and multiple installation options. Larger Offshore models can also use shock-absorbing magnetic-cell mounting to help protect compass performance from vibration and hull impacts.

The original Plastimo Contest was introduced in 1972 and helped establish Plastimo's reputation in marine navigation. Its distinctive design allowed compass information to be read from both the cockpit and cabin. Current Contest models continue to emphasize sailboat readability, compact bulkhead installation and practical viewing angles from the helm.

A larger compass card can be easier to read from greater distances, making it useful at a wheel pedestal or larger steering station. The Plastimo Olympic 135 is designed for larger sailboats and uses a large apparent compass card, with installation options suited to flush or pedestal mounting. Larger steering compasses can be especially useful where the helmsman sits farther from the instrument.

The Mini Contest 2 is designed for smaller sailboats and sportboats where cockpit or bulkhead space is limited. Its compact bulkhead-mounted design provides a permanent steering reference without requiring the space of a larger helm compass. It combines a conical compass card with multiple lubber lines and LED illumination.

A flush-mount compass is recessed into a horizontal or angled surface for a clean, low-profile installation. A bulkhead compass mounts through a vertical or inclined bulkhead and is particularly common on sailboats. A bracket-mounted compass uses a separate mounting bracket and can provide greater flexibility where cutting into the helm or console is not practical. The best format depends on available space, viewing angle and helm layout.

GPS, chartplotters and magnetic compasses provide different types of navigation information. Electronic systems provide position, routing and chart information, while a magnetic compass provides a direct heading reference without depending on satellite reception, software or the boat's primary electronics. Many boaters therefore use a magnetic compass as a practical complement to electronic navigation.

Install the compass where it can be read easily from the normal steering position and where nearby magnetic or electrical equipment will have minimal influence on the reading. Speakers, electrical equipment, tools and other magnetic materials can affect compass accuracy. Follow the installation and compensation instructions provided for the specific Plastimo compass and verify the compass after installation.