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.

90: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure?
170: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 54°28.2' on 22 July . The index error is 1.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 56 feet (17.1 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)?
199: You are underway in the vicinity of Block Island and obtain the following lines of position:

Montauk Point Light 263°pgc
Block Island Southeast Light 026°pgc
Radar Bearing to Block Island Southwest Point 348°pgc

What is your position at the time of these sightings?
296: At 1800, Tue Marshes Light bears 264.5°pgc, York Spit Swash Channel Light "3" bears 007°pgc. Your position is __________. 

    N a. LAT 37°15.5'N,  LONG 76°19.8'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.2'N,  LONG 76°20.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°14.5'N,  LONG 76°20.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°15.0'N,  LONG 76°20.4'W
427: Assuming no current, at what time can you expect to be abeam of Townshend Ledge Lighted Buoy? 

    Y a. 0910
    N b. 0905
    N c. 0902
    N d. 0859
479: The great circle distance from LAT 24°25.3'N, LONG 83°02.6'W to LAT 35°57.2'N, LONG 5°45.7'W is 3966.5 miles. Determine the latitude of the vertex. 

    N a. 38°46.2'N
    N b. 38°16.4'N
    Y c. 38°09.4'N
    N d. 37°57.3'N
523: At what time will you cross the 60 foot curve if you make good 12 knots? 

    N a. 0544
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0534
    Y d. 0528
532: You depart LAT 26°03'S, LONG 10°28'E, for LAT 26°03'S, LONG 01°16'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing? 

    N a. 090°T, 547.2 miles
    N b. 090°T, 632.5 miles
    N c. 270°T, 547.2 miles
    Y d. 270°T, 632.5 miles
808: On 28 July , your 0800 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 25°16.0'N, LONG 71°19.0'W. Your vessel is on course 026°T, and your speed is 17.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1149 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 82°28.7'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    N a. 26°21.9'N
    N b. 26°23.4'N
    Y c. 26°25.0'N
    N d. 26°27.7'N
1002: On 13 November , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°03'S, LONG 6°34'E. You are on course 164°T, speed 12 knots. Determine your 1200 position using the following observations of the Sun.
ZONE TIME GHA DECLINATION Ho
1112 351°55.4' S 18°00.4' 88°08.0'
1121 354°10.4' S 18°00.5' 88°33.9' 

    Y a. LAT 19°22.3'S, LONG 6°37.8'E
    N b. LAT 19°20.1'S, LONG 6°41.4'E
    N c. LAT 19°17.6'S, LONG 6°39.2'E
    N d. LAT 19°15.8'S, LONG 6°36.8'E
1136: The Arkansas City Yellow Bend revetment on the LMR extends from mile __________. 

    Y a. 555.0-549.7 RDB
    N b. 549.0-548.5 RDB
    N c. 556.9-554.9 LDB
    N d. 548.5-546.5 LDB
1164: At 2350 on 23 June, you are at mile 610.5 AHP when you see about a mile ahead lights on the water near the left bank. What might you see when you come abreast of these lights? 

    N a. Privately maintained buoys at a yacht club
    N b. Government buoys marking the Hurricane Point dikes
    Y c. Barges moored at the Dennis Landing Terminal
    N d. A pipeline discharging dredge spoil
1257: On 5 May , your 1300 ZT DR position is LAT 25°16.0'S, LONG 12°30.0'W. You are on course 012°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1702
    Y b. 1719
    N c. 1730
    N d. 1741
1343: At 1019, on 10 March, you pass under the Greenville Bridge (mile 531.3 AHP). What was your average speed since departing River Cement Co. Dock? 

    Y a. 7.2 mph
    N b. 6.8 mph
    N c. 6.5 mph
    N d. 6.2 mph
1486: On 1 September , your 1115 zone time DR position is LAT 25°20.0'N, LONG 28°24.0'W. At that time, you observe the Sun bearing 160.5°psc. The chronometer reads 01h 14m 58s, and the chronometer error is 01m 17s fast. The variation is 13.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 2.1°E
    N b. 4.1°E
    N c. 11.0°W
    N d. 11.0°E
1495: On 9 September , your 2043 ZT position is LAT 24°18'N, LONG 66°46'W. You observe Polaris bearing 001°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 031°pgc and 040°psc. The variation is 11°W. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    N a. 0°
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 3°W
    Y d. 2°E
1737: 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 1045 the following day? 

    N a. 5.2 mph
    N b. 5.6 mph
    Y c. 5.9 mph
    N d. 6.3 mph
1895: On 22 June , your 0424 DR position is LAT 26°18.5'N, LONG 124°18.2'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 195°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 03°30.7'. The chronometer reads 00h 23m 24s, and is 01m 32s slow. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Peacock
    N b. Schedar
    N c. Ankaa
    N d. Alioth
2086: Ar your current speed of 22 knots you only have enough fuel remaining to travel 440 miles. You must travel 618 miles to reach your destination. What should you reduce your speed (knots) to in order to reach your destination? 

    N a. 17.8
    Y b. 18.6
    N c. 19.4
    N d. 20.2
2105: 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
2153: At 0800 ZT, on 29 June , your DR position is LAT 26°00.0'N, LONG 75°29.5'W. Given a chronometer time of 01h 00m 00s, determine the computed altitude (Hc) of the Sun for the assumed position nearest to the above given latitude and longitude. 

    N a. Hc 34°38.6'
    N b. Hc 34°48.6'
    Y c. Hc 34°58.6'
    N d. Hc 35°18.6'
2176: On 9 November , at 0426 ZT, your position was LAT 25°17.0'S, LONG 154°16.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 14.0 knots on course 066°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0837 ZT. The chronometer reads 10h 35m 21s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 50°26.9'. The index error is 1.5' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 48s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 56.0 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho) and azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 50°18.1',  086.3°T
    N b. 50°18.1',  093.7°T
    Y c. 50°33.5',  085.9°T
    N d. 50°33.5',  093.7°T
2179: On 22 June , at 0906 EDT (ZD +4), your position is LAT 24°36'N, LONG 69°30'W. You are on course 165°pgc at a speed of 14.8 knots. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 42°44.0' with an index error of 0.8' off the arc. At this time the chronometer reads 01h 10m 12s, and is 2m 42s slow. If your height of eye is 70 feet, what is the azimuth (Zn) of the sight using the assumed position? 

    Y a. Zn 080.4°
    N b. Zn 081.6°
    N c. Zn 129.0°
    N d. Zn 130.5°
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
2688: While on a course of 214°pgc, a light bears 9° on the port bow at a distance of 7.4 miles. What course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 189°pgc
    N b. 209°pgc
    Y c. 221°pgc
    N d. 229°pgc
3052: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 21.2 feet and a pitch of 20.0 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 391 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 88? 

    N a. -11.5%
    N b. +11.5%
    N c. -6.2%
    Y d. +6.2%
3053: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 19.9 feet and a pitch of 21.6 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 395 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 78? 

    Y a. -3.2%
    N b. +3.2%
    N c. -12.0%
    N d. +12.0%
3053: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 19.9 feet and a pitch of 21.6 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 395 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 78? 

    Y a. -3.2%
    N b. +3.2%
    N c. -12.0%
    N d. +12.0%
3087: If the pitch of the propeller is 20.6 feet, and the revolutions per day are 107,341, calculate the day's run allowing 3% positive slip. 

    Y a. 352.7 miles
    N b. 363.6 miles
    N c. 374.5 miles
    N d. 389.1 miles
3604: You wish to make good a course of 258°T, allowing 4° leeway for northerly winds. The variation is 21°W. What should you steer per standard magnetic compass to make good 258°T?
DEVIATION TABLE
MAGNETIC HDG DEVIATION
285° 5°E
270° 3°E
255° 1°E
240° 1°W 

    N a. 242°psc
    N b. 271°psc
    Y c. 278°psc
    N d. 288°psc
3619: Your vessel is steering course 149°psc, variation for the area is 13°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the northeast, producing a 4° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 136°T
    N c. 162°T
    Y d. 170°T
3623: Your vessel is steering course 166°psc, variation for the area is 8°W, and deviation is 3°W. The wind is from the west-southwest, producing a 2° leeway. What true course are you making good? 

    Y a. 153°T
    N b. 157°T
    N c. 175°T
    N d. 179°T
3641: You desire to make good a true course of 174°. The variation is 17°W, magnetic compass deviation is 4°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°E. A west-southwest wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 195°psc
    N b. 197°psc
    Y c. 199°psc
    N d. 203°psc
3708: At what time would you listen to VHF Channel 22 (157.1 MHz) for information concerning the stage of the river between Memphis and Cairo? 

    Y a. 1300
    N b. 1435
    N c. 1620
    N d. 1815
10107: What is the first course per standard magnetic compass (psc) in the outbound southeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme? 

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 138°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 148°psc
10506: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1031 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°44.9'W. What was the set and drift? 

    N a. 239° at 0.8 knot
    Y b. 252° at 1.3 knots
    N c. 060° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 073° at 1.2 knots
11102: What is the velocity of the first PM (Daylight Savings Time) maximum ebb current at Plum Gut on 10 August 1983? 

    N a. 3.3 knots
    N b. 4.0 knots
    N c. 4.5 knots
    Y d. 5.4 knots
13807: The chart symbol depicted at LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 72°43.4'W indicates a(n) __________. 

    N a. abandoned lighthouse
    N b. light ship
    N c. wreck with only its mast visible
    Y d. wreck showing a portion of the hull above the sounding datum
15063: At 0830, you want the latest weather forecasts for the Falkner Island area. On what frequency do you set your FM radio for this information? 

    N a. 2182 kHz
    N b. 162.80 Mhz
    N c. 156.65 Mhz
    Y d. 162.55 Mhz
15146: At 0016 your position is 41°10.3'N, 71°53.0'W. You are steering a course of 296° true with no set and drift. At 0049 Race Rock Light is on your starboard beam. What was your speed made good from your 0016 position? 

    N a. 13.8 knots
    N b. 14.4 knots
    N c. 15.0 knots
    Y d. 15.6 knots
15219: From your 2118 position, you steer a course of 288°T at an engine speed of 7.0 knots. At 2120 visibility is suddenly reduced to 2 miles. At what time can you expect to see Old Point Comfort Light? 

    N a. 2136
    N b. 2143
    N c. 2202
    Y d. 2228
15239: At 1000 buoy "PI" is abeam to starboard a distance of 0.5 mile. From this position, with a set of 295° and a drift of 1.6 knots, what course must you steer to arrive at a point with Buoy "TE" one mile abeam to starboard? 

    Y a. 247°T
    N b. 249°T
    N c. 251°T
    N d. 253°T
15339: If there is no set or drift, at what time would you be abeam of Bartlett Reef Light? 

    N a. 1719
    Y b. 1724
    N c. 1729
    N d. 1734
15624: The Gage at Red River Landing reads 22.2 feet. The low water reference plane for Red River is 10.6 feet. How many feet is this above the low water reference plane? 

    N a. 10.6 ft
    Y b. 11.6 ft
    N c. 22.2 ft
    N d. 32.8 ft
15657: What was the course made good from 0630 to 0654? 

    N a. 078°T
    Y b. 082°T
    N c. 086°T
    N d. 090°T
15827: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure? 

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Green triangle
    Y c. Red triangle
    N d. Red diamond
15860: At 0100, your position is LAT 41°05.3 N, LONG 72°29.2 W. You head for the position one mile north of Mattituck Inlet Light and turn to make good 9.0 knots. If the visibility is about 2 miles, at what approximate time will you sight the light? 

    N a. The light is visible at 0100
    N b. 0109
    Y c. 0120
    N d. 0128
16006: You are on course 082°T, and the engines are turning for 8 knots. At 0352, you take the following bearings:

Stratford Point Light 016°pgc
Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Light 137°pgc

What is your 0352 position? 

    N a. LAT 41°05.0'N, LONG 73°08.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°05.2'N, LONG 73°07.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°05.3'N, LONG 73°07.5'W
    N d. LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 73°07.7'W
16309: From your 0530 position, you set a course of 271°psc with an engine speed of 9 knots. At 0645, Cornfield Safe-Water Buoy "CF" is abeam to port. What speed have you averaged since 0530? 

    N a. 7.5 knots
    Y b. 8.6 knots
    N c. 9.0 knots
    N d. 9.5 knots
16509: 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? 

    N a. Inland Rules
    N b. Local Pilot Rules
    Y c. International Rules
    N d. Coastal Fishery Rules
16557: Which course would you steer by your standard magnetic compass to make good a course of 275°T? 

    N a. 266°psc
    N b. 272°psc
    Y c. 289°psc
    N d. 294°psc