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.

101: At 1430 on 13 August, you pass Carolina Landing Light (mile 508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 0230, 13 August if you have been making turns for 8.0 mph?
244: Your vessel is entering New London Harbor Channel. If there is no current, what should you steer per gyro compass to stay on the range?
271: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. What is the approximate charted depth of the water?
280: Your 1752 position places you __________. 

    N a. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    Y b. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
287: If the visibility is 11 miles, what is the luminous range of New Point Comfort Spit Light "4"? 

    N a. 6.5 mile
    Y b. 5.0 miles
    N c. 3.3 miles
    N d. 2.0 miles
313: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading? 

    Y a. 125°psc
    N b. 122°psc
    N c. 119°psc
    N d. 108°psc
391: A vessel at LAT 40°42.0'N, LONG 74°01.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 14°41.0'N, LONG 17°26.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 123°T, 3066.5 miles
    N b. 123°T, 3065.6 miles
    N c. 118°T, 3066.5 miles
    Y d. 118°T, 3365.0 miles
393: A vessel at LAT 32°14.7'N, LONG 66°28.9'W, heads for a destination at LAT 36°58.7'N, LONG 75°42.2'W. Determine the distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 241.2° miles
    N b. 270.2° miles
    N c. 300.2° miles
    Y d. 538.2° miles
435: Which course should you change to per standard magnetic compass as you pass SW Ledge Light to remain in the channel? 

    N a. 026°psc
    Y b. 022°psc
    N c. 014°psc
    N d. 007°psc
548: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road? 

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    N b. Above the Thames River Bridge
    Y c. In the Race
    N d. You will not be governed by the Rules.
553: At 0507, Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Light bears 208°pgc. What is the position of your 0507 running fix? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.6'N, LONG 73°04.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°04.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°04.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 73°05.1'W
598: At 1132, 24 July, you pass Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP). What is your ETA off the Memphis Gage if you average 8.0 mph? 

    N a. 2345, 25 July
    N b. 0525, 26 July
    Y c. 0947, 26 July
    N d. 2215, 26 July
740: On 14 March , your 1846 ZT DR position is LAT 21°57.6'N, LONG 132°16.2'W. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 22°16.8'. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 32s slow. The index error is 3.2' off the arc, and the height of eye is 44.9 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris? 

    N a. 21°32.4'N
    Y b. 21°49.8'N
    N c. 21°51.0'N
    N d. 21°53.1'N
825: On 15 August , an ex-meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb at upper transit was observed at 1130 ZT. Your DR position is LAT 26°24.0'S, LONG 155°02.0'E, and your sextant altitude (hs) is 48°45.9'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 51.5 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 01h 27m 38s, and the chronometer error is 02m 14s slow. Find the latitude at meridian transit from the ex-meridian observation. 

    N a. LAT 26°32.6'S
    Y b. LAT 26°51.6'S
    N c. LAT 26°57.0'S
    N d. LAT 27°09.9'S
1007: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 17°46'N, LONG 139°30'W. You are on course 129°T, speed 24 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1220 138°25.0' N 18°22.3' 88°43.3'
1226 139°55.0' N 18°22.2' 88°24.0' 

    N a. LAT 17°24.0'N, LONG 138°59.8'W
    N b. LAT 17°21.6'N, LONG 138°56.2'W
    N c. LAT 17°18.7'N, LONG 139°07.6'W
    Y d. LAT 17°15.1'N, LONG 139°00.0'W
1301: As you approach Casting Yard Dock Lt. (mile 265.4 AHP) you notice on the map a circle with 2 black sectors. This symbol indicates a __________. 

    N a. lock
    N b. warning sign
    Y c. river gage
    N d. mooring buoy
1409: As you pass Solitude Lt. (mile 249.0 AHP) which dayboard would you see? 

    N a. Green square
    Y b. Green diamond
    N c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
1419: Which light will you be passing at 0059, on 22 September, if you make good 9.2 knots? 

    Y a. Obion Bar Lt.
    N b. Kate Aubrey Lt.
    N c. Trotter Lt.
    N d. Quaker Oats Lt.
1458: On 6 August , your 1552 zone time DR position is LAT 24°26.0'S, LONG 73°19.0'E. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 302°psc. The chronometer reads 10h 55m 07s, and the chronometer error is 02m 38s fast. The variation is 6°E. What is the deviation of the standard magnetic compass? 

    N a. 4.1°W
    N b. 4.6°E
    N c. 5.9°E
    Y d. 6.1°W
1492: On 22 February , your 2045 ZT position is LAT 33°19'N,
LONG 52°06'W. You observe Polaris bearing 358.1°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 048°pgc and 065°psc. The variation is 19°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 1°E
    Y b. 3°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W
1500: On September 9 , your 2130 zone time (ZD +5) DR position is LAT 45°08'N, LONG 82°38'W. At that time, you observe Polaris bearing 000.5°pgc. The chronometer time of the observation is 02h 26m 09s, and the chronometer is 1m 43s slow. The variation is 8.7°W. What is the gyro error? 

    Y a. 0.7°E
    N b. 1.2°E
    N c. 0.8°W
    N d. 9.4°W
1839: What are the dimensions of the channel maintained from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, LA? 

    N a. 30 feet x 300 feet
    N b. 40 feet x 300 feet
    N c. 30 feet x 500 feet
    Y d. 45 feet x 500 feet
2091: At your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 422 miles. You must travel 844 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 19.8
    N b. 18.4
    N c. 17.0
    Y d. 15.6
2120: At 1502 ZT, on 4 August , in DR position LAT 11° 21.6' S, LONG 088° 14.3' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 289° psc. The variation is 15° W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.1°E
    Y b. 1.1°W
    N c. 1.9°E
    N d. 1.9°W
2158: On 26 May , your vessel's 1906 zone time position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 24°37.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the planet Jupiter was made. The sextant altitude is 63°27.6', and the chronometer reads 09h 05m 16s. The index error is 5.2' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 25s slow. Your height of eye is determined to be 52.6 feet. What is the (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 011.3°T
    Y b. 168.7°T
    N c. 191.3°T
    N d. 348.7°T
2160: On 17 April , your vessel's 1856 zone time DR position is LAT 22°35.0'N, LONG 63°15.0'W. At that time, a sextant observation of the star Sirius is made. The sextant altitude is 42°45.0' and the chronometer reads 10h 59m 27s.
The index error is 2.6' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 03m 01s fast. Your height of eye is determined to be 45 feet. What is the computed altitude (hc) and azimuth (Zn) for this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 42°40.0', 214.9°T
    N b. 42°40.0', 325.1°T
    Y c. 42°51.6', 214.9°T
    N d. 42°51.6', 325.1°T
2166: On 10 January , at 0550 ZT, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 123°18.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 22.0 knots on a course of 295°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 ZT. The chronometer reads 05h 14m 02s, and the sextant altitude is 24°00.7'. The index error is 2.6' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 34s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 55.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 127.8°T
    N b. 129.8°T
    Y c. 131.9°T
    N d. 133.6°T
2696: You are underway on course 059°T at a speed of 13.8 knots.
You sight a light bearing 064°T at a radar range of 5.1 miles at 1839. If you change course at 1845, what is the course to steer to leave the light abeam to starboard at 1.0 mile? 

    N a. 047°T
    Y b. 050°T
    N c. 053°T
    N d. 058°T
2873: Your vessel is on a course of 103°T at 14 knots. At 1918 a light bears 129.5°T, and at 1937 the light bears 148°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 1947, 2.8 miles
    N b. 1950, 3.2 miles
    N c. 1953, 3.8 miles
    Y d. 1956, 4.4 miles
2895: You are steaming on a course of 246°T at 17 knots. At 2107 you observe a lighthouse bearing 207°T. At 2119 the lighthouse bears 179°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 3.9 miles
    N b. 4.2 miles
    Y c. 4.6 miles
    N d. 5.1 miles
2896: You are steaming on a course of 133°T at 16 knots. At 2216 you observe a lighthouse bearing 086°T. At 2223 the lighthouse bears 054°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing? 

    N a. 1.7 miles
    N b. 2.0 miles
    N c. 2.3 miles
    Y d. 2.6 miles
3648: The true course between two points is 312°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3°W. You make an allowance of 4° leeway for a west by south wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good? 

    N a. 305°pgc
    Y b. 311°pgc
    N c. 315°pgc
    N d. 318°pgc
10109: What is the base course (psc) in the inbound northeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme? 

    Y a. 261°psc
    N b. 258°psc
    N c. 250°psc
    N d. 244°psc
10306: You are 3 miles due east of Montauk Point Light. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to LAT 41°00.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W? 

    N a. 145.5°psc
    Y b. 142.5°psc
    N c. 138.5°psc
    N d. 127.0°psc
10901: The area around Cape Charles is _______________ . 

    Y a. low and bare, but the land back of it is high and wooded
    N b. composed of low to medium rolling hills
    N c. well defined with rocky outcroppings
    N d. marked by high, barren hills
10903: What is the distance from Norfolk to Philadelphia for a deep draft vessel via the Chesapeake Bay and C and D Canal ? 

    N a. 209 miles
    Y b. 245 miles
    N c. 286 miles
    N d. 302 miles
11100: Block Island is __________. 

    N a. surrounded by wide sandy beaches
    N b. a low, marshy island
    Y c. hilly with elevations to 200 feet (60.5 m)
    N d. a national bird sanctuary
11501: At 2016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°33.8'W. At 2128 your position is LAT 41°00.4'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the speed made good between the two positions? 

    N a. 11.9 knots
    N b. 10.2 knots
    N c. 8.9 knots
    Y d. 6.7 knots
12612: You are on course 242° per standard magnetic compass (psc) when you take the following bearings: Stratford Point Light 325°psc Old Field Point Light 239°psc Middle Ground Light 270°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°04.4'N, LONG 72°59.5'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.1'N, LONG 72°59.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°00.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°04.8'N, LONG 73°59.3'W
13307: The soundings on the chart are based on the depth of water available at __________. 

    N a. mean low water
    Y b. mean lower low water
    N c. mean high water
    N d. mean high water springs
13702: What chart should you use in Lynnhaven Bay (west of Cape Henry)? 

    N a. 12221
    N b. 12256
    N c. 12205
    Y d. 12254
13703: NOAA weather broadcasts can be received on what frequency while navigating off Cape Henry? 

    N a. 162.45 MHz
    Y b. 162.55 MHz
    N c. 162.65 MHz
    N d. 162.70 MHz
14205: You are off the coast of Mexico and are taking a time tick for 1600. At approximately 1554, you hear the preparatory signal "VVVV de XDD" from the time signal station. Then you hear a series of 1 second dashes followed by a 9 second silent period and then a long 1.3 second dash. At the beginning of the long dash, your comparing watch reads 03h 59m 56s. When compared to the chronometer, the comparing watch reads 04h 01m 22s, and the chronometer reads 04h 02m 11s. What is the chronometer error? 

    N a. 0m 04s slow
    N b. 2m 15s slow
    Y c. 0m 45s fast
    N d. 1m 26s fast
15260: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 4°
leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course? 

    N a. 101°psc
    N b. 108°psc
    N c. 110°psc
    Y d. 115°psc
15406: At 1400, your position is LAT 37°14.7'N, LONG 76°22.3'W. From this position, you head for the York River Entrance Channel Buoy "17". What should you steer per standard magnetic compass for this heading? 

    N a. 108°psc
    N b. 119°psc
    N c. 122°psc
    Y d. 125°psc
15514: From your 1850 fix, you come left to a course of 280°T,
while maintaining a speed of 10 knots. Which of the following combinations of available Loran-C lines would give the best cross for position determining? 

    Y a. 9960-Y and 9960-W
    N b. 9960-X and 9960-Y
    N c. 9960-W and 9960-X
    N d. All are equally good.
15541: You alter course to make good 076°T from your 2200 fix,
and estimate you will make 13.6 knots over the ground. If the visibility is 5.5 miles, what is the earliest time you will sight Falkner Island Light? (nominal range 13 miles) 

    N a. The light is visible at 2200
    N b. 2221
    Y c. 2236
    N d. You will not sight the light
15843: You continue to steer 195°T. You pass Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14", 0.9 miles abeam to starboard at 2111. Your speed made good from 2045 to 2111 is __________. 

    N a. 13.7 knots
    N b. 14.1 knots
    N c. 14.5 knots
    Y d. 14.8 knots
16011: At 0415, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 329.5°pgc
Middle Ground Light 223.5°pgc
Old Field Point Light 199.5°pgc

Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. You are to the right of your intended track line.
    N b. The current's drift is greater than predicted.
    N c. The course made good since 0352 is 081°T.
    N d. Your fathometer reads about 76 fathoms.
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
16462: Which statement about your 0400 position is TRUE? 

    Y a. You are within the territorial sea and contiguous zone.
    N b. You are governed by the Inland Rules of the Road.
    N c. The ocean floor is composed of shale.
    N d. Anchoring, trawling and fishing are prohibited.
16464: At 0405, you increase speed. At 0500, your position is LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 75°41.1'W. What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 66 feet (20.0 meters)
    N b. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N c. 54 feet (16.4 meters)
    Y d. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
16720: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°
pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time. Which of the following is TRUE? 

    Y a. The gyro error is still 2°E.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The true line of the range is 072°.