USCG Navigation Problems: Master's License

This is an interactive test. Read each question and select the proper answer by clicking on the appropriate answer. If a "Y" appears, your choice is correct. If a "N" appears, more study may be in order.

35: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained at Baton Rouge, LA?
150: Which dayboard would you see on Puntney Light (mile 943.6 AHP)?
263: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the range markers in line directly over the stern. Your heading at the time is 155.5° per gyrocompass. What is the gyro error?
291: What is the height above water of Davis Creek Channel Light "1"? 

    Y a. 15 feet (4.6 meters)
    N b. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
    N c. 19 feet (5.8 meters)
    N d. 24 feet (7.3 meters)
358: From your 0410 fix, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to the entrance to York Spit Channel between buoys "37" and "38"? 

    N a. 152°
    N b. 156°
    Y c. 176°
    N d. 178°
402: A vessel at LAT 38°36'N, LONG 11°36'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°16'N, LONG 71°52'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 236.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    N b. 254.4°T, 2,916.9 miles
    Y c. 254.4°T, 3,203.6 miles
    N d. 285.6°T, 3,203.6 miles
484: You are on a great circle track departing from position LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W. The position of the vertex is LAT 37°35.6'N, LONG 25°57.8'W. The distance along the great circle track from the vertex to a point (X) is 600 miles westward. Determine the position of point (X) on the great circle track. 

    N a. LAT 36°47.5'N, LONG 38°21.8'W
    N b. LAT 36°50.4'N, LONG 38°25.6'W
    Y c. LAT 36°55.6'N, LONG 38°30.0'W
    N d. LAT 37°02.3'N, LONG 38°34.4'W
502: At 2142, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 331°T
Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light 280°T
Old Field Point Light 223°T

What is your 2142 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°02.7'N, LONG 73°01.2'W
    Y b. LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 73°01.7'W
    N c. LAT 41°03.1'N, LONG 73°01.3'W
    N d. LAT 41°03.3'N, LONG 73°01.9'W
522: In clear weather, how far away will you sight Point Judith Light? (use charted range of 20 miles as nominal range) 

    Y a. 14.0 nm
    N b. 12.3 nm
    N c. 10.6 nm
    N d. 9.2 nm
543: What was the current between 0520 and 0600? 

    N a. 201° at 1.0 knot
    N b. 201° at 1.5 knot
    Y c. 021° at 1.5 knot
    N d. 021° at 1.0 knots
669: You are planning a voyage from Cape May (LAT 38°45'N, LONG 74°45'W) to Lisbon (LAT 38°37'N, LONG 09°45'W). Which of the following is TRUE? (Use gnomonic chart WOXZC 5274) 

    N a. Because the latitudes are almost the same, a great circle track approximates a parallel sailing.
    Y b. The northern hemisphere vertex is approximately at longitude 42°26'W.
    N c. The distance is measured by using the length of one degree  of the meridian at the position of the vertex.
    N d. A composite sailing must be plotted to remain south of a limiting latitude of 44°N.
747: On 14 March , at 1845 ZT, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your DR position is LAT 29°10'N, LONG 154°30'W, and your sextant reads 29°53.5'. Your chronometer reads 04h 42m 36s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s slow. Your height of eye is 24 feet, and the index error is 1.3' off the arc. Determine the latitude by Polaris. 

    N a. 29°11.7'N
    N b. 29°15.5'N
    N c. 29°18.0'N
    Y d. 29°21.3'N
810: On 13 October , your 0515 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°53.0'N, LONG 90°05.0'W. Your vessel is on course 068°T, and your speed is 7.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1145 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 54°51.5'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    Y a. 27°12.6'N
    N b. 27°14.1'N
    N c. 27°15.7'N
    N d. 27°16.2'N
1255: On 12 June , your 0400 ZT DR position is LAT 22°31.0'N, LONG 31°45.0'W. You are on course 240°T at a speed of 16.5 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0507
    N b. 0515
    Y c. 0523
    N d. 0645
1264: On 17 November , your 1530 ZT DR position is LAT 27°13.0'S, LONG 153°21.0'W. You are on course 261°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the ZT of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1813
    N b. 1828
    N c. 1834
    Y d. 1845
1431: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 4.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph? 

    N a. 9.5 mph
    Y b. 13.5 mph
    N c. 14.5 mph
    N d. 16.5 mph
1466: On 21 April , your 1542 zone time DR position is LAT 28°54.0'S, LONG 19°07.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 299°psc. The chronometer reads 04h 44m 11s, and the chronometer error is 01m 54s fast. The variation is 3°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 0.3°W
    N b. 0.4°E
    N c. 2.7°W
    N d. 2.7°E
1468: On 17 April , your 1516 zone time DR position is LAT 27°24.0'N, LONG 115°24.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 247°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 16m 26s, and the chronometer error is 00m 32s slow. The variation is 4.5°E. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    N a. 4.5°W
    Y b. 5.4°E
    N c. 6.2°E
    N d. 6.2°W
1707: You are passing the Memphis Gage at 0405, 18 March. If you are turning for 8 mph and estimate the current at 2.3 mph,
what is your ETA at Cairo Point, IL (mile 954.5 AHP)? 

    N a. 0447, 19 Mar
    N b. 1052, 19 Mar
    N c. 1518, 19 Mar
    Y d. 1839, 19 Mar
1808: You are on map #4. What is the mile point of the facility known as Gulf Coast Grain Co.? 

    N a. mile 920 AHP
    N b. mile 921 AHP
    N c. mile 922 AHP
    Y d. mile 923 AHP
1838: What is the distance from Baton Rouge, LA, to St. Louis, MO, on the Mississippi River System? 

    N a. 1038 miles
    Y b. 916 miles
    N c. 690 miles
    N d. 352 miles
1919: On 17 March , your 0520 DR position is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 110°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°47.2'. The chronometer reads 08h 22m 15s, and is 01m 45s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    N d. Deneb
2003: On 20 June , your 1742 zone time DR position is LAT 24°55.0'S, LONG 8°19.6'E. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which three stars are best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Regulus, Canopus, Antares
    N b. Spica, Arcturus, Alioth
    N c. Arcturus, Achernar, Pollux
    N d. Avior, Sabik, Fomalhaut
2213: Controlling depth of a channel __________. 

    Y a. is the least depth within the limits of the channel
    N b. is the greatest depth within the limits of the channel
    N c. permits the safe use of the channel to drafts of more than that depth
    N d. is the designed dredging depth of a channel constructed by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2460: You have steamed 499 miles at 21 knots and burning 462 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 221 barrels per day with 311 miles left in your voyage. What must you reduce your speed (kts) to in order to burn this amount of fuel? 

    N a. 17.3
    Y b. 18.4
    N c. 19.1
    N d. 20.0
2669: You are steering 143°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 18.2 miles at 2006. You change course to pass the light 5.5 miles off abeam to port. If you are making 14.5 knots, what is your ETA at a position 5.5 miles off the light? 

    N a. 2115
    Y b. 2118
    N c. 2121
    N d. 2124
3102: You are turning 88 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 19 feet, and an estimated slip of 0%. What is the speed of advance? 

    Y a. 16.5 knots
    N b. 16.9 knots
    N c. 17.3 knots
    N d. 18.1 knots
3260: You have steamed 726 miles at 17.5 knots, and consumed 138 tons of fuel. If you have 252 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 13.5 knots? 

    N a. 789 miles
    N b. 1326 miles
    N c. 1719 miles
    Y d. 2228 miles
3452: You wish to make good a course of 035°T while turning for an engine speed of 12 knots. The set is 340°T, and the drift is 2 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 027°T
    N b. 037°T
    Y c. 044°T
    N d. 054°T
3455: You wish to make good a course of 230°T while turning for an engine speed of 12.5 knots. The set is 180°T, and the drift is 1.7 knots. What course should you steer? 

    N a. 244°T
    Y b. 236°T
    N c. 231°T
    N d. 222°T
3465: You are underway on course 000°T at 9.5 knots. The current is 082°T at 1.1 knots. What is the course being made good? 

    Y a. 007°T
    N b. 009°T
    N c. 021°T
    N d. 353°T
3620: Your vessel is steering course 197°psc, variation for the area is 7°E, and deviation is 4°W. The wind is from the west, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 192°T
    N b. 196°T
    Y c. 198°T
    N d. 202°T
3635: You desire to make good a true course of 236°. The variation is 8°E, magnetic compass deviation is 1°E, and gyrocompass error is 3°W. A south-southeasterly wind produces a 1° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 226°psc
    N b. 228°psc
    N c. 244°psc
    N d. 246°psc
6446: You continue on course from your 1126 fix. At 1131 Cape Charles Light bears 322°T. At 1135 you change course to 000°T. At 1149 Cape Henry Light bears 247°T. Which statement concerning your 1149 running fix is TRUE? 

    N a. Your fathometer reads 47 feet.
    Y b. You are in a danger area.
    N c. Chesapeake Light is due south of you.
    N d. You are north of Smith Island Shoal.
11107: What is the time (Daylight Savings Time) of the first high tide on 1 July 1983 at Great Salt Pond on Block Island? 

    Y a. 0027
    N b. 0448
    N c. 1158
    N d. 1203
11801: What course should you steer by standard magnetic compass (psc) between Horton Pt. Light and Falkner Island Light, if the set and drift of the current are 040°T at 0.9 knot, and a westerly wind will cause 2° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 10 knots. 

    Y a. 314.0°psc
    N b. 319.0°psc
    N c. 324.5°psc
    N d. 328.5°psc
13005: At 1715 your position is LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 72°40.0'W. You are making turns for 15.5 knots. What is your ETA at a position 1.5 miles due south of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light? 

    N a. 1820
    N b. 1824
    N c. 1828
    Y d. 1832
13509: Sounding contours in unshaded water areas are at what interval? 

    N a. 10 foot up to 100 ft depths then at 30 foot intervals
    Y b. 30 foot intervals
    N c. 10 fathom intervals
    N d. The interval will vary to ensure any major underwater hazard is highlighted.
15040: At about what time will you see Chesapeake Light if visibility is exceptionally clear? 

    Y a. 0729
    N b. 0733
    N c. 0738
    N d. 0742
15725: At 1723 you increase speed to make good 9.2 mph. At 1937 you have a daymark on your port beam. What daymark is this? 

    N a. Tiptonville Ferry Landing Daymark
    N b. Tiptonville Light
    Y c. Merriwether Bend Light and Daymark
    N d. Alaska Light and Daymark
15820: You are northwest of Port Jefferson Harbor steering 242° per standard magnetic compass. As you continue westward, you see that the Port Jefferson Range Front Light and Rear Light come into line. If the deviation table is correct, the bearing of the range should be __________. 

    N a. 140°psc
    N b. 146°psc
    Y c. 157°psc
    N d. 160°psc
15845: If you are going to head directly for Chesapeake Light from your 2111 fix, what is the course to make good? 

    Y a. 190°T
    N b. 193°T
    N c. 196°T
    N d. 199°T
15941: From your 1934 position, you change course to pass 2.0 miles due north of Block Island Sound South Entrance Obstruction Lighted "BIS" Buoy. If you adjust your course only (while maintaining an engine speed of 14 knots) for a set and drift of 230°T at 3.5 knots, what is your ETA and distance off when abeam of Shagwong Reef Lighted Bell Buoy "7SR"? 

    N a. 2003, 4.2 miles
    N b. 2009, 4.2 miles
    N c. 2003, 3.7 miles
    Y d. 2009, 3.7 miles
16042: At 1022 when you complete the evacuation, you get underway on course 098°T and order turns for 14.5 knots. You take the following round of bearings at that time:
Stratford Point Light - 260° per gyrocompass
New Haven Light - 326° per gyrocompass
SW Ledge Light - 358° per gyrocompass

Determine your ETA and distance off when abeam of Falkner Island Light, if there are no set and drift? 

    N a. 1102, 3.0 miles
    Y b. 1108, 3.3 miles
    N c. 1114, 3.1 miles
    N d. 1118, 3.3 miles
16062: At 1930, your vessel is between York River Entrance Channel Lighted Buoys "1YR" and "2". From this position, you change course to 142°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots. At 2000, you take the following bearings: Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light - 131°pgc Thimble Shoal Light - 247°pgc
What were the set and drift between 1930 and 2000? 

    N a. 140°T at 0.2 knot
    Y b. 140°T at 0.4 knot
    N c. 320°T at 0.2 knot
    N d. 320°T at 0.4 knot
16217: Which statement describes the shore between Watch Hill Point and Point Judith? 

    N a. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    Y b. Sandy beaches broken by rocky points
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    N d. Wooded, barren hills with isolated prominent buildings
16267: When Cape Henry Light is abeam, what is the approximate distance to Yorktown, VA? 

    Y a. 34 miles
    N b. 42 miles
    N c. 55 miles
    N d. 58 miles
16318: What true course and speed did you make good between 0730 and 0900? 

    N a. 273°T, 8.7 knots
    Y b. 277°T, 8.4 knots
    N c. 279°T, 8.0 knots
    N d. 284°T, 7.5 knots
16444: At 1042 you take the following round of bearings:

Cape Henry Light 259°T
Chesapeake Light 101°T
Cape Charles Light 006°T
From this position, you set course 070°T at a speed of 9.5 knots.

What is the course per standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 069.5°psc
    N b. 060.5°psc
    Y c. 079.5°psc
    N d. 080.5°psc
16510: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles,
and the closest point on Fishers Island is at a radar range of 2.0 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 9.2 knots
    Y b. 9.8 knots
    N c. 10.6 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots
16709: The coastline between Point Judith and Watch Hill is __________. 

    N a. steep with rocky bluffs
    N b. low and marshy
    Y c. sandy and broken by rocky points
    N d. heavily forested
16718: At 0705, you change course to head for The Race. You wish to leave Race Rock Light bearing due north at 0.4 mile. If the current is 100°T, at 2.8 knots, and you are turning for 12.0 knots, what course (pgc) should you steer? 

    N a. 250°pgc
    N b. 255°pgc
    Y c. 263°pgc
    N d. 267°pgc