I am interested in getting a compass for a friend and wanted some suggestions.l was thinking of a pocket compass - are there any brands that better than others?

He sails quite a bit and thought it would be something nice to have.

Thanks.

l will suggest this web site. There you will find every thing for boating. westmarine.com

A compass on a sailboat is a terrific idea & any sailing out of site of land or even in areas where fog or unexpected weather can ubstruct the sight of land,it can become the only point of reference.
Instead of a pocket compass, hand held types, purchased in marine shops, will be more accurate.
Ideally,a large enough sail boat to be out of site of land should have at least two compasses onboard.
One easily observed from the helm & adjusted for the magnetic deviation influenced by either metals close by or electric lines close by,used to keep the boat on course when the helmsman can not see any other point of reference.
The other to assist in determining position for basic navigation,something the skipper will undoubtably already know a lot about.

May l suggest, a handheld GPS instead. Compasses that are handheld have many disadvantages like difficulty to use at night, and in fog. You will know which way your going but little more. GPS will add that all important how far? Walmart has some that are relatively cheap...oops sorry!..inexpensive. AND your friend can use it anywhere, not just on the boat...Just a thought! Good luck!

Agreed, we love our GPS in thick fog!

The Lowrance H2O iFinder handheld, with color LCD display, is great for marine navigation, geocaching, and road trips.