USCG General Navigation: 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.


90: When the moon is new or full, which type of tides occur?


104: What should you apply to a fathometer reading to determine the depth of water?


187: Which statement is TRUE concerning apogean tides?


195: The equation of time is 8m 00s. The mean Sun is ahead of the apparent Sun. If you are 2°W of the central meridian of your time zone, when will the apparent Sun cross your meridian?

    Y a. 1216
    N b. 1208
    N c. 1200
    N d. 1152

280: Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, a lighted buoy with a spherical topmark marks __________.

    N a. the port side of the channel
    Y b. safe water
    N c. a hazard to navigation
    N d. the position of underwater cables

282: The symbol which appears beside a light on a chart reads "Gp Fl R (2) 10 sec 160 ft 19M". Which characteristic describes the light?

    N a. It is visible 10 miles.
    N b. Its distinguishing number is "19M".
    N c. It has a radar reflector.
    Y d. None of the above

339: The wind at Frying Pan shoals has been north-northeasterly at an average velocity of 30 knots. The predicted set and drift of the rotary current are 355° at 0.8 knot. What current should you expect?

    N a. 010° at 1.1 knots
    N b. 047° at 0.3 knot
    Y c. 325° at 0.7 knot
    N d. 279° at 1.0 knot

351: Which buoy may be odd numbered?

    N a. A spherical buoy
    Y b. An unlighted can buoy
    N c. A red buoy
    N d. A yellow buoy

368: A great circle crosses the equator at 134°E. It will also cross the equator at what other longitude?

    Y a. 46°W
    N b. 124°W
    N c. 134°W
    N d. 34°E

379: The steady current circling the globe at about 60°S is the __________.

    N a. Prevailing Westerly
    N b. Sub-Polar Flow
    Y c. West Wind Drift
    N d. Humboldt Current

398: The velocity of the apparent wind can be less than the true wind and from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the __________.

    N a. ship's speed is more than the true wind velocity
    Y b. true wind is from dead astern
    N c. true wind is on the beam
    N d. true wind is from dead ahead

479: You are enroute to assist vessel A. Vessel A is underway at 5 knots on course 063°T, and bears 136°T at 78 miles from you. What is the course to steer at 13 knots to intercept vessel A?

    Y a. 114°
    N b. 158°
    N c. 295°
    N d. 340°

553: The beam width of your radar is 2°. The left tangent bearing of a small island, as observed on the PPI scope, is 056°pgc. If the gyro error is 2°E, what bearing would you plot on the chart?

    N a. 052°
    N b. 056°
    Y c. 059°
    N d. 060°

593: Radar makes the most accurate determination of the __________.

    N a. direction of a target
    Y b. distance to a target
    N c. size of a target
    N d. shape of a target

601: White and orange buoys, if lighted, show which color light?

    Y a. White
    N b. Orange
    N c. Red
    N d. Alternating yellow and white

612: Which statement is TRUE concerning a Mercator projection?

    N a. Degrees of longitude decrease in length as latitude increases.
    Y b. The length of the meridians is increased to provide for equal expansion in all directions.
    N c. The mileage between the meridians is increased as the latitude increases.
    N d. All of the above

681: You sight a spar buoy with the top mark shown in the illustration. You must __________. (D027NG )

    N a. pass to the east of the buoy
    N b. pass to the south of the buoy
    N c. pass to the north of the buoy
    Y d. keep well clear of the buoy and pass on either side

708: Which statement about Radio Navigational Warning Broadcasts is TRUE?

    N a. Radio navigational warnings are valid for 10 days, unless cancelled earlier.
    N b. NAVAREA warnings cover coastal areas only, while HYDROLANTS or HYDROPACS cover entire ocean areas.
    Y c. Radio navigational warnings issued by NGA (NIMA) are published in the Daily Memorandum and the Notice to Mariners.
    N d. HYDROLANTS and HYDROPACS cover the same geographical areas as NAVAREA warnings, but are for the use of military vessels only.

745: Retrograde motion is the __________.

    N a. movement of the points of intersection of the planes of the ecliptic and the equator
    Y b. apparent westerly motion of a planet with respect to stars
    N c. movement of a superior planet in its orbit about the Sun
    N d. movement of the celestial north pole in an elliptical pattern in space

750: On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line?

    N a. Red
    Y b. Blue
    N c. Alternating red and blue
    N d. Purple

763: Time signals broadcast by WWV and WWVH are transmitted __________.

    N a. every 15 minutes
    N b. every 30 minutes
    N c. every hour
    Y d. continuously throughout day

804: A relative bearing is always measured from __________.

    N a. true north
    N b. magnetic north
    N c. the vessel's beam
    Y d. the vessel's head

859: At 1800 ZT on 31 October, your position is LAT 24°50'N, LONG 92°37'W. You are preparing a weather report form, WS Form B-80. How should you encode the first three groups after the call sign if you estimate the wind? (D041NG )

    N a. 31123, 99929, 70249
    N b. 31183, 99249, 79237
    N c. 31243, 99249, 70926
    Y d. 01003, 99248, 70926

1026: An air mass that has moved down from Canada would most likely have the symbols __________.

    N a. mPk
    Y b. cPk
    N c. cTk
    N d. cTw

1104: Which condition(s) is(are) necessary for the formation of dew?

    N a. Clear skies
    N b. Calm air
    N c. Earth's surface cooler than the dew point of the air
    Y d. All of the above

1109: You are on course 146°T. To check the speed of your vessel you should observe a celestial body on which bearing?

    N a. 000°
    N b. 056°
    N c. 090°
    Y d. 146°

1153: Heeling error is defined as the change of deviation for a heel of __________.

    N a. 2°While the vessel is on an intercardinal heading
    Y b. 1°While the vessel is on a compass heading of 000°
    N c. 2° and is constant on all headings
    N d. 1° while the vessel is on a compass heading of 180°

1160: What will be the velocity of the tidal current at 0.2 mile SSW of Clason Point, NY, at 1125 on 17 April 1983?

    N a. 0.5 knot
    N b. 0.8 knot
    Y c. 1.1 knots
    N d. 1.9 knots

1172: Which position shown would likely have stratus or stratocumulus clouds, occasional light drizzle, steady southerlies around 10 knots, and steady temperatures? (D049NG )

    N a. B
    N b. C
    N c. D
    Y d. E

1173: When adjusting a magnetic compass for error, a deviation table should be made __________.

    N a. before correcting for any deviation
    N b. after correcting for variation
    Y c. after adjusting the fore-and-aft and athwartships permanent magnets
    N d. before the quadrantal correctors are placed on the compass

1219: Which sextant in illustration D043NG reads 29°42.5'? (D043NG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

1300: You are approaching a sea buoy which emits a racon signal. This signal is triggered by which type of radar?

    Y a. 3 cm
    N b. 10 cm
    N c. Both 3 cm and 10 cm
    N d. Signal does not depend on radar type.

1317: What will be the velocity and direction of the tidal current at Mobile River Entrance, AL, at 0915 CDT (ZD +5) on 13 May 1983?

    N a. 0.1 knot at 333°T
    Y b. 0.3 knot at 333°T
    N c. 0.7 knot at 151°T
    N d. 1.8 knots at 025°T

1328: What will be the velocity of the tidal current in Bolivar Roads, Texas, at a point 0.5 mile north of Ft. Point, on 23 November 1983 at 0330 CST (ZD +6)?

    Y a. Slack water
    N b. 0.8 kt
    N c. 1.2 kts
    N d. 3.4 kts

1373: The reaction of a gyrocompass to an applied force is known as __________.

    Y a. precession
    N b. earth rate
    N c. gyroscopic inertia
    N d. gravity effect

1421: What is the approximate geographic visibility of an object with a height above the water of 70 feet, for an observer with a height of eye of 65 feet?

    N a. 16.8 nm
    Y b. 19.0 nm
    N c. 20.6 nm
    N d. 22.4 nm

1466: Advection fog is most commonly caused by __________.

    N a. air being warmed above the dew point
    N b. saturation of cold air by rain
    N c. a rapid cooling of the air near the surface of the Earth at night
    Y d. warm moist air being blown over a colder surface

1479: A microbarograph is a precision instrument that provides a __________.

    N a. charted record of atmospheric temperature over time
    Y b. charted record of atmospheric pressure over time
    N c. graphic record of combustible gases measured in an atmosphere
    N d. graphic record of vapor pressure from a flammable/combustible liquid

1518: Which publication requires infrequent corrections?

    N a. List of Lights
    N b. Coast Pilot
    Y c. Sailing Directions (Planning Guide)
    N d. Radio Navigational Aids

1565: Determine the approximate geographic visibility of an object, with a height above the water of 85 feet (25.9 meters), for an observer with a height of eye of 60 feet (18.3 meters).

    N a. 18.4 nm
    Y b. 19.9 nm
    N c. 20.8 nm
    N d. 21.5 nm

1583: The angle measured from the observer's meridian, clockwise or counterclockwise up to 180°, to the vertical circle of the body is the __________.

    N a. local hour angle
    Y b. azimuth angle
    N c. meridian angle
    N d. observer's longitude

1595: The Light List indicates that a light has a nominal range of 8 miles and is 48 feet(14.6 meters) high. If the visibility is 6 miles and your height of eye is 35 feet(10.7 meters), at what approximate distance will you sight the light?

    N a. 15.0 nm
    N b. 12.4 nm
    N c. 8.0 nm
    Y d. 5.9 nm

1601: Sextant B in illustration D043NG reads __________. (D043NG )

    N a. 30°51.0'
    Y b. 30°42.5'
    N c. 30°47.5'
    N d. 31°00.0'

1691: Which of the following is associated with consistently high barometric pressure?

    Y a. The horse latitudes
    N b. The doldrums
    N c. The prevailing westerlies
    N d. The trade winds

1786: You are downbound approaching a lock and see 3 green lights in a vertical line. This indicates __________.

    N a. that the lock chamber is open and ready to receive your tow
    N b. that you should hold up until the signal changes to 2 green lights
    Y c. the upstream end of the river wall
    N d. the upstream end of the land wall

1820: Information on the operating times and characteristics of foreign radio beacons can be found in which publication?

    Y a. List of Lights
    N b. Coast Pilot
    N c. Sailing Directions
    N d. List of Radio beacons

1944: In the horizon system of coordinates what is the equivalent to the celestial equator of the celestial equator system?

    Y a. Horizon
    N b. Prime vertical circle
    N c. Prime meridian
    N d. Principal vertical circle

2021: While on watch, you notice that the air temperature is dropping and is approaching the dew point. Which type of weather should be forecasted?

    N a. Hail
    N b. Heavy rain
    N c. Sleet
    Y d. Fog

2076: You should plot your dead reckoning position __________.

    Y a. from every fix or running fix
    N b. from every estimated position
    N c. every three minutes in pilotage waters
    N d. only in pilotage waters

2124: You must draw a plotting sheet covering latitudes 45°N to 49°N and longitudes 179°E to 178°W. If the distance between latitude 45°N to 49°N is 20 inches, what is the distance between the meridians of 1° of longitude?

    N a. 2.9 inches
    N b. 3.2 inches
    Y c. 3.4 inches
    N d. 3.7 inches

2132: What is the definition of height of tide?

    N a. The vertical difference between the heights of low and high water
    N b. The vertical difference between a datum plane and the ocean bottom
    Y c. The vertical distance from the tidal datum to the level of the water at any time
    N d. The vertical distance from the surface of the water to the ocean floor

2169: To make sure of getting the full advantage of a favorable current, you should reach an entrance or strait at what time in relation to the predicted time of the favorable current?

    Y a. 30 minutes before the predicted time
    N b. One hour after the predicted time
    N c. At the predicted time
    N d. 30 minutes before flood, one hour after ebb

2234: A vessel is heading magnetic north and its magnetic compass indicates a heading of 003°. What action should be taken to remove this error during compass adjustment?

    N a. Move the quadrantal spheres closer to the compass
    N b. Raise the heeling magnet if the red end is up
    N c. Remove some of the Flinders bar
    Y d. Raise or lower the athwartship magnets

2388: The reference point for determination of GMT is the passage of the mean sun over what line?

    N a. First point of Aries
    N b. Observer's meridian
    N c. 0° longitude
    Y d. 180° longitude

2428: If your vessel were proceeding up river (ascending), the port side of the channel would be marked according to the U. S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers by __________.

    Y a. green can buoys
    N b. red can buoys
    N c. green nun buoys
    N d. red nun buoys

2481: The letter D as shown represents the __________. (D006NG )

    N a. celestial horizon
    N b. sensible horizon
    Y c. geometrical horizon
    N d. visible horizon

2629: In both regions of the IALA buoyage system, which topmark is used on a special mark? (D022NG )

    N a. A
    N b. B
    N c. C
    Y d. D

2848: While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ships fog horn 6 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

    N a. 1200 yards
    Y b. 1100 yards
    N c. 1000 yards
    N d. 900 yards

2958: Drawbridges equipped with radiotelephones display a __________.

    N a. day signal of a yellow diamond marked with the call sign
    N b. white sign with the number 16 and the call sign on it
    N c. black and white diamond marked with RT 16
    Y d. blue and white sign showing the radio's channels

2988: The buoy indicated by the letter A is a __________. (D044NG )

    N a. nun
    Y b. can
    N c. spar
    N d. pillar