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.

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?
172: If you steer 143°pgc from your 2015 position at an engine speed of 8.0 knots, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)?
218: If there is no current, what is the course per gyro compass from your 1600 position to point A located 0.5 mile due east of Hog Island Lighted Bell Buoy "12"?
290: What was the speed made good from 1845 to 1930? 

    N a. 6.2 knots
    N b. 6.8 knots
    N c. 7.5 knots
    Y d. 8.3 knots
290: What was the speed made good from 1845 to 1930? 

    N a. 6.2 knots
    N b. 6.8 knots
    N c. 7.5 knots
    Y d. 8.3 knots
317: Determine your 1915 position using the following information obtained at 1915.
Visual bearings
Cape Charles Light 107°pgc
Cape Henry Light 172°pgc

Radar Bearing and Range
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel South Light 189°pgc at 7.2 miles 

    N a. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°05.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°03.5'N, LONG 76°09.3'W
    Y c. LAT 37°09.3'N, LONG 76°03.1'W
    N d. LAT 37°09.8'N, LONG 76°04.1'W
329: The engineer has advised that it will be necessary to secure the gyrocompass and the electronic equipment. From your 0315 position, what is your course per standard magnetic compass to York Spit Channel Buoy "38", if there is no current? 

    N a. 218°psc
    Y b. 216°psc
    N c. 214°psc
    N d. 212°psc
345: The characteristic of Branford Reef Light is __________. 

    N a. flashing red every 4 seconds
    N b. flashing red every 3 seconds
    N c. flashing yellow every 4 seconds
    Y d. flashing white every 6 seconds
354: The south shore of Long Island Sound from Horton Point to Orient Point is __________. 

    Y a. bluff and rocky
    N b. low and marshy
    N c. marked by sandy beaches and wooded uplands
    N d. bound by gradual shoaling
491: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5° pgc
Race Point Light bearing 267.5° pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position? 

    N a. 104 feet
    Y b. 130 feet
    N c. 175 feet
    N d. 325 feet
535: You depart LAT 49°38'N, LONG 152°49'E, for LAT 49°38'N, LONG 176°12'E. What are the course and distance by parallel sailing? 

    Y a. 090°T, 909 miles
    N b. 090°T, 1204 miles
    N c. 270°T, 909 miles
    N d. 270°T, 1204 miles
555: Your 0507 position is about 7 miles from Bridgeport, CT. What is the distance from this position to Newport, RI? 

    N a. 114 miles
    N b. 101 miles
    N c. 95 miles
    Y d. 88 miles
605: At 0915 ZT, on 26 July , you depart Yokohama, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Seattle, LAT 47°36.0'N, LONG 122°22.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 14 knots. The distance is 4,245 miles. What is your estimated ZT of arrival at Seattle? 

    Y a. 0728, 7 August
    N b. 1528, 7 August
    N c. 0028, 8 August
    N d. 1528, 8 August
607: At 0915 zone time, on 6 March , you depart Sydney, LAT 33°51.5'S, LONG 151°13.0'E (ZD -10). You are bound for Kodiak, LAT 57°47.0'N, LONG 152°25.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 21 knots. The distance is 6,222 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kodiak? 

    N a. 0732, 17 March
    Y b. 2132, 17 March
    N c. 0732, 18 March
    N d. 2132, 18 March
751: On 16 July , at 2000 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 27°22.0'N, LONG 148°35.0'W, and your sextant reads 26°57.5'. Your chronometer reads 05h 59m 16s, and your chronometer error is 01m 28s slow. Your height of eye is 48 feet, and the index error for your sextant is 1.3' off the arc. What is the latitude of your vessel from your observation of Polaris? 

    N a. 26°52.1'N
    N b. 26°58.8'N
    Y c. 27°36.1'N
    N d. 27°43.4'N
827: On 16 November , your 1200 ZT DR position is LAT 26°48.0'S, LONG 124°32.0'W. Your vessel is on course 078°T, speed 17.0 knots. You observe an ex-meridian of the Sun's lower limb. The sextant (hs) reads 81°41.3'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. The chronometer time of the observation is 08h 15m 32s, and the chronometer is 03m 06s fast. What is your latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. 26°42.6'S
    N b. 26°47.1'S
    N c. 26°49.5'S
    N d. 26°52.3'S
1199: On 20 June , your 0800 zone time DR position is LAT 21°02.0'N, LONG 152°50.0'E. Your vessel is on course 265°T at a speed of 15.0 knots. What is the zone time of local apparent noon (LAN)? 

    N a. 1149
    Y b. 1154
    N c. 1159
    N d. 1203
1212: It is 21 November and you are keeping zone time +8. You are on course 082°T, speed 19 knots. Your 0830 DR position is LAT 24°14.8'N, LONG 133°35.5'W. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 13h 35m 02s
    N b. 13h 03m 20s
    N c. 12h 35m 59s
    Y d. 12h 34m 51s
1215: It is 9 February and you are keeping zone time -6. You are on course 258°T, speed 19 knots. Your 0840 DR position is LAT 26°21.0'S, LONG 78°39.0'E. What is the time of the second estimate of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 12h 05m 21s
    N b. 12h 37m 12s
    N c. 13h 13m 40s
    Y d. 13h 05m 44s
1252: On 13 August , your 0345 ZT DR position is LAT 21°35.0'
N, LONG 135°26.0'W. You are on course 052°T at a speed of 14 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0443
    N b. 0449
    Y c. 0536
    N d. 0540
1280: On 27 March , your 0330 zone time DR position is LAT 23°32'N, LONG 154°47'E. Your vessel is on a course of 105°T at a speed of 20 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    Y a. 0534
    N b. 0557
    N c. 0612
    N d. 0624
1340: At 1300, 5 January, the river will be temporarily closed to navigation for six hours at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to a bridge. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Natchez Gage in order not to be delayed? 

    N a. 5.7 mph
    Y b. 6.0 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph
1414: What is the mile point of the Fulton Gage? 

    N a. 598 AHP
    N b. 632 AHP
    N c. 687 AHP
    Y d. 778 AHP
1651: On 23 October , in DR position LAT 21°13.0'N, LONG 152°18.0'E, you observe an amplitude of the Sun. The Sun's center is on the visible horizon and bears 259°psc. The chronometer reads 07h 21m 46s and is 01m 32s slow. Variation in the area is 5°E. What is the deviation of the magnetic compass? 

    N a. 0.9°E
    N b. 1.5°W
    Y c. 5.9°W
    N d. 6.5°E
1779: At 2237 ZT, on 14 July , in DR position LAT 33°57'N, LONG 150°32'W you observe an amplitude of Saturn. The planet is about one Sun's diameter above the visible horizon and bears 258.6°psc. The variation is 14°E. What is the deviation? 

    Y a. 2.0°W
    N b. 1.0°W
    N c. 0.0°
    N d. 1.0°E
1864: At 0520 zone time, on 17 March , while taking stars for a morning fix, you observe an unidentified star bearing 050°T, at an observed altitude (Ho) of 45°00.0'. Your DR position at the time of the sight is LAT 27°23.0'N, LONG 39°42.0° W. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 22m 15s, and the chronometer error is 01m 45s fast. Your vessel is steaming on a course of 300°T at a speed of 18 knots. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Altair
    N b. Alkaid
    N c. Arcturus
    Y d. Deneb
2013: On 28 October , morning twilight will occur around 0524 ZT in LAT 25°25.0'N, LONG 32°33.3'W. Considering their magnitude and location, which group will be the three stars best suited to observe for a star fix at star time? 

    N a. Sirius, Hamal, Denebola
    N b. Sirius, Denebola, Dubhe
    Y c. Sirius, Capella, Denebola
    N d. Sirius, Mirfak, Hamal
2021: On 29 April , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°39'N, LONG 168°03'E. You are on course 108°T at a speed of 22 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three bodies best suited for a fix at star time? 

    Y a. Moon, Alpheratz, Polaris
    N b. Deneb, Dubhe, Zubenelgenubi
    N c. Venus, Polaris, Arcturus
    N d. Moon, Altair, Sabik
2329: You sighted Trestle "B" in line at 0706 and are steering 108°T. At 0731, Cape Henry Light bears 136°T; Cape Charles Light bears 032.5°T; and Thimble Shoal Tunnel South Light bears 282°T. What was the speed made good between 0706 and 0731? 

    Y a. 8.3 knots
    N b. 8.8 knots
    N c. 9.2 knots
    N d. 9.4 knots
2534: Your company wants to know at what time you will be arriving at the fleeting area at Sycamore Chute Light (mile 740.3 AHP) in Memphis, TN You are making turns for 9.0 mph and you estimate the average current at 2.2 mph. Figuring the distance and time from Hole in the Wall Lt. (mile 373.4 AHP), what is your ETA at Sycamore Chute Lt.? 

    N a. 0557, April 19th
    N b. 1045, April 19th
    Y c. 1242, April 19th
    N d. 1733, April 19th
2690: While on a course of 066°pgc, a light bears 13° on the port bow at a distance of 12.3 miles. What course should you steer to pass 4 miles abeam of the light leaving it to port? 

    N a. 067°pgc
    Y b. 072°pgc
    N c. 079°pgc
    N d. 085°pgc
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
2880: Your vessel is steering 218°T at 19 knots. At 2223 a light bears 261°T, and at 2234 the same light bears 289°T. What will be your distance off abeam? 

    N a. 4.5 miles
    Y b. 4.9 miles
    N c. 5.3 miles
    N d. 5.7 miles
2891: You are steaming on course 168°T at a speed of 18 knots. At 1426 you sight a buoy bearing 144°T. At 1435 you sight the same buoy bearing 116°T. What is your distance off at the second bearing and predicted distance when abeam? 

    Y a. 2.3 miles 2nd bearing, 1.8 miles abeam
    N b. 2.5 miles 2nd bearing, 2.8 miles abeam
    N c. 2.8 miles 2nd bearing, 1.8 miles abeam
    N d. 3.3 miles 2nd bearing, 2.8 miles abeam
3050: The propeller on a vessel has a diameter of 23.7 feet and a pitch of 24.8 feet. What would be the apparent slip if the vessel cruised 442 miles in a 23 hour day (observed distance) at an average RPM of 89? 

    N a. -7.6%
    N b. +7.6%
    N c. -11.8%
    Y d. +11.8%
3075: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 15.7 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 23.4 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming a 6% negative slip? 

    Y a. 64
    N b. 68
    N c. 72
    N d. 76
10501: At 0939 your GPS position is LAT 36°57.0'N, LONG 75°41.0'W. You are on course 119° per standard magnetic compass at a speed of 12.8 knots. At 1017 your GPS indicates your position as LAT 36°54.2'N, LONG 75°33.1'W. What were the set and drift? 

    N a. 280°T at 1.0 knot
    Y b. 275°T at 1.8 knots
    N c. 091°T at 1.6 knots
    N d. 103°T at 1.1 knots
10509: At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T at 7.8 knots. At 1035 your position is LAT 37°00.5'N, LONG 75°43.8'W. What was the set and driftt? 

    N a. 281° at 0.7 knot
    Y b. 292° at 1.0 knot
    N c. 305° at 1.3 knots
    N d. 113° at 1.2 knots
12704: You are on course 137° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Watch Hill Point Light - 051°psc Montauk Point Light - 184°psc Race Rock Light - 279°psc What is your position? 

    Y a. LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°54.4'W
    N b. LAT 41°15.1'N, LONG 71°53.8'W
    N c. LAT 41°15.1'N, LONG 71°54.9'W
    N d. LAT 41°15.0'N, LONG 71°53.7'W
13500: The soundings on this chart are measured in __________. 

    Y a. feet
    N b. yards
    N c. meters
    N d. fathoms
15164: From your 1920 position, you change course to enter Chesapeake Channel between buoys 9 and 10. What is the course per gyrocompass? 

    N a. 271°pgc
    N b. 274°pgc
    Y c. 277°pgc
    N d. 280°pgc
15625: The river will be temporarily closed to navigation at mile 531.3 AHP due to repairs to the bridge. This will occur at 1300, 5 January, and last for six hours. What minimum speed over the ground must you make from Red River Landing Gage in order not to be delayed? 

    N a. 6.0 mph
    Y b. 6.4 mph
    N c. 6.8 mph
    N d. 7.3 mph
15627: What is the vertical clearance of the Natchez Highway Bridge (westbound) when the river level is the same as the Low Water Reference Plane (6.1 ft)? 

    N a. 102.2 ft
    N b. 108.3 ft
    Y c. 119.4 ft
    N d. 125.6 ft
15742: At 2100 your position is LAT 40°58.5'N, LONG 71°46.0'W. You are proceeding north. At 2131 Montauk Point Light has a radar range of 5.1 miles and bears 284°T. Block Island Southeast Light has a radar range of 10.8 miles. What was the course made good from your 2100 position? 

    N a. 005°T
    Y b. 011°T
    N c. 017°T
    N d. 025°T
15858: At 0005, on 26 January, your position is LAT 41°11.8'N,
LONG 72°20.5'W. From this position, you plot a course to a position one mile North of Mattituck Breakwater Light "MI". If there are no set and drift, what course should you steer per gyro compass? 

    N a. 219°pgc
    Y b. 222°pgc
    N c. 225°pgc
    N d. 228°pgc
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°
16310: At 0730, your position is LAT 41°10.5'N, LONG 72°32.2'W. From this position you steer course 286°psc with an engine speed of 9.0 knots. What is the approximate depth of water under your keel? 

    Y a. 52 feet (15.8 meters)
    N b. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
    N c. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N d. 67 feet (20.3 meters)
16360: What is the course to steer per gyro compass from the anchorage to point "A" if westerly winds are causing 3° of leeway? 

    N a. 178°pgc
    N b. 182°pgc
    N c. 184°pgc
    Y d. 187°pgc
16365: From your 0500 position, you change course to 221°T and order turns for 9.8 knots. At 0600 Chesapeake Light bears 143°pgc at a radar range of 6.5 miles. Cape Henry Light bears 252°pgc. What is the position of your 0600 fix? 

    N a. LAT 36°59.1'N, LONG 75°48.1'W
    N b. LAT 36°59.1'N, LONG 75°47.6'W
    Y c. LAT 36°59.2'N, LONG 75°47.8'W
    N d. LAT 36°58.9'N, LONG 75°48.5'W
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
16709: The coastline between Point Judith and Watch Hill is __________. 

    N a. steep with rocky bluffs
    N b. low and marshy
    Y c. sandy and broken by rocky points
    N d. heavily forested