Protractor bearings simplified
4,975
Published 2024-02-25
Here's a brief and simplified explanation:
Orientation: Ensure your protractor is aligned with the lines on your map.
Draw a line between two points: This could be your location to the destination or any two points on the map.
Reading the Bearing: Place the protractor on the map with the first point at the centre of the protractor. Read the bearing / azimuth where the drawn line cuts through the edge of the protractor.
It really is as simple as that.
Note that this is a Grid bearing / azimuth: If you intend to set your compass to follow it you may need to adjust for the local declination.
Remember, while a protractor can provide approximate bearings, for precise navigation, especially in outdoor activities like hiking or orienteering, it's essential to use a map and compass to ensure the route is safe to travel.
All Comments (21)
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I enjoy the fact that you always try to keep things simple!
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That was simplified! Excellent presentation, so many take too long and contain unnecessary information. Thanks
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What a pleasure to watch a video that gets straight to the point without a load of waffle. An excellent, clear, concise explanation of how to use a protractor with a map.
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Simple and to the point, my kind of tutorial! Thanks again for this brilliant series, I can navigate using a map and compass but love watching them anyway and sometimes learn something new. Caer Caradoc is one of my favourite wild camping places, stunning part of England.
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navigation courses shall be mandatory at primary schools!. Thank you for sharing !
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Totally enjoy your informative videos, you certainly know your stuff 🇦🇺👍🇬🇧
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Very helpful. Enjoy your channel. Great explanations and easy to understand.
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Thank you, this really simplified what has been a confusing topic.
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This is gold. Gonna add it in my hiking kit if the compas fails.
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you can also use the string on the square protractor.
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I love your videos. They are quite informative and very well done.
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Thank you, another great video
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Excellent share
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Another brilliant idea, thank you! Quick question, does the bearing on the protractor need to be adjusted before using it with my compass if I’ve adjusted my compass for my local declination?
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So with one of these, ANY compass can be used with a map, as if it was a baseplate :D
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Εxcellent presentation.
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Been looking at these protractors and it seems simple enough to take a bearing but the other function on these, the scale readers to help take coordinates seem wrong, in nearly every example I see. For instance, if you look at the L ruler for 1/25000 the ruler line you use for horizontal measure of a grid square ascends in 100m units from right to left instead of left to right. Are these all designed for southern hemisphere or am I going daft? Edit- I've just seen your other video explaining this, and someone elses, but it still seems more logical to do the rulers the otherway around. Noticed the Australian Army has them the same way as the ones used in this vid
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👍
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I would have stayed for the long version 😂 I do however, appreciate the straightforward explanation 😊 Do you routinely carry a protractor when you are hiking?
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Imagine flying to Germany in the dark with an aircraft full of bombs to deposit and even worse having some guy with only one of those protractors and a map to get you back home.
