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.

49: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 4.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph?
79: The map shows a circle with two black quadrants located at mile 846.4 AHP. What does this indicate?
90: As you approach Giles Bend Cutoff Light (mile 367.7 AHP), what type of daymark would you see on the light structure?
123: On which map would you find Redman Point, Arkansas? 

    Y a. 20
    N b. 23
    N c. 29
    N d. 37
154: You see a buoy with red and green bands. This buoy marks __________. 

    N a. the center of the channel
    Y b. the preferred channel
    N c. a channel crossing
    N d. an isolated danger
227: At 2037, you change course to make good a course of 016°T. There is no current, but a westerly wind is causing 3° leeway. What course per standard magnetic compass (psc) should you steer to make good the course 016°T? 

    Y a. 022°psc
    N b. 025°psc
    N c. 028°psc
    N d. 031°psc
274: At what approximate distance would you expect Bartlett Reef Light to break the horizon, if the visibility is 27 nautical miles? 

    Y a. 12.8 nm
    N b. 12.0 nm
    N c. 6.9 nm
    N d. 5.9 nm
306: A vessel steams 640 miles on course 047°T from LAT 34°45'N, LONG 140°00'E. What are the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by mid-latitude sailing? 

    N a. LAT 41°57'N, LONG 150°02'E
    Y b. LAT 42°01'N, LONG 149°57'E
    N c. LAT 42°06'N, LONG 149°53'E
    N d. LAT 42°09'N, LONG 149°50'E
359: You are turning for 9 knots, a westerly wind is causing 3°
of leeway, and the current is 320°T at 1.2 knots. What true course should you steer to remain in the northern leg of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. 203°T
    N b. 197°T
    Y c. 194°T
    N d. 191°T
409: A vessel steams 1082 miles on course 047°T from LAT 37°18.0'N, LONG 24°40.0'W. What is the latitude and longitude of the point of arrival by Mercator sailing? 

    N a. LAT 49°30.0'N, LONG 06°22.0'W
    N b. LAT 49°33.0'N, LONG 06°25.0'W
    Y c. LAT 49°36.0'N, LONG 06°28.0'W
    N d. LAT 49°39.0'N, LONG 06°31.0'W
438: You estimate that you are making 9.3 knots over the ground. At what time will you enter waters governed by the COLREGS? 

    N a. 0258
    N b. 0255
    Y c. 0251
    N d. 0247
457: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 31°57.0'S, LONG 115°52.0'E to LAT 24°47.0'N, LONG 66°59.0'E. 

    N a. 4516 miles, 134.5°T
    Y b. 4407 miles, 314.5°T
    N c. 4402 miles, 319.5°T
    N d. 4378 miles, 336.8°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
1008: On 27 March , your 0730 zone time position is LAT 28°16'N, LONG 56°37'W. Your vessel is on course 158°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0915 zone time. The chronometer reads 01h 14m 11s, and the chronometer error is 00m 53s slow. The observed altitude (Ho) is 45°10.7'. LAN occurs at 1150 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed altitude (Ho) is 65°32.8'. Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    Y a. LAT 27°08.8'N, LONG 56°04.2'W
    N b. LAT 27°08.8'N, LONG 56°10.3'W
    N c. LAT 27°11.6'N, LONG 56°04.2'W
    N d. LAT 27°11.6'N, LONG 56°10.3'W
1184: On 8 April , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 22°49.0'N, LONG 84°37.0'W. Your vessel is on course 228°
T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1144
    N b. 1147
    N c. 1150
    N d. 1154
1198: On 3 October , your 0830 zone time DR position is LAT 26°15.0'S, LONG 73°16.0'E. Your vessel is on course 280°T at a speed of 19.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    Y a. 1201
    N b. 1158
    N c. 1155
    N d. 1152
1208: On 12 July , your 0800 ZT DR position is LAT 24°15.0'N, LONG 132°30.0'W. Your vessel is on course 045°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. What is the ZT of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1146
    N b. 1148
    Y c. 1152
    N d. 1159
1237: At 1118, on 24 May, you pass Natchez Gage and estimate the current will average 3.0 mph for the remainder of the time on the Mississippi River. What is your ETA at Cairo, IL if you continue to turn for 10 mph? 

    N a. 0840, 26 May
    N b. 2218, 26 May
    Y c. 2339, 27 May
    N d. 0339, 28 May
1267: On 10 December , your 1300 zone time (ZT) DR position is LAT 26°27.0'S, LONG 79°04.0'E. You are on course 068°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunset at your vessel? 

    Y a. 1824
    N b. 1846
    N c. 1854
    N d. 1908
1269: At 1400 zone time, on 11 April , your DR position is LAT 25°40'N, LONG 91°00'W. You are steering 180°T at a speed of 10.0 knots. What is your zone time of sunset? 

    N a. 1812
    N b. 1816
    N c. 1820
    Y d. 1825
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
1773: What daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)? 

    Y a. Red triangle
    N b. Green triangle
    N c. Red diamond
    N d. Green diamond
1866: 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 019.0°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 53°56.2'. 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. Phecda
    N b. Mimosa
    N c. Gamma Ursae Minoris
    Y d. Mizar
1869: 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 282.5°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 14°22.3'. 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. Wezen
    Y b. Alhena
    N c. Mirzam
    N d. Menkalinan
1957: At 1923, on September 21, you pass Bixby Towhead Light (mile 873.7 AHP). What was your average speed since leaving Cairo? 

    N a. 9.2 mph
    N b. 8.8 mph
    Y c. 8.5 mph
    N d. 7.2 mph
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
2111: According to the DR track line from your 0100 position, how far off Roanoke Point Shoal Buoy "5" should you be when the buoy is abeam? 

    N a. 0.2 mile
    Y b. 0.6 mile
    N c. 1.3 mile
    N d. 1.8 miles
2163: On 1 April , at 0515 zone time, morning stars were observed, and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 27°05.0'N, LONG 16°30.0'W. Your vessel is steaming at 19.0 knots on a course of 022°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0930 zone time. The chronometer reads 10h 28m 25s, and the sextant altitude is 46°20.3'. The index error is 4.5' off the arc, and the chronometer error is 02m 15s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 57.0 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position? 

    N a. 121.6°T
    N b. 117.9°T
    Y c. 115.0°T
    N d. 112.2°T
2210: 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
2241: At 1318 ZT, on 10 September , in DR position LAT 24° 05.8' N, LONG 058° 08.3' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The upper limb of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 254° psc. Variation is 2° W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 8.0°W
    N b. 8.0°E
    Y c. 4.0°W
    N d. 4.0°E
2859: Your vessel is on a course of 307°T at 20 knots. At 0914 a light bears 284.5°T, and at 0937 the light bears 262°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light? 

    N a. 0950, 4.4 miles
    Y b. 0953, 5.4 miles
    N c. 0957, 6.6 miles
    N d. 1002, 7.1 miles
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%
3280: While steaming at 14.5 knots, your vessel consumes 319 barrels of fuel oil per day. In order to reduce consumption to 217 barrels of fuel oil per day, what is the maximum speed the vessel can turn for? 

    N a. 9.8 knots
    N b. 11.9 knots
    Y c. 12.8 knots
    N d. 13.5 knots
3637: You desire to make good a true course of 347°. The variation is 11°E, magnetic compass deviation is 7°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°W. A north by east wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 339°psc
    N b. 343°psc
    Y c. 347°psc
    N d. 351°psc
3637: You desire to make good a true course of 347°. The variation is 11°E, magnetic compass deviation is 7°W, and gyrocompass error is 4°W. A north by east wind produces a 4° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good? 

    N a. 339°psc
    N b. 343°psc
    Y c. 347°psc
    N d. 351°psc
10203: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 3 miles due north of Horton Point Light? 

    N a. 077°psc
    N b. 081°psc
    Y c. 085°psc
    N d. 088°psc
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
11105: What is the height of the tide at Great Salt Pond on Block Island at the afternoon high water (daylight savings time) on 1 July 1983? 

    N a. 3.9 feet
    N b. 3.0 feet
    N c. 2.4 feet
    Y d. 2.1 feet
13000: Your 2108 position is LAT 41°10.0'N, LONG 72°30.0'W. You are turning for 12.5 knots. What is your ETA at Buoy NH (LAT 41°12.1'N, LONG 72°53.8'W)? 

    N a. 2133
    N b. 2227
    Y c. 2235
    N d. 2248
14300: What is the height above the water of Government Island Upper Range, lower light? 

    Y a. 20 feet
    N b. 24 feet
    N c. 38 feet
    N d. 42 feet
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
15361: Your 0530 position is LAT 41°04.9'N, LONG 73°01.1'W. What is the course per standard magnetic compass to a position 1.0 mile south of Twenty Eight Foot Shoal "TE"
buoy? 

    N a. 082.0°psc
    N b. 092.5°psc
    N c. 096.0°psc
    Y d. 099.5°psc
15516: If you were to head into Fishers Island Sound, which of the following charts would you switch to for better detail of Mystic and Mystic Harbor? 

    N a. 13209
    N b. 13212
    N c. 13213
    Y d. 13214
15719: On chart 12354, the datum from which heights of objects are taken is __________. 

    Y a. mean high water
    N b. mean low water
    N c. lowest low water
    N d. mean lower low water
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
16056: At 1730, your position is LAT 37°13.9'N, LONG 76°26.4'W. What is your distance off Tue Marshes Light? 

    N a. 2.2 miles
    Y b. 2.6 miles
    N c. 3.0 miles
    N d. 3.4 miles
16265: At 0600, you are on course 241°psc at 6.5 knots. Chesapeake Light bears 153° per standard magnetic compass,
and Cape Henry Light bears 261° per standard magnetic compass. What is the position of your 0600 fix? 

    N a. LAT 36°59.0'N, LONG 75°47.4'W
    Y b. LAT 36°59.3'N, LONG 75°47.7'W
    N c. LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°47.8'
    N d. LAT 36°59.3'N, LONG 75°48.0'
16458: If your engines turn for 6.5 knots, and you encounter a 0.5 knot southerly current, what is your ETA at point A? 

    N a. 0400
    Y b. 0450
    N c. 0501
    N d. 0511