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.


119: What is the length of the trip?


242: At 1210, you are in position LAT 41°14.3'N, LONG 72°16.5'W. What is the depth of water below your keel?


271: At 0844, the range to the north end of Falkner Island is 2.0 miles and the left tangent bearing is 102°T. What is the approximate charted depth of the water?


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

343: While on a heading of 082°T, you sight Middle Ground Light in line with Old Field Point Light bearing 206° per standard magnetic compass. From this you can determine the __________.

    Y a. deviation table is correct for that heading
    N b. variation
    N c. compass error is 17.5°E
    N d. deviation is 3.5°E for a bearing of 206° per standard magnetic compass

387: The wind is southerly, and you estimate 3° leeway. Allowing for leeway, what is the course to steer from your 0745 position to pass 1 mile south of Watch Hill Buoy "WH"?

    Y a. 087°pgc
    N b. 085°pgc
    N c. 081°pgc
    N d. 079°pgc

470: Determine the great circle distance and initial course from LAT 35°08.0'S, LONG 19°26.0'E to LAT 33°16.0'S, LONG 115°36.0'E.

    N a. 4457 miles, 126°T
    Y b. 4559 miles, 121°T
    N c. 4682 miles, 059°T
    N d. 4688 miles, 126°T

478: The great circle distance from LAT 38°17'N, LONG 123°16'W to LAT 35°01'N, LONG 142°21'E is 4330 miles, and the initial course is 300.9°T. Determine the latitude of the vertex.

    N a. 46°54.8'N
    N b. 47°24.7'N
    N c. 47°35.2'N
    Y d. 47°40.5'N

518: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge __________.

    N a. is used mostly by towing vessels
    N b. has a maximum depth of 14 feet at MHW
    Y c. is entered through the East Gap or the West Gap
    N d. is easily accessible in heavy southerly seas

538: Determine the distance from LAT 23°24'S, LONG 13°54'E to LAT 23°24'S, LONG 42°48'W. by parallel sailing.

    N a. 3119.3 miles
    Y b. 3122.2 miles
    N c. 3124.5 miles
    N d. 3126.6 miles

545: 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. 11.4 knots
    Y b. 10.7 knots
    N c. 9.8 knots
    N d. 8.1 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

627: You are on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Galveston, TX. The distance is 2138 miles, and the speed of advance is 12.5 knots. You estimate 18.0 hours for bunkering enroute at Port Everglades, FL. If you sail at 0648 hours (ZD +4), 12 June, what is your ETA (ZD +5) at Galveston?

    Y a. 0250, 20 June
    N b. 0350, 20 June
    N c. 0550, 20 June
    N d. 1350, 20 June

631: 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. 38.5 feet (11.7 meters)
    N b. 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
    N c. 51.0 feet (15.5 meters)
    Y d. 59.5 feet (18.0 meters)

749: On 15 February at 0610 ZT, in DR position LAT 56°53.0'N, LONG 157°02.9'E, you observe Polaris at a sextant altitude (hs) of 56°10.4'. The index error is 2.5' on the arc, and the height of eye is 18 meters. What is the latitude?

    Y a. 56°41.8'N
    N b. 56°47.9'N
    N c. 56°48.1'N
    N d. 57°10.6'N

816: On 15 November , your 0813 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 22°30.0'N, LONG 67°28.0'W. Your vessel is on course 164°T, and your speed is 13.5 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 ZT, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 49°46.0'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT?

    Y a. 21°42.5'N
    N b. 21°39.3'N
    N c. 21°36.0'N
    N d. 21°32.8'N

831: On 30 March , in DR position LAT 20°26.2'N, LONG 131°17.9'E, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's lower limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 10h 36m 02s, and the chronometer error is 02m 06s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 48°21.4'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 40 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

    N a. LAT 20°44.8'N
    Y b. LAT 20°31.9'N
    N c. LAT 20Z°23.7'N
    N d. LAT 20°15.6'N

1087: On 15 August , your vessel is enroute from Bombay, India, to San Francisco, CA. You are steering course 020°T and making a speed of 20.0 knots. Your 1830 zone time DR is LAT 26°13.0'N, LONG 135°18.0'W. You observed 3 celestial bodies. Determine the latitude and longitude of your 1935 running fix. NP-0017

    N a. LAT 26°15.9'N, LONG 135°03.6'W
    N b. LAT 26°35.3'N, LONG 135°24.8'W
    N c. LAT 26°40.5'N, LONG 135°21.6'W
    Y d. LAT 26°48.1'N, LONG 135°20.7'W

1295: After passing Wilkinson Lt. 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
    Y c. keep as close to the left descending bank as safety permits
    N d. keep as close to the right descending bank as safety permits

1296: At which of the following times would you be able to listen to lower Mississippi River conditions on VHF Channel 22?

    N a. 0900 hours
    N b. 1100 hours
    N c. 1200 hours
    Y d. 1300 hours

1747: As you pass under the Greenville Highway Bridge, you estimate the current as 3.5 mph. What is the speed over the ground, if your vessel is making turns for 9 mph?

    N a. 14.5 mph
    N b. 13.5 mph
    Y c. 12.5 mph
    N d. 11.5 mph

2122: At 1538 ZT, on 15 October , in DR LAT position LAT 18° 12.8' S, LONG 160° 48.4' E, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 276.2°psc. Variation is 10° E. What is the deviation?

    N a. 2.6°E
    N b. 2.6°W
    N c. 3.6°E
    Y d. 3.6°W

2325: Which publication contains specific information on the characteristics of Chesapeake Bay entrance?

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Chesapeake Bay Harbor-master's Manual
    N d. Navigator's Manual - Chesapeake Bay

2583: You lose GPS and are navigating solely on LORAN. What LORAN line would you follow to leave Six Mile Reef buoy "8C" abeam to port at 1.0 mile?

    N a. 9960-W-14885.0
    N b. 9960-Y-43980.5
    Y c. 9960-Y-43982.0
    N d. 9960-Y-43983.5

2656: You are steering 257°T, and a light is picked up dead ahead at a distance of 13.3 miles at 2016. You change course to pass the light 4 miles off abeam to starboard. If you are making 18.5 knots, what is your ETA at the position 4 miles off the light?

    Y a. 2057
    N b. 2100
    N c. 2103
    N d. 2113

2784: You pass Ratcliff Light (mile 289.8) at 1650. What was your average speed since leaving Baton Rouge?

    N a. 7.3 mph
    Y b. 7.6 mph
    N c. 8.0 mph
    N d. 8.3 mph

2873: Your vessel is on a course of 103°T at 14 knots. At 1918 a light bears 129.5°T, and at 1937 the light bears 148°T.
At what time and at what distance off will your vessel be when abeam of the light?

    N a. 1947, 2.8 miles
    N b. 1950, 3.2 miles
    N c. 1953, 3.8 miles
    Y d. 1956, 4.4 miles

2887: Your vessel is steering 283°T at 10 knots. At 0538 a light bears 350°T, and at 0552 the same light bears 002°T. What will be your distance off abeam?

    N a. 9.6 miles
    Y b. 10.3 miles
    N c. 10.7 miles
    N d. 11.3 miles

2908: Your vessel is on a course of 223°T at 17 knots. At 1323 a lighthouse bears 318° relative. At 1341 the same lighthouse bears 287° relative. What is your distance off the lighthouse at 1341?

    N a. 4.3 miles
    N b. 5.1 miles
    Y c. 6.6 miles
    N d. 7.8 miles

3059: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 21.5 feet and a pitch of 24.5 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 458 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 78?

    N a. +5.6%
    Y b. -5.6%
    N c. +12.3%
    N d. -12.3%

3078: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 17.8 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 24.7 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 7% positive slip?

    N a. 67
    N b. 71
    N c. 75
    Y d. 79

3256: You have steamed 918 miles at 15.0 knots, and consumed 183 tons of fuel. If you have 200 tons of usable fuel remaining, how far can you steam at 12 knots?

    N a. 1021 miles
    N b. 1261 miles
    Y c. 1568 miles
    N d. 1960 miles

3653: The true course between two points is 106°. Your gyrocompass has an error of 2°E and you make an allowance of 2° leeway for a south wind. What gyro course should be steered to make the true course good?

    N a. 102°pgc
    N b. 104°pgc
    Y c. 106°pgc
    N d. 108°pgc

4003: You swung ship and compared the magnetic compass against the gyro compass to find deviation. Gyro error is 2°W. The variation is 8°W. Find the deviation on a gyro heading of 058°.
HEADING HEADING HEADING
PSC PGC PSC PGC PSC PGC
358.5° - 354° 122.5° - 114° 239.5° - 234°
030.5° - 024° 152.0° - 144° 269.0° - 264°
061.5° - 054° 181.0° - 174° 298.0° - 294°
092.0° - 084° 210.0° - 204° 327.5° - 324°

    Y a. 1.5°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 1.0°E
    N d. 0.5°W

10609: At 1922 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 2019 your GPS position is 1 mile due south of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy "TE". What were your set and drift?

    Y a. 343°T at 0.7 knot
    N b. 340°T at 1.2 knots
    N c. 164°T at 0.9 knot
    N d. 161°T at 1.1 knots

11107: What is the time (Daylight Savings Time) of the first high tide on 1 July 1983 at Great Salt Pond on Block Island?

    Y a. 0027
    N b. 0448
    N c. 1158
    N d. 1203

11503: At 1016 your GPS position is LAT 41°07.6'N, LONG 71°37.9'W. At 1104 your position is LAT 41°00.2'N, LONG 71°29.4'W. What was the true course made good between the two positions?

    N a. 134°T
    Y b. 139°T
    N c. 143°T
    N d. 145°T

12100: You sight Wolf Trap Light in line with New Point Comfort Spit Light "2" bearing 040° per standard magnetic compass. You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass. Based on this, you __________.

    Y a. know the compass error is 8°W
    N b. should apply 3°Easterly deviation to the bearing
    N c. know the deviation table is incorrect
    N d. should suspect the compass may be affected by a local magnetic disturbance

13210: At 0943, your position is LAT 41°14.8'N, LONG 71°54.3'W. You are turning for 12.2 knots. What is your ETA at the entrance to Great Salt Pond on Block Island?

    Y a. 1054
    N b. 1048
    N c. 1040
    N d. 1032

14700: How many nautical miles are between mile 105 and mile 234 on the Columbia River?

    Y a. 112.1
    N b. 119.5
    N c. 129.0
    N d. 148.4

15160: At 1815, your position is LAT 37°01.0'N, LONG 75°42.7'W. If there is no current, what is the course per standard magnetic compass to arrive at a point 0.3 mile due north of North Chesapeake Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy "NCA"?

    N a. 249.0°psc
    N b. 251.5°psc
    N c. 255.0°psc
    Y d. 257.0°psc

15162: At 1920, Cape Henry Light bears 231°pgc, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel North Light bears 294°pgc. If your heading is 268°T, what is the relative bearing of Chesapeake Light?

    Y a. 213°
    N b. 201°
    N c. 194°
    N d. 179°

15306: Your 0200 position is LAT 37°23.5'N, LONG 76°09.2'W. Your speed is 8 knots, and your course is 095°T. Which statement is TRUE?

    N a. The depth of the water in your vicinity is about 38 to 40 fathoms (69.1 meters to 72.7 meters).
    Y b. You are less than a mile from a sunken wreck which could interfere with your tow.
    N c. The closest major aid to navigation is New Point Comfort Light.
    N d. You will pass through a disposal area on your present course.

15359: Based on your running fix, you __________.

    N a. have a head current
    Y b. have a following current
    N c. are being set to the north
    N d. are not affected by a current

15545: At 2342 the gyro alarm sounds and you commence steering by standard magnetic compass. If you allow 3° leeway for southerly winds and do not correct for any existing current, what is the course to steer by standard magnetic compass to make good 068°T?

    N a. 054.0°
    N b. 079.5°
    N c. 081.0°
    Y d. 084.5°

15661: At 0727, the cupola on Fishers Island is in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 024°pgc. Based on this, the gyro error is __________.

    N a. 2°E
    N b. 1°E
    N c. 0°
    Y d. 3°W

15842: From your 2030 fix you change course to 195°T, and leave the engine speed at 14 knots.
At 2045, Your position is L 37° 13.50'N Long 075° 38.05' W


Which statement is TRUE?

    Y a. Cape Charles Light bears 050° relative.
    N b. Chesapeake Light bears 190° relative.
    N c. Your fathometer reading is approximately 40 fathoms.
    N d. Your vessel is located in a restricted area.

15843: You continue to steer 195°T. You pass Cape Charles Lighted Bell Buoy "14", 0.9 miles abeam to starboard at 2111. Your speed made good from 2045 to 2111 is __________.

    N a. 13.7 knots
    N b. 14.1 knots
    N c. 14.5 knots
    Y d. 14.8 knots

15906: As you enter the New Haven Outer Channel, you sight the range markers in line directly over the stern. Your heading at the time is 155.5° per gyrocompass. What is the gyro error?

    N a. 1.0°E
    N b. 1.0°W
    Y c. 2.0°W
    N d. 0°

16210: 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 of the following loran readings will act as a danger line and keep you off Little Gull Island by a minimum of 0.5 mile?

    Y a. Not less than 9960-Y-43953.5
    N b. Not more than 9960-W-14735.9
    N c. Not less than 9960-W-14735.8
    N d. Not more than 9960-X-26149.0

16570: NOAA VHF-FM weather broadcasts from Providence, RI are on __________.

    N a. 162.25 MHz
    N b. 162.30 MHz
    Y c. 162.40 MHz
    N d. 162.55 MHz

16719: You are bound for New London. Where will you cross the demarcation line and be governed by the Inland Rules of the Road?

    N a. You are already governed by the Inland Rules.
    Y b. In the Race
    N c. Above the Thames River Bridge
    N d. You will not be governed by the Inland Rules.