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.

48: The Clinch River empties into which river?
99: What is the mile point of the Rosedale Gage?
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?
282: From your 1752 position, you steer 307°pgc at 9 knots. At 1805, you obtain the visual bearings. What are the latitude and longitude of your 1805 position? Old Pt. Comfort Light 232°pgc. Chesapeake Bay Tunnel North Light 130°pgc. 

    Y a. LAT 37°05.9'N,  LONG 76°08.0'W
    N b. LAT 37°06.0'N,  LONG 76°08.4'W
    N c. LAT 37°05.9'N,  LONG 76°07.7'W
    N d. LAT 37°06.1'N,  LONG 76°07.5'W
300: 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 Inland Rules.
386: From your 0715 position, you set a course of 085°T. At 0745 you take the following bearings:

Race Rock Light 278°pgc
Watch Hill Light 049°pgc
Fisher's Island East Harbor Cupola 010°pgc

What was the current encountered between 0715 and 0745? 

    N a. Set 030°T, drift 0.4 knot
    N b. Set 216°T, drift 0.3 knot
    N c. Set 238°T, drift 0.9 knot
    Y d. Set 070°T, drift 0.6 knot
390: A vessel at LAT 29°38.0'N, LONG 93°49.0'W, heads for a destination at LAT 24°38.0'N, LONG 82°55.2'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 115°T, 637 miles
    Y b. 117°T, 658 miles
    N c. 122°T, 648 miles
    N d. 126°T, 665 miles
414: A vessel at LAT 49°45'N, LONG 6°35'W, heads for a destination at LAT 25°50'N, LONG 77°00'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing. 

    Y a. 246.5°T, 3597 miles
    N b. 253.0°T, 3648 miles
    N c. 268.6°T, 3483 miles
    N d. 066.4°T, 3602 miles
464: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 33°53.3'S, LONG 18°23.1'E to LAT 40°27.0'N, LONG 73°49.4'W. 

    N a. 6648.0 miles, 298.7°T
    N b. 6743.5 miles, 302.7°T
    N c. 6750.8 miles, 235.5°T
    Y d. 6763.0 miles, 304.5°T
486: What is your speed from your 0630 position, with Buoy "PI" close abeam, to your 0654 position? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    Y b. 10.5 knots
    N c. 9.3 knots
    N d. 8.2 knots
489: 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 2.1 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 11.4 knots
    N b. 10.6 knots
    Y c. 9.9 knots
    N d. 9.2 knots
490: At 0728, you change course to 080°T. When steady on course, the standard magnetic compass reads 097°. Which statement is TRUE? 

    Y a. The magnetic compass error is 17°W.
    N b. The magnetic heading is 090°.
    N c. The deviation is 1.0°E.
    N d. The gyro course is 083°pgc.
605: At 0915 ZT, on 26 July , you depart Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 14 knots. The distance is 4,245 miles. What is your estimated ZT of arrival at Seattle? 

    Y a. 0728, 7 August
    N b. 1528, 7 August
    N c. 0028, 8 August
    N d. 1528, 8 August
978: On 11 November , your 0730 zone time position was LAT 19°58.0'N, LONG 143°54.0'W. Your vessel was steaming on course 084°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 0931 ZT. The chronometer read 07h 29m 22s and was slow 02m 22s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°17.6'. LAN occurred at 1125 zone time (ZD +10). The observed altitude (Ho) was 52°17.4'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. 142°34.7'W
    N b. 142°37.1'W
    Y c. 142°40.2'W
    N d. 142°44.2'W
1011: On 6 December , your 0800 zone time DR position was LAT 21°48.0'N, LONG 124°30.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 045°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1012 ZT. The chronometer read 02h 10m 42s and was slow 01m 02s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 41°17.1'. LAN occurred at 1129 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°53.7'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 125°25.0'E
    N b. LONG 125°28.9'E
    N c. LONG 125°32.5'E
    Y d. LONG 125°35.2'E
1011: On 6 December , your 0800 zone time DR position was LAT 21°48.0'N, LONG 124°30.0'E. Your vessel was steaming on course 045°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb was made at 1012 ZT. The chronometer read 02h 10m 42s and was slow 01m 02s. The observed altitude (Ho) was 41°17.1'. LAN occurred at 1129 zone time.
The observed altitude (Ho) was 44°53.7'. What was the longitude of your 1200 zone time running fix? 

    N a. LONG 125°25.0'E
    N b. LONG 125°28.9'E
    N c. LONG 125°32.5'E
    Y d. LONG 125°35.2'E
1253: On 8 August , your 0400 ZT DR position is LAT 23°16.0'S, LONG 105°33.0'W. You are on course 295°T at a speed of 25 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0623
    N b. 0629
    Y c. 0636
    N d. 0654
1724: What is the mile point of the Natchez, MS Gage? 

    N a. 228.4 AHP
    N b. 265.4 AHP
    N c. 302.4 AHP
    Y d. 363.3 AHP
1741: You have received orders to proceed to the Amoco Pipeline Co. (mile 253.6 AHP) above Baton Rouge. If your vessel is making turns for 9 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the Amoco docks? 

    N a. 2044, 25 Aug
    N b. 0214, 26 Aug
    N c. 0745, 26 Aug
    Y d. 0845, 26 Aug
1867: On 12 June , your 1845 DR position is LAT 21°47'N, LONG 46°52'W when you observe a faint unidentifiable star through a break in the clouds. The star bears 162°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°36.5'. The index error is 0.5'
on the arc, and the height of eye is 45 feet. The chronometer reads 09h 43m 27s, and the chronometer error is 1m 46s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Gamma Virginis
    Y b. Iota Centauri
    N c. Spica
    N d. Mimosa
1891: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 005°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 203°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 28°12.2'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    N b. Antares
    Y c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
1894: On 22 July , your 0442 DR position is LAT 26°35.6'N, LONG 22°16.7'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 149°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 12°55.0'. The chronometer reads 05h 39m 03s, and is 03m 14s slow. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Hamal
    N b. Rigel
    N c. Menkar
    Y d. Acamar
1922: On 17 March , your 1845 DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 320°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°02.9'. The chronometer reads 10h 47m 49s, and is 1m 54s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Capella
    Y b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Rigel
2006: On 8 November , your 1731 zone time DR position is LAT 27°16.0'N, LONG 137°25.0'W. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Alphecca, Fomalhaut, Schedar
    N b. Antares, Rasalhague, Altair
    N c. Sirius, Hamal, Dubhe
    N d. Peacock, Ankaa,  Al Na'ir
2089: At your current speed of 18 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 316 miles. You must travel 731 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 10.4
    Y b. 11.8
    N c. 13.2
    N d. 14.6
2119: At 1622 ZT, on 15 June , in DR position LAT 10° 15.2' N, LONG 135° 10' W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon, bearing 101.2°psc. The variation is 5° E. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 1.5°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    N c. 0.5°E
    N d. 0.5°W
2287: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 34°51.4' on 18 October . The index error is 2.0' off the arc. The height of eye is 54 feet (16.5 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    Y a. 35°01.2'
    N b. 35°03.6'
    N c. 35°05.2'
    N d. 35°07.4'
2290: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 75°12.3' on 6 August . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 32 feet (9.8 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 75°18.6'
    Y b. 75°24.0'
    N c. 75°30.7'
    N d. 75°34.6'
2405: You are underway and intend to make good a course of 350°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 070°T at 1.5 knots, and a westerly wind produces a leeway of 4°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 10 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 350°T? 

    N a. 9.4 knots
    N b. 9.8 knots
    Y c. 10. 2knots
    N d. 10.6 knots
2862: Your are on course 317°T at 13 knots. A light is bearing 22.5° relative at 0640. At 0659 the same light is bearing 45° relative. At what time should the light be abeam? 

    N a. 0709
    Y b. 0712
    N c. 0718
    N d. 0721
3093: If the pitch of the propeller is 23.2 feet, and the revolutions per day are 94,910, calculate the day's run allowing 11% negative slip. 

    N a. 322.3 miles
    N b. 362.3 miles
    N c. 382.0 miles
    Y d. 402.0 miles
3112: While enroute from Montevideo to Walvis Bay a vessel's course is 116°psc. The variation for the locality is 25°W and the deviation is 6°W. What is the true course made good if a southerly wind produces 1° leeway? 

    Y a. 084°T
    N b. 086°T
    N c. 148°T
    N d. 085°T
3256: You have steamed 918 miles at 15.0 knots, and consumed 183 tons of fuel. If you have 200 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 12 knots? 

    N a. 1021 miles
    N b. 1261 miles
    Y c. 1568 miles
    N d. 1960 miles
3464: You are underway on course 315°T at 14 knots. The current is 135°T at 1.9 knots. What is the course being made good? 

    N a. 130°T
    Y b. 315°T
    N c. 317°T
    N d. 322°T
3615: You want to make good a true course of 137°. A north-northeast wind produces a 3° leeway. The variation is 11° west, deviation is 5° east, and gyrocompass error is 2° east. What course must you steer per gyrocompass to make the true course good? 

    Y a. 132°pgc
    N b. 134°pgc
    N c. 136°pgc
    N d. 138°pgc
3765: Your vessel is proceeding up a channel steering on a pair of range lights that are in line ahead. The chart indicates that the direction of this pair of lights is 249°T, and the variation is 14°E. If the heading of your vessel at the time of the sighting is 226° per standard magnetic compass, what is the correct deviation? 

    N a. 5°E
    N b. 5°W
    Y c. 9°E
    N d. 9°W
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
11302: At 1614 your GPS position is LAT 37°01.6'N, LONG 75°31.7'W. At 1703 your position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. What was the course made good between the fixes? 

    Y a. 238°T
    N b. 242°T
    N c. 247°T
    N d. 250°T
11406: At 2021 your position is LAT 41°09.7'N, LONG 72°59.8'W. At 2057 your position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. What are your true course and speed made good? 

    Y a. 140° at 20 knots
    N b. 145° at 18 knots
    N c. 316° at 19 knots
    N d. 320° at 17 knots
12205: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 160° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Southwest Ledge Light and New Haven Outer Channel Range Rear Light in line dead astern. What is the deviation of the compass based on this observation? 

    Y a. 2°E
    N b. 2°W
    N c. 5°E
    N d. 5°W
12700: You are on course 073° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Watch Hill Point Light 037°psc Montauk Point Light 179°psc Race Rock Light 289°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°54.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°13.7'N, LONG 71°53.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.7'N, LONG 71°54.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°13.8'N, LONG 71°54.3'W
13002: At 0829 your position is LAT 41°02.9'N, LONG 72°57.4'W. You are making turns for 8.5 knots. What is your ETA at a position midway between buoys "1" and "2" at the entrance of New Haven Outer Channel? 

    N a. 0925
    N b. 0931
    N c. 0938
    Y d. 0944
14104: You are approaching Bonneville Lock and Dam. Which FM-radio channel should be used to communicate with the lockmaster? 

    N a. 13
    Y b. 14
    N c. 15
    N d. 16
14602: Where would you tune your radio to receive a VHF-FM weather broadcast for the Columbia River in the vicinity of Government Island? 

    N a. KIH-32 - 162.40 MHz
    N b. KBA-99 - 162.40 MHz
    Y c. KEB-97 - 162.55 MHz
    N d. KEC-62 - 162.55 MHz
15062: If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass from your 0802 fix to a position 1.1 miles north of Falkner Island Light? 

    N a. 064°psc
    N b. 068°psc
    N c. 091°psc
    Y d. 095°psc
15208: At 1750, your position is LAT 37°14.5'N, LONG 76°22.9'W. What was the course made good between 1730 and 1750? 

    N a. 072°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 078°T
    N d. 080°T
15667: At 0815, you change course to 079°T. To compensate for a southerly wind, you estimate a 3° leeway is necessary. Which course should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 079°T? 

    N a. 090°psc
    N b. 093°psc
    N c. 095°psc
    Y d. 099°psc
15807: You are southeast of Saybrook Breakwater Light passing Saybrook Bar Lighted Bell Buoy "8". This buoy marks __________. 

    Y a. shoal water
    N b. a tide rips area
    N c. the junction with the Connecticut River
    N d. a sunken wreck
16438: Chesapeake Channel is temporarily closed to traffic.
At 2215 you anchor on the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light 358°pgc
Light "HH" 301°pgc
New Point Comfort Light "2" 263°pgc

What is your 2215 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°18.3'N, LONG 76°10.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°18.2'N, LONG 76°11.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°18.1'N, LONG 76°10.8'W
    N d. LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 76°11.2'W