Compass Propelled Boat by Swinging Side to Side

While spinning the boat in a complete circle slowing and speeding up at just the right parts of the cycle is best, maneuvering the boat side to side with the magnets is a little easier to accomplish and also makes the effect more understandable.

Another way to think of it is that the torque from the magnet interacting with Earth's magnetic field pushes through near the center of the mass of the boat before it can move due to its inertia which restricts its motion at first.

Stay tuned:)