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.


51: As you approach Anconia Pt. Light (mile 528.6 AHP), which type of dayboard would you see on the light structure?


158: Which daymark should you see as you approach French Point Light (mile 915.4 AHP)?


252: At 0100, you obtain the following radar ranges:

Inlet Point - 2.7 miles,
Rocky Point - 4.5 miles,
Horton Point - 1.0 mile.

What was the speed made good between 0045 and 0100?


280: Your 1752 position places you __________.

    N a. less than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel
    Y b. less than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N c. greater than 0.5 mile westward of York Spit Channel
    N d. greater than 0.5 mile eastward of York Spit Channel

283: At 1810, you sight a buoy on your starboard side labeled "19". This buoy marks __________.

    Y a. the side of York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    N c. the end of York Spit Channel
    N d. the junction of the York Spit and York River Entrance Channels

301: You depart LAT 28°55.0'N, LONG 89°10.0'W, enroute to LAT 24°25.0'N, LONG 83°00.0'W. Determine the true course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

    N a. 418 miles, 122°T
    Y b. 427 miles, 129°T
    N c. 436 miles, 133°T
    N d. 442 miles, 122°T

323: 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. 2258
    N b. 2246
    Y c. 2240
    N d. 2230

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

487: At 0700, your gyro alarm sounds. What course should you steer by the standard magnetic compass in order to maintain your original heading of 078°T?

    Y a. 095°psc
    N b. 090°psc
    N c. 080°psc
    N d. 062°psc

561: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam?

    Y a. 0730
    N b. 0735
    N c. 0743
    N d. 0750

618: Your vessel departs Seattle at 1010 zone time (ZD +8), on 28 May, bound for Apra, Guam (ZD -10). The distance by great circle is 4,948 miles, and you estimate that you will average 18.5 knots. What is your estimated zone time of arrival?

    Y a. 0737, 9 June
    N b. 1737, 9 June
    N c. 1937, 9 June
    N d. 0737, 10 June

684: At 1814, on 11 September, 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. 9.7 mph
    Y b. 8.7 mph
    N c. 6.3 mph
    N d. 5.6 mph

1117: What is the length of the trip?

    N a. 720.8 miles
    N b. 777.4 miles
    Y c. 897.2 miles
    N d. 906.3 miles

1122: Which type of daymark will you see as you approach Old Levee Light (mile 385.2 AHP)?

    N a. Green diamond
    N b. Red square
    Y c. Green square
    N d. Private aid - no daymark

1168: Which company does NOT have a marine facility in Rosedale harbor (mile 585 AHP)?

    Y a. T.L. James
    N b. Rosedale-Boliver County Port Commission
    N c. Cives Steel Company
    N d. Sanders Elevator Corp

1180: On 3 May , your 1009 zone time DR position is LAT 30°01.0'N, LONG 123°15.0'W. Your vessel is on course 330°T at a speed of 8.6 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)?

    N a. 1206
    N b. 1208
    Y c. 1211
    N d. 1214

1268: On 25 December , your 0330 ZT DR position is LAT 25°15.0'N, LONG 32°16.0'W. You are on course 145°T at a speed of 20 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel?

    N a. 0623
    N b. 0635
    N c. 0641
    Y d. 0647

1307: After entering Milliken Bend (mile 455 AHP) you wish to locate the river service in Madison Parish, Louisiana. The river service is indicated by the square containing which number?

    Y a. 5
    N b. 4
    N c. 3
    N d. 2

1688: As you approach Ashland Light (mile 378.1 AHP), which type of daymark would you see on the light structure?

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

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

2012: On 24 March , your vessel is enroute from Cadiz to Norfolk. Evening twilight will occur at 1830 zone time, and your vessel's DR position will be LAT 35°06'N, LONG 60°48'
W. Considering their azimuth, altitude, and magnitude,
which group of stars is best suited for plotting a star fix at star time?

    N a. Adhara, Rigel, Suhail
    N b. Regulus, Denebola, Alkaid
    N c. Adhara, Procyon, Alphard
    Y d. Sirius, Dubhe, Mirfak

2170: On 22 July , at 0720 ZT, in DR position LAT 20°38.2'N, LONG 87°16.0'W, you observe the Moon's lower limb. The sextant altitude (hs) is 38°32.6, and the chronometer reads 01h 18m 14s. The chronometer is 01m 28s slow. The index error is 3.1' off the arc, and the height of eye is 68 feet. What is the azimuth (Zn) and intercept (a) of this sight from the assumed position?

    N a. Zn 291.4°, a 5.2' A
    N b. Zn 111.4°, a 8.7' A
    Y c. Zn 248.6°, a 5.0' T
    N d. Zn 068.6°, a 6.5' T

2175: On 13 November , at 0438 ZT, morning stars were observed and the vessel's position was determined to be LAT 22°14.0'S, LONG 79°23.0'E. Your vessel is steaming at 13.0 knots on a course of 242°T. A sextant observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0822 ZT. The chronometer reads 03h 20m 16s, and the sextant altitude (hs) is 45°49.7'. The index error is 1.0' on the arc, and the chronometer error is 01m 47s slow. Your height of eye on the bridge is 61.0 feet (18.6 meters). What is the azimuth (Zn) of this sight using the assumed position?

    Y a. 092.6°T
    N b. 096.2°T
    N c. 098.7°T
    N d. 099.7°T

2233: You have orders to drop off the empties at the fleeting area at Cairo Point and add five loaded tank barges to your tow. If you are turning for 9 mph and estimate the current at 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at Cairo?

    N a. 1031, 22 June
    Y b. 1423, 22 June
    N c. 1741, 22 June
    N d. 2210, 22 June

2587: What VHF frequency would you use to listen to a weather forecast for the eastern part of Long Island Sound?

    N a. 156.65 MHz
    N b. 156.85 MHz
    Y c. 162.475 MHz
    N d. 162.775 MHz

2678: You are running coastwise on a course of 323°T, and you have a buoy bearing 11° on your port bow at a distance of 7 miles. You desire to leave the buoy abeam to port at a distance of 2.5 miles. What course should you steer?

    N a. 291°T
    N b. 312°T
    Y c. 333°T
    N d. 344°T

2685: You are steering 031°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 12.7 miles at 0017. You change course to pass the light 3.5 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 11 knots, what is your ETA at the position 3.5 miles off the light?

    N a. 0118
    N b. 0121
    Y c. 0124
    N d. 0127

2879: Your vessel is steering 354°T at 14 knots. At 0317 a light bears 049°T, and at 0342 the same light bears 071°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    Y a. 12.4 miles
    N b. 12.7 miles
    N c. 13.0 miles
    N d. 13.3 miles

2897: You are steaming on a course of 327°T at 13 knots. At 0207 you observe a lighthouse bearing 020°T. At 0226 the lighthouse bears 042°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing?

    N a. 8.5 miles
    Y b. 8.9 miles
    N c. 9.2 miles
    N d. 9.7 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%

3068: Your vessel's propeller has a pitch of 22'06". From 0530, 19 March, to 1930, 20 March, the average RPM was 82. The distance run by observation was 721.5 miles. What was the slip?

    N a. +4%
    Y b. -4%
    N c. +7%
    N d. -7%

3631: You desire to make good a true course of 329°. The variation is 13° W, magnetic compass deviation is 4°E, and gyrocompass error is 2°W. A southerly wind produces a 1° leeway. What is the course to steer per standard magnetic compass to make the true course good?

    N a. 319°psc
    N b. 321°psc
    Y c. 337°psc
    N d. 339°psc

3652: The true course between two points is 023°T. Your gyrocompass has an error of 1°W and you make an allowance of 4° leeway for an east wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    N a. 020°pgc
    N b. 021°pgc
    N c. 026°pgc
    Y d. 028°pgc

10206: Your 2230 position is LAT 41°07.4'N, LONG 72°44.0'W. Assuming that there are no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to leave Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.4'W) 1 mile abeam to port?

    N a. 084°psc
    N b. 091°psc
    N c. 094°psc
    Y d. 098°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

10905: You wish to anchor and fish in the regulated navigation area in the vicinity of LAT 37°02'N, LONG 76°01'W. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    N a. Anchoring is prohibited in this area due to the danger of unexploded mines on the bottom.
    N b. You may anchor in this area only in the event of an emergency such as loss of main propulsion.
    Y c. You may anchor in this area if your vessel is less than 65 feet in length or if you have the Captain of the Port's permission.
    N d. Any vessel can anchor without restriction as the regulations only apply to vessels underway.

11507: At 1014 you depart the entrance to Lake Montauk with light "1" close aboard. Your course is 066° per standard magnetic compass, and the speed is 8.6 knots. At 1222 your position is LAT 41°20.0'N, LONG 71°40.0'W. What is the speed made good?

    N a. 8.4 knots
    N b. 8.6 knots
    Y c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.6 knots

11700: What is the true heading to steer outbound in Thimble Shoal Channel if your engines are turning for 8.0 knots, the current is 050°T at 1.0 knot and a northerly wind causes 3° of leeway?

    Y a. 111°T
    N b. 104°T
    N c. 101°T
    N d. 098°T

11802: What course should you steer by your standard magnetic compass (psc), between New Haven Light and Stratford Pt. Light, if the set and drift of the current are 345°T at 3.0 knots, and a northerly wind will cause 1° of leeway? Your engines are making turns for 18.0 knots.

    N a. 245.0°psc
    Y b. 247.0°psc
    N c. 264.0°psc
    N d. 266.5°psc

12103: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 048° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 203°psc. Based on this, you know __________.

    N a. the compass error is 12°W
    N b. the deviation is 9°W
    Y c. that the deviation table is in error
    N d. the deviation is 3°E for bearings of 048° per standard magnetic compass

13503: You are proceeding from a point 4 miles due east of Montauk Point enroute to Long Island Sound via The Race. You should expect the soundings to __________.

    N a. remain fairly constant
    N b. increase rapidly at first then remain constant until through the Race
    Y c. start increasing when north of Montauk Point
    N d. be inaccurate due to sound absorption by the mud bottom

15040: At about what time will you see Chesapeake Light if visibility is exceptionally clear?

    Y a. 0729
    N b. 0733
    N c. 0738
    N d. 0742

15111: At 1810, you sight a buoy on your starboard side labeled "19".
This buoy marks __________.

    N a. a submerged obstruction in York Spit Channel
    N b. the visibility limit of the red sector of Cape Henry Light
    Y c. the side of York Spit Channel
    N d. the junction of the York Spit and York River Entrance Channels

15342: At 1756 you determined your vessel's position to be 41°10.4'N, 71°59.2'W. From this position, you wish to change course to head for a point 5 miles west of Block Island North Light. With a reported set of 050°T, a drift of 2.0 knots and turning RPM's for 14 knots, which course should you steer to make good your desired course?

    N a. 070°T
    N b. 075°T
    Y c. 080°T
    N d. 085°T

15414: At 2100, you have passed through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel and determine your position to be LAT 37°01.3'
N, LONG 76°03.0'W. The current is flooding in a direction of 303°T at 2.5 knots. Adjusting your course for set and drift, which course would you steer while turning RPMs for 6 knots to make good a course of 175°T?

    Y a. 156°T
    N b. 164°T
    N c. 183°T
    N d. 190°T

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

15760: As you near Little Gull Island, you use your loran to insure that you do not come within 0.5 mile of the island. Which loran reading will act as a danger line and keep you off Little Gull Island by a minimum of 0.5 mile?

    N a. Not more than 9960-W-14735.9
    N b. Not more than 9960-X-26149.0
    N c. Not less than 9960-X-26140.0
    Y d. Not less than 9960-Y-43953.5

16218: At 0830, Watch Hill Point bears 343°T at 3.5 miles by radar. What was the speed made good since 0745?

    N a. 5.4 knots
    N b. 5.8 knots
    N c. 6.7 knots
    Y d. 7.1 knots

16313: At 0730, visibility is 5.5 miles. At what time will you lose sight of Horton Point Light?

    N a. It is not visible at 0730
    Y b. 0751
    N c. 0812
    N d. 0825

16369: As you pass between Trestle B and Trestle C of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel, you sight along Trestle C when it is in line. The gyro bearing is 051°. What is the gyro error by observation?

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