If you're a noob, why are you suffering through manual targeting without all the tools available?
1. It's from the boat. The tool helpers are all North/South related. That's why you need a bearing tool around your boat. There are some, but they only show up when you're super zoomed in, so limited at best for now.
2. 30km maybe? 20+ at least?
3. 12k, I'm really not sure. Somewhere around there, probably less.