In my early days on the water as a mate on a 56 foot Snapper Boat (bottom fishing by hook and line) we navigated on transits by means of a depth finder and hand held transistor radio using standard commercial AM broadcast stations.
If we were trying to be "precise" we might include the boat's heading using the Compass.
Later we moved up to using LORAN with a receiver that used an oscilloscope display to determine what lines we were on (similar to DECCA) to return to good fishing spots.
Now today...the guys use GPS and all of the fun is taken out of the exercise.
Even now we use landmarks or Stars when running at night even with the GPS.
The GPS gives you the desired track to the next turn....and the landmark gives you a visual steering point for holding a steady heading.
From my Army days....it is possible to follow a fellow Soldiers Mess Kit.
Pouring rain at night compounded by the need for Light Discipline meant getting under another guys Poncho to allow reading a map by flashlight and using a compass to orient the map.....in close proximity to his Back Pack and assorted gear which attracted the Compass.....can you say the word "Lost"?