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.


142: As you approach West Memphis Lt. (mile 727.4 AHP) you notice on the map a dashed line crossing the river. This line indicates a __________.


203: At 1800, your position is LAT 41°06.5'N, LONG 71°43.5'W. How would the buoy which bears 030°T from your position at a range of approximately 0.5 mile be painted?


219: At 1630, you reach point A and come right to 204°T. Your engine speed is 12 knots. Your 1715, position is LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 75°37.4'W. The current was __________.


240: At 1100, your position is LAT 41°11.3'N, LONG 72°28.0'W. You are steering a course of 069°T to leave Black Point one mile off your port beam. It has been reported that the Long Sand Shoal Buoys and Hatchett Reef Buoys are off station. Which of the following will serve as a line marking the hazards and keep your vessel in safe water?

    N a. A bearing to Little Gull Island Light of not less than 090°
    N b. Maintaining a 7nm range off Orient point
    Y c. Danger bearing to Black Point of not more than 064°T
    N d. A distance to Saybrook Breakwater Light of not less than 1.3 miles

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

338: You passed Cape Henry Light at 0730 outbound at maximum flood. What approximate current can you expect on entering Chesapeake Channel?

    N a. Slack before ebb
    N b. Slack before flood
    Y c. Flood current
    N d. Ebb current

356: At 0410, you take the following bearings:

New Point Comfort Light "2" 242°T
Wolf Trap Light 313°T
Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 262°T

What is your 0410 position?

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N d. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.2'W

443: At 1104, Watch Hill Point Light is in line with Stonington Outer Breakwater Light, the range to the south tip of Watch Hill Point is 2.6 miles and the range to the beach is 1.9 miles. You are steering to make good 075°T, speed 10.0 knots. At 1110, you change course to head for a position of LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. What is the true course?

    N a. 193°
    Y b. 190°
    N c. 187°
    N d. 185°

449: You estimate the current to be 160°T at 1.2 knots. What should your course and speed be in order to make good 000°T at 10 knots?

    N a. 358°T at 09.8 knots
    Y b. 358°T at 11.1 knots
    N c. 002°T at 11.2 knots
    N d. 002°T at 09.9 knots

459: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 25°47.0'N, LONG 79°59.5'W to LAT 38°42.0'N, LONG 09°10.5'W.

    N a. 3341.0 miles, 063°T
    N b. 3347.0 miles, 063°T
    N c. 3427.8 miles, 061°T
    Y d. 3588.6 miles, 059°T

488: At 0705, with your gyro again functioning properly, you change course to 096°T. At this time Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    Y a. International Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

579: Which loran line of position will serve as a danger reading on the loran to keep you west of the submerged obstruction at LAT 37°24.2'N, LONG 76°03.7'W, after you leave York Spit Channel?

    Y a. Not less than 9960-X-27246
    N b. Not more than 9960-Y-41595
    N c. Not less than 9960-Y-41595
    N d. Not less than 9960-Z-58622

735: On 22 August , your 1852 zone time DR position is LONG 155°54.0'E. At that time you observe Polaris with a sextant altitude (hs) of 27°36.9'. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 54m 06s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s fast. The index error is 3.6' off the arc, and the height of eye is 61.5 feet. What is your latitude by Polaris?

    N a. 27°05.5'N
    N b. 27°31.0'N
    Y c. 28°05.9'N
    N d. 28°09.5'N

833: On 17 November , in DR position LAT 01°14.4'S, LONG 148°45.5'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the planet Venus at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 05h 31m 42s, and the chronometer error is 01m 50s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 64°41.1'. The index error is 1.8' off the arc, and your height of eye is 50 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. LAT 01°14.4'S
    N b. LAT 01°16.3'S
    Y c. LAT 01°18.0'S
    N d. LAT 01°20.2'S

1294: What are the light characteristics of Greenwood Light (mile 288.6 AHP)?

    N a. Fixed red light
    Y b. 2 red flashes every 5 seconds
    N c. 1 red flash every 4 seconds
    N d. 2 white flashes every 4 seconds

1425: At 1227, on 19 October, you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What speed must you average to arrive at Jimmy Hawken Light (mile 663.5 AHP) at 0930 the following day?

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    N c. 5.9 mph
    Y d. 6.3 mph

1460: On 27 June , your 1905 ZT DR position is LAT 24°35.0'N, LONG 50°15.0'W. At that time, you observe Saturn bearing 211°pgc. The chronometer reads 10h 04m 26s and the chronometer error is 01m 20s slow. The variation is 4.5°E. What is the gyro error?

    Y a. 1.1°W
    N b. 3.4°E
    N c. 3.4°W
    N d. 5.6°W

1775: At 1412 you increase speed to make good 10.2 mph. At 1506 you have a daymark on your port beam. Which daymark is this?

    N a. Bessie Daymark
    Y b. Nolan Light
    N c. Everetts Light
    N d. Marr Towhead Light

1834: Which type of daymark would you see on the Belle Island Corner Lt. at mile 458.6 AHP?

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Green square
    Y c. Red diamond
    N d. Red triangle

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

2280: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°24.7' on 17 May . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 86 feet (26 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 28°29.7'
    N b. 28°30.6'
    Y c. 28°31.5'
    N d. 28°32.9'

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

3614: The true course between two points is 057°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 3° east and you make an allowance of 1° leeway for a north-northwest wind. Which gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    Y a. 053°pgc
    N b. 056°pgc
    N c. 059°pgc
    N d. 060°pgc

3626: Your vessel is steering course 284°psc, variation for the area is 6°W, and deviation is 3°E. The wind is from the north-northeast, producing a 3° leeway. What true course are you making good?

    N a. 275°T
    Y b. 278°T
    N c. 284°T
    N d. 290°T

4000: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°E. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a magnetic compass heading of 057°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 350° 122.5° - 110° 239.5° - 230°
030.5° - 020° 152.0° - 140° 269.0° - 260°
061.5° - 050° 181.0° - 170° 298.0° - 290°
092.0° - 080° 210.0° - 200° 327.5° - 320°

    N a. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.5°E
    Y c. 1.5°W
    N d. 0.5°W

6144: What are the dimensions of the Old River Lock on the Lower Old River (mile 304 AHP)?

    Y a. 1190 X 75 feet
    N b. 1185 X 84 feet
    N c. 1190 X 84 feet
    N d. 1185 X 75 feet

10207: Your 2230 position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass to leave Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy 1 mile abeam to starboard?

    Y a. 086°psc
    N b. 091°psc
    N c. 094°psc
    N d. 098°psc

10300: Determine the course per standard magnetic compass from the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) to the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island.

    N a. 129.5°psc
    N b. 134.0°psc
    N c. 156.0°psc
    Y d. 159.0°psc

11013: What will be the height of the tide at Horton Pt., New York, on 16 June 1983, at 1845 DST (ZD +4)?

    N a. 0.2 foot
    Y b. 2.7 feet
    N c. 4.1 feet
    N d. 5.5 feet

11101: Great Salt Pond on Block Island is __________.

    Y a. entered through a dredged cut
    N b. not accessible in easterly gales
    N c. available for vessels up to a maximum draft of 8 feet (2.4m)
    N d. not affected by the tide

11300: At 1256 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. At 1336 your position is LAT 37°07.5'N, LONG 75°39.1'W. What was the speed made good between the fixes?

    N a. 14.6 knots
    N b. 15.2 knots
    Y c. 16.0 knots
    N d. 18.6 knots

11901: You are turning for 7.5 knots and a westerly wind is causing 2° of leeway. There is a current of 047°T at 1.2 knots. What course should you steer between the entrance to Quonochontaug Pond (LAT 41°19.8'N, LONG 71°43.2'W) and the entrance to Great Salt Pond (LAT 41°12.0'N,
LONG 71°35.6'W)?

    N a. 156°T
    Y b. 155°T
    N c. 144°T
    N d. 140°T

12101: You sight Thimble Shoal Light in line with Old Point Comfort Light bearing 267° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 182°psc. Based on this, you know __________.

    Y a. the existing deviation is correct for that heading
    N b. you should adjust your compass
    N c. the compass error is 2°W
    N d. the variation is 11°W

12607: You are on course 240° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Old Field Point Light 253°psc New Haven Light 357°psc Mattituck Inlet Light 126°psc What is your position?

    N a. LAT 41°04.5'N, LONG 72°49.2'W
    N b. LAT 41°05.7'N, LONG 72°50.2'W
    Y c. LAT 41°05.9'N, LONG 72°53.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°53.5'W

12904: Your 0916 position is LAT 37°10.9'N, LONG 75°29.6'W. You are turning for 12.3 knots. What is your ETA at North Chesapeake Bay Entrance Buoy NCA?

    N a. 1035
    N b. 1043
    Y c. 1051
    N d. 1101

13108: At 1103 you are in the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island with buoy "5" close aboard. What is your ETA at light "1" at the mouth of the approaches to Lake Montauk if you make good 8.2 knots?

    N a. 1249
    N b. 1254
    N c. 1259
    Y d. 1310

13805: What is the danger associated with anchoring your vessel within a 300 yard radius of Gardiners Point?

    N a. An unusually strong current exists in this area.
    N b. The bottom is not suitable for holding the anchor.
    N c. Submerged pilings may exist in this area.
    Y d. Your anchor could become fouled on undetonated explosives.

14202: What is the minimum clearance for the bridge across the entrance to the Wind River at Home Valley, WA.?

    N a. 14 feet
    Y b. 26 feet
    N c. 34 feet
    N d. 38 feet

15012: At 2020, you obtain a fix using the following information:

9960-X-27112
9960-Y-41432

Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14" bears 333°pgc. Your longitude is __________.

    N a. 75°38.9'W
    N b. 75°39.1'W
    N c. 75°39.3'W
    Y d. 75°40.5'W

15015: At 2100, Cape Charles Light bears 321°pgc, and Cape Henry Light bears 247°pgc. Your latitude is __________.

    N a. 37°00.0'N
    N b. 36°59.7'N
    Y c. 36°59.4'N
    N d. 36°59.1'N

15020: While navigating inbound in the Thimble Shoal Channel system you must __________.

    N a. navigate in the main channel when between Trestles A & B
    N b. maintain a minimum speed of 6 knots
    N c. remain 1500 yards (1360 meters) from large naval vessels
    Y d. use the north auxiliary channel

15156: Your 1600 position is LAT 37°22.5'N, LONG 75°32.3'W. The depth of water is about __________.

    N a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    Y c. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N d. 59 feet (17.3 meters)

15170: From your 2123 position, you are approximately 42 miles from Crisfield, MD. If you are making good a speed of 11 knots, at what time should you arrive at Crisfield, MD?

    N a. 2359
    N b. 0037
    Y c. 0112
    N d. 0149

15659: At 0705, you change course to 096°T. At this time, Race Rock Light is bearing 000°T at 0.35 mile. You are now governed by which Navigation Rules?

    Y a. COLREGS
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    N c. Inland Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules

15661: At 0727, the cupola on Fishers Island is in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 024°pgc. Based on this, the gyro error is __________.

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 1°E
    N c. 0°
    Y d. 3°W

15666: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk Point. Montauk Point Light is __________.

    N a. shown from a brown tower
    N b. equipped with a fog diaphone
    Y c. lighted 24 hours
    N d. is 79 feet (24 meters) high

15863: If the current is 050° at 0.9 knot, and a northerly wind causes 3° of leeway. What is the course to steer per gyro compass to make good 280°T if you are turning for 9 knots?

    N a. 284°pgc
    N b. 279°pgc
    Y c. 276°pgc
    N d. 273°pgc

16019: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________.

    N a. low and marshy
    Y b. bluff and rocky
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling

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

16268: As you pass between trestle "B" and trestle "C" of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along the trestle "C" when it is in line. The gyro bearing is 048°. What is the gyro error by observation?

    N a. 4°E
    Y b. 1°E
    N c. 0°
    N d. 2°W

16413: At 1104, Watch Hill Point Light is in line with Stonington Outer Breakwater Light, the range to the south tip of Watch Hill Point is 2.6 miles and the range to the beach is 1.9 miles. You are steering to make good 075°T, speed 10.0 knots. At 1110, you change course to head for a position of LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. What is the true course?

    N a. 185°
    N b. 187°
    Y c. 190°
    N d. 193°

16419: You estimate the current to be 160°T at 1.2 knots. What should your course and speed be in order to make good 000°
T at 10 knots?

    Y a. 358°T at 11.1 knots
    N b. 358°T at 09.8 knots
    N c. 002°T at 11.2 knots
    N d. 002°T at 09.9 knots

16459: What is the course to steer per gyro compass from the anchorage to point "A" if easterly winds are causing 3° of leeway?

    N a. 178°pgc
    Y b. 181°pgc
    N c. 185°pgc
    N d. 189°pgc

16719: 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.
    Y b. In the Race
    N c. Above the Thames River Bridge
    N d. You will not be governed by the Inland Rules.

20106: You are steaming at 22 knots and burning 319 barrels of fuel per day. You must decrease your consumption to 137 barrels per day. What must you reduce your speed to in order to burn this amount of fuel?

    N a. 12.4
    N b. 14.8
    Y c. 16.6
    N d. 18.2