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?
213: From your 1915 position, you come left and set a course for Gardiners Point. At 1930, your position is LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 71°56.8'W. What type of bottom is charted at this position?
236: From your 0830 position, you wish to make good 097°T. There is no current, but a southerly wind is producing 3° leeway. What course should you steer per standard magnetic compass in order to make good your true course?
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
363: After you enter Thimble Shoal Channel, you will alter course to pass between Trestle "A" and "B". Which channel should you use? 

    N a. Thimble Shoal Main Channel or the South Auxiliary Channel
    N b. Any of the channels but keep to the right hand side
    N c. Thimble Shoal Main Channel
    Y d. The South Auxiliary Channel
580: At 1037, you are on course 010°T at 10 knots, when you take the following lset of bearings:

Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 123° pgc
New Point Comfort Light bearing 285.8° pgc
Wolf Trap Light bearing 338° pgc

What is your 1037 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    N b. LAT 37°15.9'N, LONG 76°07.7'W
    Y c. LAT 37°16.1'N, LONG 76°07.4'W
    N d. LAT 37°16.3'N, LONG 76°07.2'W
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
817: On 15 December , in DR position LAT 23°24.0'N, LONG 55°36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 19s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 43°02.3'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 65.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    Y a. LAT 23°33.5'N
    N b. LAT 23°35.8'N
    N c. LAT 23°38.1'N
    N d. LAT 23°40.6'N
1009: On 22 February , your 0800 zone time position is LAT 24°16'S, LONG 95°37'E. Your vessel is on course 126°T at a speed of 14 knots. An observation of the Sun's lower limb is made at 0945 zone time. The chronometer reads 03h 47m 22s, and the chronometer error is 02m 37s fast. The observed altitude (Ho) is 57°02.1'. LAN occurs at 1148 zone time, and a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is made. The observed meridian altitude (Ho) is 75°22.3'.
Determine the vessel's 1200 zone time position. 

    N a. LAT 24°49.3'S, LONG 96°24.0'E
    N b. LAT 24°49.3'S, LONG 96°27.2'E
    Y c. LAT 24°52.2'S, LONG 96°24.0'E
    N d. LAT 24°52.2'S, LONG 96°27.2'E
1135: 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
1204: On 25 April , your 0930 zone time position is LAT 28°35'S, LONG 82°30'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T at a speed of 20.0 knots. Determine the time of LAN. 

    Y a. 1131
    N b. 1158
    N c. 1211
    N d. 1225
1206: Your 0900 DR position is LAT 23°16'N, LONG 146°12'E. Your vessel is on a course of 286°T, at a speed of 14.5 knots. Determine the zone time of LAN on 14 March . 

    N a. 1151
    N b. 1209
    N c. 1223
    Y d. 1228
1261: On 16 February , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 28°32.0'S, LONG 176°49.0'E. You are on course 082°T at a speed of 21 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0534
    Y b. 0552
    N c. 0631
    N d. 0645
1344: At 2142, on January 3, you pass Sebastapol Light (mile 283.3 AHP). At 0137, January 4, you pass Fort Adams Light(mile 311.4 AHP). You have been turning for 9.0 mph. What was the current? 

    N a. 4.2 mph
    N b. 3.3 mph
    N c. 2.7 mph
    Y d. 1.8 mph
1366: On which river is New Providence, TN located? 

    N a. Allegheny
    N b. Upper Mississippi
    N c. Ohio
    Y d. Cumberland
1451: On 11 December , your 1816 ZT DR position is LAT 26°30.0'N, LONG 140°35.0'E. At that time, you observe Venus bearing 230°pgc. The chronometer reads 09h 14m 52s and the chronometer error is 01m 02s slow. The variation is 3.5°E. What is the gyro error? 

    N a. 2.2°E
    Y b. 3.3°E
    N c. 3.2°W
    N d. 4.2°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
1498: On 7 December , your 0350 ZT position is LAT 35°42'N, LONG 17°38'E. You observe Polaris bearing 359.7°pgc. At the time of the observation the helmsman noted that he was heading 016°pgc and 014°psc. The variation is 1°E. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 0.3°E
    N b. 1.5°E
    N c. 0.3°W
    N d. 1.5°W
1711: What is the length of the trip? 

    N a. 722.0 miles
    N b. 953.8 miles
    Y c. 1097.9 miles
    N d. 1332.1 miles
1867: 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 162°T at a sextant altitude (hs) of 28°36.5'. 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. Gamma Virginis
    Y b. Iota Centauri
    N c. Spica
    N d. Mimosa
1882: On 2 October , your 1845 DR position was LAT 28°09.2'S, LONG 167°48.1'E. You observe a faint star through a hole in the clouds at a sextant altitude (hs) of 20°45.6' T, bearing 201.5°T. The index error is 1.3' off the arc, and the height of eye is 42 feet. The chronometer reads 07h 46m 19s and is 00m 51s fast. What star did you observe? 

    N a. Cor Caroli
    N b. Muhlifain
    Y c. Alpha Muscae
    N d. Beta Corvi
1986: You are in charge of a vessel that damages an aid to navigation established and maintained by the United States. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You must take the aid in tow and deliver it to the nearest Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office.
    N b. You must report the allision to the nearest Army Corps.. of
    
Engineers Office.
    N c. You may wait until you reach your destination before reporting the allision to the U.S. Coast Guard.
    Y d. You must report the accident to the nearest Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
2123: At 0410, you take the following bearings:
New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°pgc Wolf Trap Light 315°pgc What is your 0410 position? 

    N a. LAT 37°21.2'N, LONG 76°08.3'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°08.8'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°07.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°08.1'W
2238: At 1430 ZT, on 16 April , in DR position LAT 34° 03.8' N, LONG 061° 02.5'W, you observe an amplitude of the Moon. The center of the Moon is on the visible horizon and bears 095.2°psc. The variation is 12°W. What is the deviation? 

    N a. 1.7°W
    N b. 1.7°E
    N c. 1.9°W
    Y d. 1.9°E
2276: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 46°20.3' on 1 April . The index error is 4.5' off the arc. The height of eye is 57 feet (17.4 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 46°24.2'
    N b. 46°27.9'
    N c. 46°30.1'
    Y d. 46°32.6'
2289: You observe the lower limb of the Sun at a sextant altitude (hs) of 38°07.5' on 8 August . The index error is 5.2' off the arc. The height of eye is 72 feet (22 meters). What is the observed altitude (Ho)? 

    N a. 38°08.4'
    N b. 38°13.3'
    Y c. 38°19.2'
    N d. 38°23.4'
2674: You are steaming on course 126°T at 14.8 knots. At 1022 you sight a buoy bearing 128°T, at a range of 4.8 miles. If you change course at 1026, what true course will you steer to leave the buoy 0.5 mile abeam to port? 

    Y a. 136°
    N b. 133°
    N c. 122°
    N d. 119°
2677: You sight a light 9° on your starboard bow at a distance of 21 miles. Assuming you make good your course, what will be your distance off the light when abeam? 

    Y a. 3.3 miles
    N b. 3.7 miles
    N c. 4.0 miles
    N d. 4.3 miles
2777: The Helena Gage reads 2.3 feet. The high point on your towboat is 26 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 76.0 feet
    N b. 84.2 feet
    N c. 89.5 feet
    Y d. 90.7 feet
3092: If the pitch of the propeller is 24.8 feet, and the revolutions per day are 93,373, calculate the day's run allowing 11% positive slip. 

    N a. 307.3 miles
    Y b. 339.0 miles
    N c. 380.9 miles
    N d. 422.8 miles
3101: You are turning 100 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 25 feet, and an estimated slip of -5%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 24.7 knots
    N b. 23.5 knots
    Y c. 25.9 knots
    N d. 22.3 knots
3460: You wish to make good a course of 230°T while turning for an engine speed of 12.5 knots. The set is 180°T, and the drift is 1.7 knots. What speed will you make good along the track line? 

    N a. 11.5 knots
    N b. 12.5 knots
    Y c. 13.6 knots
    N d. 14.0 knots
10105: What is the course psc from Chesapeake Light to North Chesapeake Entrance Buoy NCA? 

    N a. 313°psc
    N b. 317°psc
    Y c. 321°psc
    N d. 325°psc
10706: At 0726 you depart Lake Montauk with light 1 close aboard and set course 310.5° per standard magnetic compass at 7.6 knots. At 0812 your GPS position is LAT 41°08.1'N, LONG 72°03.7'W. What is the current? 

    N a. 151°T at 1.0 knot
    N b. 164°T at 0.7 knot
    Y c. 334°T at 1.4 knot
    N d. 321°T at 0.8 knot
10907: What is the time (DST ZD +4) of the AM high tide at York Point, Poquoson River on 8 September 1983? 

    N a. 0955
    Y b. 1048
    N c. 1055
    N d. 1102
11306: At 1919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. At 1950 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What is the speed made good? 

    N a. 5.6 knots
    N b. 8.2 knots
    N c. 9.1 knots
    Y d. 10.9 knots
11407: At 1930 your GPS position is LAT 41°00.5'N, LONG 72°49.5'W. At 2018 your position is LAT 41°08.6'N, LONG 72°41.6'W. What was your true course and speed made good? 

    N a. 219° at 10.1 knots
    N b. 214° at 12.5 knots
    Y c. 036° at 12.6 knots
    N d. 039° at 11.2 knots
12508: You are on course 319° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: New Point Comfort Light "2" 244°psc Horn Harbor Entrance Light "HH" 267°psc Wolf Trap Light 335°°psc What is the position of the fix? 

    N a. LAT 37°20.9'N, LONG 76°09.7'W
    N b. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.2'W
    N c. LAT 37°21.0'N, LONG 76°09.9'W
    Y d. LAT 37°21.1'N, LONG 76°09.5'W
12707: You are on course 246° per standard magnetic compass when you take the following bearings: Little Gull Island Light 286° Race Rock Light 308° Latimer Reef Light 018°What is your position? 

    N a. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°55.7'W
    N b. LAT 41°12.6'N, LONG 71°56.6'W
    Y c. LAT 41°12.7'N, LONG 71°56.0'W
    N d. LAT 41°13.1'N, LONG 71°56.1'W
14502: You are proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. The pool level of the Bonneville reservoir stands at 84 feet above MSL. If the highest point on your vessel is 49 feet above the water, what will be the vertical clearance as you pass under the center of the Bridge of the Gods? 

    Y a. 74.0 feet
    N b. 86.0 feet
    N c. 97.5 feet
    N d. 123 feet
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
15242: From your 1155 position, you steer a course of 282°T at a speed of 9.5 knots. You obtain the following bearings:

1205: Falkner Island Light bears 318°T
1225: Falkner Island Light bears 355°T

Your 1225 running fix is __________. 

    N a. north of your intended track
    N b. 3.1 miles SSW of Falkner Island Light
    N c. ahead of the DR position
    Y d. south of your intended track
15366: At 0615 you change course to 078°T. If there is no current, when will Falkner Island Light be abeam? 

    N a. 0750
    N b. 0743
    N c. 0735
    Y d. 0730
15508: From your position you observe a rotating white and green light to the north. This light is most likely __________. 

    N a. from a submarine on the surface
    N b. the light at Southeast Point
    Y c. at an airport
    N d. on a coastal patrol vessel
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
16065: If you steer 143°pgc at an engine speed of 8.0 knots from your 2015 position, at what time would you reach a point midway between buoys "11" and "12" (ignore set and drift)? 

    N a. 2020
    Y b. 2029
    N c. 2032
    N d. 2039
16116: At 0731, approximately how much water is under your keel? 

    Y a. 31 feet (9.4 meters)
    N b. 45 feet (13.6 meters)
    N c. 48 feet (14.5 meters)
    N d. 54 feet (16.4 meters)
16338: At 2209 your position is latitude 40 47.7'N, longitude 71 35.5'W. There is a strong WSW'ly wind causing an estimated 3° leeway. What course will you steer by standard magnetic compass from your 2209 position to make good 340°T? 

    N a. 322°
    N b. 348°
    Y c. 356°
    N d. 002°
16464: At 0405, you increase speed. At 0500, your position is LAT 37°06.0'N, LONG 75°41.1'W. What is the approximate depth of the water under the keel? 

    N a. 66 feet (20.0 meters)
    N b. 62 feet (18.8 meters)
    N c. 54 feet (16.4 meters)
    Y d. 46 feet (13.9 meters)
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
16646: The Tidal Current Tables indicate the following for the Race:
SLACK WATER MAXIMUM CURRENT
0328 0642 3.9 F
0947 1301 3.2 E

What current should you expect when transiting the Race? 

    N a. 3.9 knots, flooding
    Y b. 3.5 knots, flooding
    N c. 3.3 knots, flooding
    N d. 3.0 knots, flooding
16720: In order to check your compasses, you sight North Dumpling Island Light in line with Latimer Reef Light bearing 074°
pgc. The helmsman was steering 303°pgc and 315° per standard magnetic compass at the time. Which of the following is TRUE? 

    Y a. The gyro error is still 2°E.
    N b. The deviation based on the observation is 15°W.
    N c. The magnetic compass error is 12°W.
    N d. The true line of the range is 072°.