Traverse Board

Object Name: Board, Navigator's

Object ID: 41.2

Date: 1963

Description: The traverse board is a navigational tool used for dead reckoning navigation while at sea. This traverse board is made of oak and mahogany with peg-holes and twine ropes with pegs attached on the ends. It measures distance traveled in nautical miles and the mean compass course in half-hour segments, as well as keeping record of the ship's speed. It was commonly used by sailors in the 17th-century as it does not require literacy to operate and is easy to learn how to use. A replica is on Mayflower II today for educational purposes.