[bluescope]

I've seen guys use plumb lines at local noon to get true polar alignment when setting up piers. Here's a link ...... hope it helps !

http://www.shelterinstitute.com/tips/truesouth.htm

Summary:

1) Calculate Solar Noon - NOAA has a nifty web site that calculates this for you:

http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/...e/sunrise.html

2) Hang a plumb bob in the sun (a little before the time of solar noon).
3) Precisely at solar noon, trace the shadow the plumb bob string casts on a horizontal surface - this is the line of true north/south!

p.s. Just found a solar noon calculator that gives you a calendar for the whole year ..... handy to print out !

http://www.spot-on-sundials.co.uk/calculator.html