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.

108: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.
108: The horizontal clearance of the center span on the Baton Rouge RR and Highway 190 Bridge is __________.
358: From your 0410 fix, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to the entrance to York Spit Channel between buoys "37" and "38"?
392: 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 true course by Mercator sailing. 

    N a. 058.2°T
    N b. 235.2°T
    Y c. 301.8°T
    N d. 348.3°T
471: The great circle distance from LAT 35°57.2'N, LONG 05°45.7'W to LAT 24°25.3'N, LONG 83°02.6'W is 3966.5 miles and the initial course is 283.7°T. The latitude of the vertex is 38°09.4'N. What is the longitude of the vertex? 

    N a. 28°02.6'W
    Y b. 28°18.2'W
    N c. 28°46.3'W
    N d. 28°54.7'W
511: At 0130, your position is LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°46.9'W when you change course to 086°T. If you make good 086°T, what is the closest point of approach to Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy? 

    N a. 1.2 mile
    N b. 1.1 mile
    Y c. 0.9 miles
    N d. 0.7 miles
810: On 13 October , your 0515 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°53.0'N, LONG 90°05.0'W. Your vessel is on course 068°T, and your speed is 7.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1145 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 54°51.5'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN? 

    Y a. 27°12.6'N
    N b. 27°14.1'N
    N c. 27°15.7'N
    N d. 27°16.2'N
1084: On 4 Dec. , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 18°06.0'N, LONG 75°42.0'W. You are on course 020°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1548 running fix. 

    N a. LAT 18°10.3'N, LONG 75°34.5'W
    N b. LAT 18°12.6'N, LONG 75°42.0'W
    N c. LAT 18°14.0'N, LONG 75°40.0'W
    Y d. LAT 18°17.3'N, LONG 75°37.7'W
1143: Which town is located at mile 663.5 AHP? 

    N a. Friers Point
    Y b. Helena
    N c. St. Francis
    N d. Rodney
1254: On 19 July , your 1500 ZT DR position is LAT 28°25.0'N, LONG 120°28.0'W. You are on course 233°T at a speed of 10 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    N a. 1842
    N b. 1853
    Y c. 1901
    N d. 1909
1304: At 1000, on May 11th, you are passing George Prince Lt. (mile 364.1 AHP) in Natchez, Mississippi and must send an ETA to the Monsanto Terminal in St. Louis (mile 178.0 UMR). Your engines are still turning for 8.5 mph and you estimate the current at 2.5 mph. What will be your arrival time in St. Louis? 

    N a. 1919 on 15 May
    N b. 2344 on 15 May
    N c. 1113 on 16 May
    Y d. 1757 on 16 May
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.
1455: On 4 October , your 1907 zone time DR position is LAT 25°15.0'S, LONG 105°44.0'E. At that time, you observe Deneb bearing 011.5°psc. The chronometer reads 00h 07m 42s, and the chronometer error is 00m 36s fast. The variation is 7.5°W. What is the deviation of the standard compass? 

    Y a. 3.2°E
    N b. 4.3°W
    N c. 2.1°E
    N d. 2.1°W
1493: On 11 July , your 0240 ZT position is LAT 14°52'N,
LONG 34°23'W. You observe Polaris bearing 359.8°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 279°pgc and 299°psc. The variation is 19°W.
What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 0°
    N b. 1°E
    N c. 1°W
    N d. 3°W
1538: At 1032 on 24 June, you pass Carolina Landing Light(508.8 AHP). What has been the average current since 2350, 23 June, if you have been making turns for 9.0 mph? 

    N a. 8.5 mph
    N b. 5.7 mph
    N c. 1.5 mph
    Y d. 0.5 mph
1732: You estimate the current at 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 3.5 mph
    Y b. 4.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
1871: 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 270°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 65°41.7'. 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. Epsilon Leonis
    N b. Scheat
    N c. Merak
    Y d. Algeiba
1890: On 22 July , your 1759 DR position is LAT 24°50.2'S, LONG 05°16.0'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 100°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 61°48.2'. The chronometer reads 06h 01m 31s, and is 02m 15s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Regulus
    Y b. Antares
    N c. Miaplacidus
    N d. Suhail
1907: On 22 March , your 1834 DR position is LAT 26°13.5'S, LONG 108°36.5'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 062°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 23°22.0'. The chronometer reads 01h 32m 37s, and is 01m 50s slow. Which star did you observe? 

    Y a. Regulus
    N b. Menkar
    N c. Rigel
    N d. Alphard
1912: On 22 February , your 1857 DR position is LAT 23°46.0'S, LONG 93°16.5'E. You observe an unidentified star bearing 108°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 67°53.9'. The chronometer reads 01h 00m 35s, and is 03m 25s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Adhara
    N b. Miaplacidus
    N c. Avior
    N d. Suhail
1921: On 17 March , your 1845 DR position is LAT 25°10.0'N, LONG 66°48.0'W. You observe an unidentified star bearing 340°T at an observed altitude (Ho) of 66°25.1'. The chronometer reads 10h 47m 49s, and is 1m 54s fast. What star did you observe? 

    Y a. Capella
    N b. Mirfak
    N c. Pollux
    N d. Rigel
2049: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 405.8 miles
    Y b. 904.0 miles
    N c. 1002.0 miles
    N d. 1136.8 miles
2082: From your 0100 position, you change course to 258° per standard magnetic compass. Your engine speed is 10.0 knots. A short time later, your fathometer reads 51 feet (15.5 meters) under the keel. What is the water depth? 

    N a. 42.5 feet  (12.9 meters)
    N b. 51.0 feet  (15.5 meters)
    Y c. 59.5 feet  (18.0 meters)
    N d. 60.4 feet  (18.4 meters)
2102: Sounding contours in unshaded water areas are at what interval? 

    N a. 10 foot up to 100 ft depths then at 30 foot intervals
    Y b. 30 foot intervals up to 180 feet
    N c. 10 fathom intervals
    N d. The interval will vary to ensure any major underwater hazard is highlighted.
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
2654: You are steering 231°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.3 miles at 0338. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 16.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light? 

    Y a. 0420
    N b. 0423
    N c. 0426
    N d. 0429
2681: Your vessel is on course 312°pgc and you sight a lighthouse dead ahead at a range of 10 miles. The gyro error is 3°E. What course would you steer to leave the lighthouse 1.5 miles abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 309°pgc
    Y b. 304°pgc
    N c. 309°T
    N d. 304°T
2706: While on a course of 216°pgc, a light bears 12° on the port bow at a distance of 11.2 miles. Which course should you steer to pass 2 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 208°pgc
    N b. 210°pgc
    N c. 212°pgc
    Y d. 214°pgc
3055: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 24.6 feet and a pitch of 26.1 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 462 miles in a 24 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 72? 

    N a. -2.7%
    N b. +2.7%
    Y c. -3.8%
    N d. +3.8%
3616: You desire to make good a true course of 046°. The variation is 6°E, magnetic compass deviation is 12°W, and the gyrocompass error is 3°W. A northerly wind produces a 5° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make good the true course? 

    Y a. 047°psc
    N b. 049°psc
    N c. 052°psc
    N d. 057°psc
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
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
12301: You are on course 055° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Block Island Southeast Point Light in line with the Block Island Aero Beacon bearing 319° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this you __________. 

    N a. should use 4°W deviation on true courses of 040°
    N b. know the compass error is 19°W
    Y c. know the deviation table is correct for that heading
    N d. should apply 4°W deviation to all bearings
12502: You are on course 262° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Cape Henry Light 252°psc Cape Charles Light 003°psc Chesapeake Light 131°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°52.9'W
    N b. LAT 36°58.1'N, LONG 75°52.6'W
    N c. LAT 36°57.9'N, LONG 75°53.2'W
    N d. LAT 36°58.6'N, LONG 75°52.2'W
12701: You are on course 298° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Block Island Southeast Point Light - 058°psc Block Island Aero Beacon - 005°psc Montauk Point Light - 268°psc What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°08.3'N, LONG 71°35.0'W
    Y b. LAT 41°08.2'N, LONG 71°34.4'W
    N c. LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 71°33.8'W
    N d. LAT 41°08.0'N, LONG 71°34.1'W
15061: Falkner Island Light is shown __________. 

    N a. 46 feet (13.9 meters) above sea level
    N b. only from 1 June to 10 October
    Y c. from a white octagonal tower
    N d. with a six-second period
15142: At 2146 if your fathometer is set on feet, what should be the approximate reading on your fathometer? 

    Y a. 88 feet
    N b. 105 feet
    N c. 121 feet
    N d. 166 feet
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
15241: At 1155 your vessel's position is LAT 41°09.0'N, LONG 72°34.4'W. If you make good a course of 282°T and a speed of 10.0 knots, when will you arrive at New Haven Harbor Lighted Whistle Buoy "NH"? 

    N a. 1315
    N b. 1320
    Y c. 1325
    N d. 1330
15310: Which chart could you use for greater detail of the area at the south end of York Spit Channel? 

    Y a. 12222
    N b. 12224
    N c. 12226
    N d. 12254
15418: At 2205, you are in Thimble Shoal North Auxiliary Channel abeam of lighted gong buoy "4". At this time the visibility decreases to 5 miles. You continue to turn RPMs for 6 knots and experience no set and drift. What time would you expect Old Point Comfort Light (white sector) to become visible? 

    N a. 2230
    Y b. 2240
    N c. 2246
    N d. 2258
15614: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per standard magnetic compass (psc) ? 

    N a. 286°psc
    Y b. 283°psc
    N c. 280°psc
    N d. 274°psc
15660: At 0728, Race Rock Light is bearing 282°T at 3.8 miles,
and the closest point on Fishers Island has a radar range of 2.1 miles. What speed have you been making since you changed course at 0705? 

    N a. 11.2 knots
    N b. 10.8 knots
    Y c. 9.6 knots
    N d. 9.1 knots
15662: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 026.5°pgc
Race Point Light bearing 275.5°pgc


What is the approximate depth of water under the keel at this position? 

    N a. 325 feet (98.5 meters)
    N b. 175 feet (53.0 meters)
    N c. 130 feet (39.4 meters)
    Y d. 112 feet (33.9 meters)
15723: What daymark should you see as you approach Parker Landing Light (mile 924.6 AHP)? 

    N a. Green square
    N b. Green triangle
    N c. Red and green rectangle
    Y d. Green diamond
15911: What publication contains information on the navigational hazards in the vicinity of Falkner Island? 

    N a. The navigational regulations in Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations
    N b. Inland Navigation Rules
    N c. U.S. Coast Guard Light List
    Y d. U.S. Coast Pilot
15942: At 1959 Watch Hill Point Light bears 030°T, Montauk Point Light bears 146°T, and Little Gull Light bears 283°T. What is the approximate fathometer reading? 

    Y a. 51 feet
    N b. 73 feet
    N c. 95 feet
    N d. 111 feet
16106: 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? 

    Y a. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.8'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
16319: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the outer range markers in line directly ahead. Your heading at this time is 347°psc. What is your compass deviation by observation? 

    Y a. 0.5°East
    N b. 3.0°East
    N c. 3.5°West
    N d. 4.5°East
16739: What is the earliest time you should sight Montauk Point Light (nominal range - 24 miles) if you are turning for 9.2 knots? Visibility is 5 nautical miles. 

    Y a. The light is visible at 2212
    N b. 2221
    N c. 2243
    N d. You will not sight the light on this course.