The traverse board was used to make dead reckoning. During the watch at sea, the sailed course was recorded every half hour and the speed every hour. At night in the dark this could easily be done by touch. Taking current and tide into account, the position was charted with these data after or during the watch.

The circular part has 32 compass points and eight concentric circles with holes at the intersections. In the middle are eight cords with little pins of bone and wood. On the rectangular part, the miles traveled are recorded. They are indicated from 1 to 10 and tens of miles 1 to 9. Four rows below each other. One for every hour of the watch.

On this interesting traverse board the originally applied paint is still visible. One string is broken but all pins are there.

Catalogue: NM.7-20

Date: 1800 – 1850

D: 20 cm

HB: 37.5×2.5 cm

Signed: not signed

Origin: NW-Europe

Condition: in good and working condition, wear consistent with age and use