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.


45: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States. Which statement is TRUE?


78: 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?


87: You pass Red River Gage at 2015 on 16 April and estimate the current will average 3.5 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at the mouth of the Ohio River if you continue to turn for 10 mph?


115: After passing Wilkinson Lt. (mile 310.0 AHP) you see a flashing amber light on the right descending bank ahead. The flashing light indicates that you should __________.

    N a. stay in the deepest water
    N b. slow down due to dredging operations
    N c. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits
    Y d. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits

273: If you correct for the current in the previous question (215°T at 0.5 knot) and maintain an engine speed of 7.5 knots, what is your ETA 0.5 mile south of buoy "W"?

    N a. 1014
    N b. 1018
    N c. 1021
    Y d. 1026

366: At 0731, approximately how much water is under your keel?

    N a. 26 feet (7.9 meters)
    Y b. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    N c. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N d. 54 feet (16.4 meters)

383: From point "A", you lay out an intended track line to a point where Block Island North Light bears 180°T at 2.9 miles (Point "B"). What is the length of this leg of the voyage?

    Y a. 24.4 miles
    N b. 23.9 miles
    N c. 23.7 miles
    N d. 20.4 miles

399: A vessel at LAT 11°22'S, LONG 009°18'E heads for a destination at LAT 06°52'N, LONG 57°23'W. Determine the true course and distance by Mercator sailing.

    N a. 296°T, 3,825.3 miles
    N b. 296°T, 4,154.2 miles
    N c. 285°T, 3,825.3 miles
    Y d. 285°T, 4,154.2 miles

439: At 0337, fog closes in and you anchor under the following radar ranges and bearing:

South tip of Watch Hill Point 3.0 miles
East point of Fishers Island 1.4 miles
Latimer Reef Light 331°T

What is the approximate depth of water at your anchorage?

    N a. 135 feet (40.9 meters)
    N b. 120 feet (36.4 meters)
    Y c. 100 feet (30.3 meters)
    N d. 83 feet (25.2 meters)

466: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 25°50.0'N, LONG 77°00.0'W to LAT 35°56.0'N, LONG 06°15.0'W.

    N a. 3470 miles, 298°T
    N b. 3518 miles, 028°T
    Y c. 3616 miles, 062°T
    N d. 3718 miles, 118°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

520: On 29 June you observe the star Achernar at a sextant altitude (Hs) of 54°18.9'. The index error is 4.7' off the arc. The height of eye is 58 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 54°06.1'
    Y b. 54°15.5'
    N c. 54°31.5'
    N d. 54°43.7'

534: You depart LAT 52°01'N, LONG 176°09'E, for LAT 52°01'N, LONG 178°46'W. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing?

    N a. 090°T, 95 miles
    Y b. 090°T, 188 miles
    N c. 270°T, 95 miles
    N d. 270°T, 188 miles

559: At 0615, Stratford Point Light bears 292°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 052°pgc, and Branford Reef Light bears 018°pgc. What was the current since 0530?

    N a. 083° at 0.9 knots
    Y b. 083° at 1.2 knots
    N c. 263° at 1.2 knots
    N d. 263° at 0.9 knots

559: At 0615, Stratford Point Light bears 292°pgc, Falkner Island Light bears 052°pgc, and Branford Reef Light bears 018°pgc. What was the current since 0530?

    N a. 083° at 0.9 knots
    Y b. 083° at 1.2 knots
    N c. 263° at 1.2 knots
    N d. 263° at 0.9 knots

597: Which daymark will you see as you approach Natchez Beam Lt. (mile 364.8 AHP)?

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

1006: On 30 July , your 1030 ZT DR position is LAT 19°02'N, LONG 138°12'W. You are on course 309°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 19°28.0'N, LONG 138°35.2'W
    Y b. LAT 19°29.7'N, LONG 138°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 19°32.6'N, LONG 138°49.4'W
    N d. LAT 19°34.5'N, LONG 138°40.9'W

1135: The low water reference plane (LWRP) for Bayou Sara is 5.25 feet. If the Bayou Sara Gage reads -0.5 feet, what is the water level in relation to the low water reference plane?

    N a. 4.75 feet above the plane
    N b. 5.75 feet above the plane
    Y c. 5.75 feet below the plane
    N d. 4.75 feet below the plane

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

1274: On 13 February , at 0325 zone time, your DR position is LAT 23°20'N, LONG 155°15'W. You are steering 240°T at a speed of 13.6 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise?

    N a. 0652
    Y b. 0657
    N c. 0706
    N d. 0711

1888: On 8 April , your evening DR position is LAT 22°16.0'N, LONG 157°58.3'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 238°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 50°02.7'. The chronometer reads 05h 09m 57s, and is 01m 23s slow. What star did you observe?

    N a. Betelgeuse
    N b. Aldebaran
    Y c. Alnilam
    N d. Bellatrix

2026: On 10 June , your 1712 zone time DR position is LAT 25°10.0'S, LONG 06°58.0'E. You are on course 213°T at a speed of 9.0 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?

    N a. Procyon, Antares, Sirius
    N b. Sirius, Procyon, Regulus
    N c. Acrux, Canopus, Regulus
    Y d. Acrux, Procyon, Arcturus

2275: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 24°00.7' on 10 January . The index error is 2.6' off the arc. The height of eye is 55 feet. What is the observed altitude (Ho)?

    N a. 24°07.4'
    N b. 24°08.9'
    Y c. 24°10.2'
    N d. 24°11.8'

2878: Your vessel is steering 143°T at 16 knots. At 2147 a light bears 106°T, and at 2206 the same light bears 078°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 5.1 miles
    N b. 5.4 miles
    Y c. 5.9 miles
    N d. 6.5 miles

2893: You are steaming on a course of 253°T at 14 knots. At 2329 you observe a lighthouse bearing 282°T. At 2345 the lighthouse bears 300°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 3.7 miles
    N b. 4.3 miles
    N c. 5.2 miles
    Y d. 5.9 miles

2911: What is indicated by the two light gray shaded areas that cross the river above False River Lt. (mile 251.0 AHP)?

    N a. Ferry crossings
    Y b. Utility crossings
    N c. Aerial cable crossings
    N d. Bridge construction

10608: At 1825 your GPS position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. You are on course 085° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 10 knots. At 1910 your GPS position is 1 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy. What were your set and drift?

    N a. 233°T at 2.9 knots
    N b. 227°T at 2.5 knots
    Y c. 054°T at 2.8 knots
    N d. 051°T at 2.1 knots

10700: At 1020 your position is LAT 41°11.0'N, LONG 71°50.0'W. You are on course 056° per standard magnetic compass at 9.2 knots. At 1112 your position is LAT 41°15.9'N, LONG 71°41.7'W. What were the set and drift?

    N a. 130°T at 0.9 knot
    Y b. 141°T at 1.2 knots
    N c. 331°T at 0.8 knot
    N d. 346°T at 1.1 knots

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

11704: What is the true heading to steer in York River Entrance Channel if your engines are turning for 10.2 knots, the current is 220°T at 1.2 knots and a southwesterly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    N a. 316°T
    Y b. 313°T
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 300°T

12104: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 234° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 329°psc. Based on this, you __________.

    N a. know the compass error is 8°W
    Y b. should swing the vessel to check the deviation table
    N c. know the deviation is 1°W
    N d. know the deviation table is accurate for that bearing

13407: Your position is LAT 41°03.0'N, LONG 72°42.1'W. If your draft is 8 ft, what should your fathometer read at this position?

    Y a. 80 ft
    N b. 88 ft
    N c. 96 ft
    N d. 99 ft

15008: At 1920, the buoy forward of your starboard beam is __________.

    N a. an interrupted quick flashing buoy
    N b. Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy
    N c. South Light Buoy
    Y d. Sand Shoal Inlet Lighted Buoy "A"

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

15207: What is the maximum allowable speed of vessels underway up river from Tue Marshes Light?

    N a. 6 knots
    N b. 8 knots
    N c. 10 knots
    Y d. 12 knots

15230: What is the distance from Cairo Point, IL, to Arkansas City?

    N a. 28 miles
    N b. 110 miles
    N c. 292 miles
    Y d. 400 miles

15244: At the time of your 1245 position, which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Your fathometer should indicate a reading of approximately 47 feet.
    N b. Bradford Reef is 5.7 miles on the starboard bow.
    N c. You are in a danger area.
    N d. You must follow the International Rules of the Road.

15258: Which structure should you look for while trying to locate Stratford Point Light?

    Y a. White conical tower with a brown band midway of height
    N b. White octagonal house on a cylindrical pier
    N c. Conical tower, upper half white, lower half brown
    N d. Black skeleton tower on a granite dwelling

15341: If your fathometer is set on fathoms, what should your fathometer read at 1750?

    Y a. 8.5 fathoms
    N b. 10.2 fathoms
    N c. 14.7 fathoms
    N d. 51.0 fathoms

15470: At 1119, Wolf Trap Light bears 268°T at 4.4 miles by radar. What were the set and drift since your 1037 fix?

    N a. 178°, 0.5 knot
    N b. 358°, 0.5 knot
    N c. 178°, 0.7 knot
    Y d. 358°, 0.7 knot

15512: At 1850, you obtain the following bearings and distances:

Montauk Point 189°pgc 8.7 miles
Watch Hill Light 340°pgc 5.7 miles

What true course did you make good between 1830 and 1850?

    N a. 289°T
    Y b. 294°T
    N c. 299°T
    N d. 307°T

15724: You pass Morrison Towhead Light (mile 890.5 AHP) at 1723. What was your average speed since leaving Cairo?

    N a. 7.5 mph
    N b. 7.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 8.8 mph

15962: Based on dead reckoning, at approximately 1817 you would expect to __________.

    N a. enter a traffic separation zone
    N b. depart a restricted area
    N c. cross a submerged pipeline
    Y d. depart a regulated area

16043: As you cross the New Haven Outer Channel range, you observe the range in line bearing 335.5° per gyrocompass. The helmsman reports that he was heading 100° per gyrocompass,
and that the standard magnetic compass read 109° at the time of the observation. What are the gyro error and
deviation of the standard magnetic compass on this heading?

    N a. Gyro error 2°E, deviation 3°E
    N b. Gyro error 0° , deviation 2°W
    N c. Gyro error 2°W, deviation 9°W
    Y d. Gyro error 2°W, deviation 3°E

16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".

16565: You decide to use the 9960-Y and 9960-W rates. At 1915,
you obtain the following readings:

9960-Y-43937.5
9960-W-14651.2

What is your 1915 position?

    N a. LAT 41°13.6'N, LONG 71°54.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°13.5'N, LONG 71°53.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°13.4'N, LONG 71°53.1'W
    N d. LAT 41°14.4'N, LONG 71°53.7'W

16618: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard?

    N a. 6.6 miles
    Y b. 6.9 miles
    N c. 7.1 miles
    N d. 7.3 miles

16716: At 0645, Watch Hill Point (left tangent) bears 314.5°T at 2.75 miles. What was the speed made good between 0600 and 0645?

    N a. 8.1 knots
    N b. 9.8 knots
    Y c. 10.7 knots
    N d. 11.4 knots