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.

80: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 46 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge?
159: You are turning for 6.8 mph and estimate the current at 1.0 mph. What is your speed over the ground?
327: At 0315, you obtain the following bearings:

Wolf Trap Light bearing 091° true
Old Plantation Flats Light bearing 179° true

What is the true course from this position to the entrance of York Spit Channel?
332: You arrive at the rendezvous point, secure the tow, and head back southward. At 1200, you take the following bearings:

Sand Shoal Inlet South Light bearing 289° pgc
Cape Charles Light bearing 240° pgc

What is your 1200 position? 

    Y a. LAT 37°15.0'N, LONG 75°37.5'W
    N b. LAT 37°16.0'N, LONG 75°38.0'W
    N c. LAT 37°17.0'N, LONG 75°39.5'W
    N d. LAT 37°19.0'N, LONG 75°40.5'W
468: Determine the great circle initial course from LAT 07°05.0'N, LONG 81°45.0'W to LAT 21°15.0'N, LONG 157°40.0'W. 

    N a. 128°T
    N b. 217°T
    Y c. 290°T
    N d. 326°T
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
513: What is the distance from your 0200 position to the point where Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal lighted buoy is abeam to starboard? 

    N a. 7.3 miles
    N b. 7.1 miles
    Y c. 6.9 miles
    N d. 6.6 miles
602: At 1845 zone time, on 24 October , you depart Bimini Island, LAT 25°50.0'N, LONG 77°00.0'W (ZD +5). You are bound for Bishop Rock, LAT 49°40.0'N, LONG 6°34.0'W, and you estimate your speed of advance at 13.6 knots. The distance is 3,491 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Bishop Rock? 

    N a. 0627, 3 November
    N b. 1642, 3 November
    N c. 0939, 4 November
    Y d. 1627, 4 November
609: At 0915 zone time, on 7 April , you depart San Francisco, LAT 37°48.5'N, LONG 122°24.0'W (ZD +8). You are bound for Kobe, LAT 34°40.0'N, LONG 135°12.0'E, and you estimate your speed of advance at 17 knots. The distance is 4,819 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Kobe? 

    N a. 0343, 18 April
    N b. 1243, 19 April
    Y c. 2143, 19 April
    N d. 0443, 20 April
610: At 0820 zone time, on 10 April , you depart Yokohoma, LAT 35°27.0'N, LONG 139°39.0'E (ZD -9). You are bound for Honolulu, LAT 21°18.5'N, LONG 157°52.2'W (ZD +10) and you estimate your speed of advance at 17.5 knots. The distance is 3,397 miles. What is your estimated zone time of arrival at Honolulu? 

    N a. 0127, 17 April
    Y b. 1527, 17 April
    N c. 0127, 18 April
    N d. 0927, 18 April
642: Where can scheduled broadcast times of river stages be found? 

    N a. Sailing Directions
    Y b. Light List
    N c. List of Lights
    N d. Coast Pilot
839: On 22 August , in DR position LAT 29°41.8'N, LONG 33°15.5'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 00m 02s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 74°32.4'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 48 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit? 

    N a. LAT 29°39.3'N
    N b. LAT 29°41.3'N
    Y c. LAT 29°47.8'N
    N d. LAT 29°49.7'N
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
1210: It is 19 October and you are keeping +4 zone time. You are on course 275°, speed 16 knots. Your 0800 DR position is LAT 25°34.0'N, LONG 74°36.0'W. What is the second estimate of the time of LAN by ship's clocks? 

    N a. 11h 48m 38s
    N b. 12h 04m 49s
    Y c. 12h 49m 10s
    N d. 13h 48m 36s
1256: On 17 May , your 0300 ZT DR position is LAT 27°21.0'N,
LONG 146°14.0'E. You are on course 107°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0457
    N b. 0511
    N c. 0519
    Y d. 0522
1278: On 17 April , your vessel is enroute from the Panama Canal to Kobe, Japan. Your 0400 zone time DR position is LAT 26°12.0'N, LONG 126°12.0'W. Your vessel is on course 285°T at a speed of 18 knots. What will be the zone time of sunrise at your vessel? 

    N a. 0535
    N b. 0541
    N c. 0552
    Y d. 0602
1279: At 0327 ZT, on 29 May , your DR position is LAT 25°00'N, LONG 64°15'W. You are steering 270°T at a speed of 13.6 knots. What is the zone time of sunrise? 

    N a. 0521
    Y b. 0529
    N c. 0536
    N d. 0548
1722: You estimate the current as 2.0 mph. What is the speed over the ground? 

    N a. 4.5 mph
    Y b. 5.5 mph
    N c. 7.5 mph
    N d. 9.5 mph
1802: You are turning for 10 mph and passing Hog Point ,LA. Angola reports that the current at Red River Landing is 4.5 mph. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. The main channel lies on the north side of the island you see ahead.
    N b. You are making 14.5 mph over the ground.
    N c. You would expect to find the more favorable current near the broken red line in the river.
    Y d. You should expect to encounter vessels crossing the river at mile 300.5 AHP.
2107: At 0045, you obtain the following bearings:

Rocky Point lookout tower 072°T
Horton Point lighthouse 213°T

What were the set and drift between 0005 and 0045? 

    N a. 272°true, 0.9 knot
    N b. 272°true, 1.4 knots
    N c. 092°true, 0.9 knot
    Y d. 092°True, 1.4 knots
2209: The Helena Gage reads 9.4 feet. The high point on your towboat is 42 feet above water. What is the vertical clearance when you pass under the Helena Highway Bridge? 

    N a. 53.0 feet
    N b. 62.6 feet
    N c. 64.2 feet
    Y d. 68.0 feet
2245: You are entering the channel at buoy 29 and turning for 9 knots. An easterly 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 middle leg of York Spit Channel? 

    N a. 162°T
    Y b. 165°T
    N c. 168°T
    N d. 171°T
2296: If your vessel is making turns for 7.5 mph with an estimated average current of 1.5 mph, what is your ETA at the dock in Angelina, LA? 

    Y a. 1621, 28 Dec
    N b. 2203, 28 Dec
    N c. 0516, 29 Dec
    N d. 1621, 29 Dec
2403: At 0812 you obtain the following information:

Chesapeake Light bearing 091° true @ a range of 10.5 nm

What is your 0812 position? 

    N a. LAT 36°53.7'N, LONG 75°56.0'W
    N b. LAT 36°53.8'N, LONG 75°56.1'W
    Y c. LAT 36°54.4'N, LONG 75°55.9'W
    N d. LAT 36°54.6'N, LONG 75°55.8'W
2591: Which statement best describes the shoreline at Mount Misery? 

    N a. Wooded, barren hills with a rocky beach
    N b. Low, rocky cliffs with heavily wooded hills inland
    N c. Sand dunes and beaches with a mud and sand bottom
    Y d. Sand bluffs 60 feet high and banks dug out by sand and gravel companies
2697: You are underway on course 106°T at a speed of 15.3 knots.
You sight a buoy bearing 109°T at a radar range of 3.6 miles at 1725. If you change course at 1728, what is the course to steer to leave the buoy abeam to port at 0.5 mile? 

    N a. 100°T
    N b. 117°T
    Y c. 120°T
    N d. 125°T
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
3063: The observed distance for a day's run was 302.7 miles. The propeller had a pitch of 20'06", and the average RPM was 67. What was the slip? 

    N a. +0.7%
    N b. -0.7%
    Y c. +7.0%
    N d. -7.0%
3081: If the speed necessary for reaching port at a designated time is 12.6 knots and the pitch of the propeller is 13.6 feet, how many revolutions per minute will the shaft have to turn, assuming no slip? 

    N a. 81
    N b. 85
    N c. 90
    Y d. 94
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
3096: If the pitch of the propeller is 20.1 feet, and the revolutions per day are 118,178, calculate the day's run allowing 6% negative slip. 

    N a. 367.2 miles
    N b. 381.6 miles
    N c. 398.4 miles
    Y d. 414.1 miles
3110: You are turning 78 RPM, with a propeller pitch of 21 feet, and an estimated slip of -7%. What is the speed of advance? 

    N a. 14.9 knots
    N b. 15.7 knots
    Y c. 17.3 knots
    N d. 17.8 knots
3624: Your vessel is steering course 073°psc, variation for the area is 15°E, and deviation is 4°E. The wind is from the southeast, producing a 4° leeway. Which true course are you making good? 

    N a. 050°T
    N b. 058°T
    Y c. 088°T
    N d. 096°T
10107: What is the first course per standard magnetic compass (psc) in the outbound southeasterly traffic lane of the Chesapeake Bay entrance traffic separation scheme? 

    N a. 133°psc
    N b. 138°psc
    N c. 143°psc
    Y d. 148°psc
10205: Your present position is LAT 41°05.5'N, LONG 72°38.0'W. Assuming that there is no set and drift, what course must you steer per standard magnetic compass (psc) to arrive at a position 2 miles due west of Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.5'W)? 

    Y a. 055°psc
    N b. 059°psc
    N c. 064°psc
    N d. 069°psc
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
12203: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 310° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Stratford Point Light and Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon in line dead ahead. This information indicates that the __________. 

    N a. existing deviation table is correct for this heading
    N b. deviation is 1°E
    N c. variation is 18°W for this area
    Y d. compass error is 10°W
12203: Your vessel is steady on a heading of 310° per standard magnetic compass when you sight Stratford Point Light and Igor I. Sikorsky Airport Aero Beacon in line dead ahead. This information indicates that the __________. 

    N a. existing deviation table is correct for this heading
    N b. deviation is 1°E
    N c. variation is 18°W for this area
    Y d. compass error is 10°W
13008: Your 2215 position is LAT 41°05.4'N, LONG 72°59.4'W. You are making 15 knots. What is your ETA at Twenty-Eight Foot Shoal Lighted Buoy (LAT 41°09.3'N, LONG 72°30.5'W)? 

    N a. 2338
    Y b. 2343
    N c. 2349
    N d. 2354
13100: Your position is LAT 41°15.2'N, LONG 71°50.1'W at 1347. You are turning for 6.9 knots. What is your ETA at Shagwong Reef Buoy "7SR"? 

    Y a. 1506
    N b. 1515
    N c. 1521
    N d. 1527
14303: What is the height above the water of light No. 84 on the Columbia River below Bonneville lock & dam? 

    N a. 10 feet
    Y b. 14 feet
    N c. 18 feet
    N d. 24 feet
14402: You are underway and proceeding in an easterly direction on the Columbia River. Your vessel is positioned in the right outside quarter of McGowans Channel and is abeam of light No. 88. What should your fathometer read at this position, if the staff gauge at Portland reads + 15.0 feet? 

    N a. 22 feet
    N b. 31 feet
    N c. 43 feet
    Y d. 52 feet
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
15658: What course should you steer by the standard magnetic compass in order to maintain a heading of 081°pgc? 

    N a. 062°psc
    N b. 080°psc
    N c. 090°psc
    Y d. 095°psc
15770: At 0930, your position is LAT 41°16.5'N, LONG 71°41.4'W, and you are turning for 7 knots. Allowing 3° leeway for northerly winds and estimating the current as 035° at 0.3 knot, what is the course to steer (pgc) to point "B"? 

    N a. 084°pgc
    Y b. 086°pgc
    N c. 091°pgc
    N d. 094°pgc
16138: At 1930 Race Rock Light bears 111°T, and Little Gull Island Light bears 172°T. Which of the following is your position at 1930? 

    N a. LAT 41°15.6'N, LONG 72°09.6'W
    N b. LAT 41°16.1'N, LONG 72°08.3'W
    N c. LAT 41°15.3'N, LONG 72°12.9'W
    Y d. LAT 41°15.8'N, LONG 72°07.1'W
16209: You calculate that the current will be ebbing at the Race at 0700. You should expect to be set in which general direction at the Race? 

    N a. West
    N b. North
    N c. Northeast
    Y d. East
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)
16512: At 0748, you take the following bearings:

Watch Hill Point Light bearing 020.5°pgc
Race Point Light Light bearing 269.5°pgc

What is the approximate depth of water at this position? 

    N a. 325 feet
    N b. 175 feet
    Y c. 130 feet
    N d. 104 feet
16516: At 0815, visibility is excellent and you can see Montauk
Point. Montauk Point is __________. 

    N a. low and rocky with scattered small pine trees
    N b. a low lying wetland
    N c. a flat wooded plain
    Y d. a high sandy bluff
16540: You sight Bartlett Reef Light in range with New London Harbor Light bearing 038°pgc. At the time of the bearing,
the helmsman reports he was heading 253°pgc and 269° per standard magnetic compass. What is the deviation for that heading? 

    Y a. 1°E
    N b. 1°W
    N c. 4°E
    N d. 4°W
16546: At 0100 you notice that the wind has become SSW'ly and has freshened. At 0200 you sight Stratford Point Lighted Bell Buoy "18" bearing 268°pgc. At 0215 the buoy bears 269°pgc. Which statement is TRUE? 

    N a. You should alter course to the right to increase the rate of the bearing change.
    N b. You are making more speed over the ground than you estimated.
    Y c. You should alter course to decrease the distance that you will pass off Middle Ground Shoal.
    N d. You can hold the present course and safely pass buoy "18".
16612: At 0112, what is the approximate depth under the keel? 

    Y a. 38 feet (11.5 meters)
    N b. 47 feet (14.2 meters)
    N c. 51 feet (15.5 meters)
    N d. 57 feet (17.3 meters)
16712: The two wavy magenta lines running to Green Hill Point represent __________. 

    N a. recommended approaches to Green Hill Point
    N b. the red sector of Point Judith Light
    N c. prohibited fishing areas
    Y d. submarine cables