
#071
TO FIND YOUR POSITION:
1) Select three features that are clearly recognizable 
on your chart—for example, a lighthouse, a small 
harbor, and a church steeple.
2) Using your hand bearing compass, pelorus, or 
sextant, take the bearings of each of the three features. Calculate the number of degrees from the 
central feature to the feature on the right, and from 
the central feature to the feature on the left.
3) Using the stationary arm of the protractor to represent the central feature and the two rotating arms 
to represent the features on either side, set the 
arms to the degrees calculated in Step #2 above. 
To set degrees, place the long black line of each 
rotating arm over the nearest whole degree mark 
on the protractor scale. To set minutes, rotate the 
arm slightly until the desired number of minutes on 
the vernier scale (the scale on the rotating arm) 
lines up exactly with a degree mark on the protractor scale.
4) Without changing the setting of the arms, manipulate the protractor on the chart until the long black 
line on each arm is over the corresponding land 
feature.
5) Mark your position through the center hole of the 
protractor.
THREE-ARM PROTRACTOR
INSTRUCTIONS
Note: This product was discontinued in 2003.
3465 Diablo Ave., Hayward, CA 94545 U.S.A.
Phone (510) 732-9229 • Fax (510) 732-9188
info@davisnet.com www.davisnet.com
071_Inst.pdf  October 2005