Navigation General

You want to follow a course of 270o True. Variation in the area is 14o W, and deviation on your boat is 4o E. What is the compass course you must steer? A. 280o B. 288o C. 284o D. 260o

A. 280o

The lunar or tidal day is _____. A. About 50 minutes longer than the solar day B. About 10 minutes longer than the solar day C. The same length as the solar day D. About 50 minutes shorter than the solar day

A. About 50 minutes longer than the solar day

What should you apply to a fathometer reading to determine the depth of water? A. Add the draft of the vessel B. Subtract the sea water correction C. Subtract the draft of the vessel D. Add the sea water correction

A. Add the draft of the vessel

The barometer is an instrument for measuring the _____. A. Atmospheric Pressure B. Temperature C. Relative humidity D. Dew point

A. Atmospheric Pressure

Buoys which only mark the left or right side of the channel will never exhibit a light with which characteristic? A. Composite group flashing B. Quick flashing C. Flashing D. Equal interval (isophase)

A. Composite group flashing

What is the weather chart symbol for an occluded front? A. Line with purple half-circles and triangles B. Line with blue circles C. Line with red triangles D. Line with red and blue circles and triangles

A. Line with purple half-circles and triangles

Mariners are first warned of serious defects or important changes to aids to navigation by means of _____. A. Marine broadcast Notice to Mariners B. Light Lists C. Corrected editions of charts D. Weekly Notices to Mariners

A. Marine broadcast Notice to Mariners

Which government agency publishes the U.S. Coast Pilot? A. National Ocean Service B. US Coast Guard C. Defense Mapping Agency D. Army Corps of Engineers

A. National Ocean Service

True Direction is printed around the _____. A. Outside of the compass rose B. Center of the compass rose C. Around the inside of the compass rose D. Not on the compass rose

A. Outside of the compass rose

Which buoy is NOT numbered? A. Preferred-channel buoy B. Green Can Buoy C. Red lighted buoy D. Green gong buoy

A. Preferred-channel buoy

When using a buoy as an aid to navigation which of the following should be considered? A. The buoy may not be in the charted position. B. The buoy should be considered to always be in the charted location. C. If the light is flashing, the buoy should be considered to be in the charted location. D. The buoy should be considered to be in the charted position if it has been freshly painted.

A. The buoy may not be in the charted position.

How many high waters usually occur each day on the East Coast of the United States? A. Two B. Three C. Four D. One

A. Two

Neap tides occur _____. A. When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other B. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line, regardless of alignment order C. Only when the Sun and Moon are on the same sides of the Earth and are nearly in line D. At the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator

A. When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other

Spring tides occur _____. A. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line B. Only when the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth and nearly in line C. When the Sun and Moon are at approximately 90 degrees to each other as seen from the Earth D. At the start of spring, when the Sun is nearly over the equator

A. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line

"GPS" is a network of _____. A. all the above B. data links C. orbiting satellites D. ground stations

A. all the above

The Coast Pilot Contents include _____. A. all the above B. channel descriptions C. weather D. dangers

A. all the above

Prior to reading an android barometer, you should tap the face lightly with your finger to _____. A. bring the pointer to its true position B. contract and expand the glass face C. demagnetize the metal elements D. expose any loose connections

A. bring the pointer to its true position

A buoy having red and green horizontal bands would have a light characteristic of _____. A. composite group flashing B. quick flashing C. interrupted quick flashing D. morse (A)

A. composite group flashing

When you are steering on a pair of range lights and find the upper light is in line with the lower light you should _____. A. continue on the present course B. wait until the lights are no longer in a vertical line C. come left D. come right

A. continue on the present course

A boundary between two air masses is called a _____. A. front B. wind C. ridge D. trough

A. front

White lights may be found on _____. A. information and regulatory buoys B. numbered buoys C. preferred channel buoys D. special purpose buoys

A. information and regulatory buoys

Charts are oriented with _____. A. north at the top B. south at the top C. east at the top D. west at the top

A. north at the top

Buoys which mark isolated dangers are painted with alternating _____. A. red and black bands B. green and white bands C. green and black bands D. red and white stripes

A. red and black bands

The type of tide that occurs twice daily is called _____. A. semi-diurnal B. mixed C. diurnal D. interval

A. semi-diurnal

Depth finders transmit sound by a device called _____. A. transducer B. speaker C. none of the above D. rudder

A. transducer

Mean lower low water is an average of _____. A. 1 year B. 19 years C. 100 years D. None of the above

B. 19 years

"GPS" relies on _____. A. 12 satellites B. 24 satellites C. 36 satellites D. 6 satellites

B. 24 satellites

The direction of the intended path over ground is _____. A. COG B. COA C. CMG D. All the above

B. COA

Chart legends which indicate a conspicuous landmark are printed in _____. A. Boldface print B. Capital Letters C. Italics D. Underlined letters

B. Capital Letters

What agency establishes and maintains aids to navigation in the U.S.? A. National Ocean Service B. Coast Guard C. Department of Transportation D. Army Corps of Engineers

B. Coast Guard

A lighted preferred-channel buoy may show a _____. A. Fixed red light B. Composite group-flashing light C. Morse (A) white light D. Yellow light

B. Composite group-flashing light

Wind resulting from a land mass cooling more quickly at night than adjacent water is a _____. A. Coastal Breeze B. Land Breeze C. Sea Breeze D. Mistral

B. Land Breeze

The U.S. Coast Guard publishes _____. A. U.S. Coast Pilot B. Light Lists C. Radio Navigational Aids D. All the above

B. Light Lists

A vertically-striped buoy may be _____. A. Striped black and green B. Lighted with a white light C. Striped black and yellow D. Lighted with a red light

B. Lighted with a white light

Which symbol on a weather chart represents a cold front? A. Line with purple triangles B. Line with blue triangles C. Line with blue circles D. Line with blue and red triangles

B. Line with blue triangles

Which weather chart symbol represents a stationary front? A. Line with purple circles and triangles B. Line with red circles on one side & blue triangles on the other C. Line with blue circles D. Line with red circles and blue triangles on the same side

B. Line with red circles on one side & blue triangles on the other

In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, red and green horizontally-banded buoys mark _____. A. Channels for shallow draft vessels B. Preferred channels C. Fishing grounds D. General anchorage areas

B. Preferred channels

The description "Racon" beside an illustration on a chart would mean a _____. A. Radar calibration beacon B. Radar transponder beacon C. Circular radio beacon D. Radar conspicuous beacon

B. Radar transponder beacon

The period at high or low tide during which there is no movement of the water is called _____. A. Plane of the tide B. Slack water C. Range of the tide D. Reversing of the tide

B. Slack water

When the sun and moon are in alignment, what type of tides will occur? A. Neap B. Spring C. Perigean D. Apogean

B. Spring

The term tide refers to _____. A. Salinity content of the water B. Vertical movement of the water C. Horizontal movement of the water D. Mixing tendency of the water

B. Vertical movement of the water

Most radar today automatically adjust for _____. A. tune B. all the above C. grain D. sea clutter

B. all the above

The reference datum used in determining the heights of land features on most charts is _____. A. mean sea level B. mean high water C. half-tide level D. mean low water

B. mean high water

On the east coast of North America, charted depths are taken from _____. A. mean time level B. mean lower low water C. mean low water D. high water

B. mean lower low water

Yellow lights may appear on _____. A. spherical buoys B. special purpose buoys C. horizontally-banded buoys D. vertically-striped buoys

B. special purpose buoys

To determine the bottom clearance, be sure to account for the distance between _____ and _____. A. the transducer and the bottom of the hull B. the transducer and the bottom of the props C. the transducer and the bottom D. the transducer and the bottom of the shaft

B. the transducer and the bottom of the props

In the Northern Hemisphere, a wind that shifts counterclockwise is a _____. A. Veering Wind B. Reverse Wind C. Backing Wind D. Chinook Wind

C. Backing Wind

The American Practical Navigator is commonly referred to as _____. A. U.S. Coast Guard Light List B. Light List C. Bowditch D. Chart No 1

C. Bowditch

A preferred-channel buoy will show a _____. A. Composite group-flashing (2 + 1) white light B. Group-occulting white light C. Composite group-flashing (2 + 1) red or green light D. White light whose characteristic is Morse code (A)

C. Composite group-flashing (2 + 1) red or green light

Spring tides are tides that _____. A. Are unpredictable B. Have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal C. Have lower lows and higher highs than normal D. Occur in the spring of the year

C. Have lower lows and higher highs than normal

Green lights may appear on _____. A. Yellow buoys B. Vertically striped buoys C. Horizontally banded buoys D. Spherical buoys

C. Horizontally banded buoys

When the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, which type of tides occur? A. Apogean B. Spring C. Neap D. Diurnal

C. Neap

What is the most important source of information to be used in correcting charts and keeping them up to date? A. Sailing Directions B. Fleet Guides C. Notice to Mariners D. Pilot Charts

C. Notice to Mariners

A weather forecast states that the wind will commence veering. In the Northern Hemisphere this indicates that the wind will _____. A. Increase in velocity B. Continue blowing from the same direction C. Shift in a clockwise manner D. Shift in a counterclockwise manner

C. Shift in a clockwise manner

A weather forecast states that the wind will commence backing. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would indicate that it will _____. A. Shift in a clockwise manner B. Continue blowing from the same direction C. Shift in a counterclockwise manner D. Decrease in velocity

C. Shift in a counterclockwise manner

The Local Notice to Mariners is usually published _____. A. Daily B. Semiannually C. Weekly D. Monthly

C. Weekly

Knowledge of the radar picture in your area should be obtained using the radar during _____. A. low visibility B. fog C. good visibility D. nights

C. good visibility

The "List of Lights" publication, covers information on lights _____. A. in the U.S. waters B. only U.S. Possessions C. in the rest of the world (not in U.S. waters) D. no such book

C. in the rest of the world (not in U.S. waters)

A dotted line around any symbols call special attention because _____. A. it is a hospital B. all the above C. it is hazardous D. it is a marina

C. it is hazardous

Light Lists for coastal waters are _____. A. published every year and require no correction B. published every five years and require correction C. published every year and require corrections D. correct only to the date of the publication

C. published every year and require corrections

When navigating a vessel, you _____. A. can always rely on a buoy to show proper light characteristics B. should assume a wreck buoy is directly over the wreck C. should never rely on a floating aid to maintain its exact position D. can always rely on a buoy to be on station

C. should never rely on a floating aid to maintain its exact position

CMG

Course Made Good

COG

Course Over Ground

COA

Course of Advance

You want to follow a course of 180o True. Variation in the area is 9o E, and deviation on your boat is 2o W. What is the compass course you must steer? A. 200o B. 175o C. 169o D. 173o

D. 173o

To provide the desired position accuracy, most GPS receivers require _____. A. 2 satellites to fix a position B. 1 satellite to fix a position C. 3 satellites to fix a position D. 4 satellites to fix a position

D. 4 satellites to fix a position

The chart symbols and abbreviations are contained in _____. A. Chart No 3 B. Chart No 2 C. the chart book D. Chart No 1

D. Chart No 1

Chart legends printed in capital letters show that the associated landmark is _____. A. A radio transmitter B. A government facility or station C. Inconspicuous D. Conspicuous

D. Conspicuous

The direction of the surface wind is/are _____. A. Directly from low pressure toward high pressure B. From low pressure toward high pressure deflected by the earth's rotation C. Directly from high pressure toward low pressure D. Deflected by the earth's rotation

D. Deflected by the earth's rotation

You wish to measure the distance on a Mercator chart between two points. You would use what to measure the distance? A. Weems plotter B. Nautical Slide Rule C. Parallel Ruler D. Dividers

D. Dividers

Red lights may appear on _____. A. Vertically striped buoys B. Yellow buoys C. Spherical buoys D. Horizontally banded buoys

D. Horizontally banded buoys

The symbol which appears beside a light on a chart reads "Gp Fl R (2) 10 sec 160 ft 19M". Which characteristic does the light possess? A. It flashes once every ten seconds B. Its distinguishing number is "19M". C. It is visible two nautical miles D. It has a red light.

D. It has a red light.

Distance along a track line is measured on a Mercator chart by using the _____. A. Latitude scale at the mid-latitude of the chart B. Longitude scale near the middle of the track line C. Latitude or longitude scale at the middle of the scale D. Latitude scale nearest to the track line

D. Latitude scale nearest to the track line

n a weather chart, a warm front is indicated by what symbol? A. Line with purple triangles and circles B. Line with circles C. Line with triangles D. Line with red half circles on one side

D. Line with red half circles on one side

Which chart projection would be most suitable for coastal navigation? A. Polyconic B. Lambert conformal C. Gnomonic D. Mercator

D. Mercator

A buoy with a composite group-flashing light indicates a(n) _____. A. Anchorage area B. Dredging area C. Fish net area D. Preferred channel

D. Preferred channel

How is a safe water mark, that can be passed close aboard on either side, painted and lighted? A. Black and white stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light B. Black and red stripes with an interrupted quick flashing light C. Black and red stripes with a Morse (A) light D. Red and white stripes with a Morse (A) light

D. Red and white stripes with a Morse (A) light

The overall actual speed of voyage is _____. A. SAA B. SOA C. STW D. SMG

D. SMG

A local wind which occurs during the daytime and is caused by the different rates of warming of land and water is a _____. A. Foehn B. Land Breeze C. Chinook D. Sea Breeze

D. Sea Breeze

When navigating a vessel, you _____. A. Can always rely on a buoy to show proper light characteristics B. Should assume a wreck buoy is directly over the wreck C. Can always rely on a buoy to be on station D. Should never rely on a floating aid to maintain its exact position

D. Should never rely on a floating aid to maintain its exact position

A safe water mark may be _____. A. showing a white light B. spherical C. vertically striped D. all the above

D. all the above

The strongest flood and ebb currents generally occur _____. A. none of the above B. at flood time C. at ebb time D. around half tide

D. around half tide

The latitude scale runs along _____. A. right side only B. the top of the chart C. the bottom of the chart D. both sides of the chart

D. both sides of the chart

The difference between the heights of low and high tide is the _____. A. depth B. period C. distance D. range

D. range

Speed through the water

Do NOT consider the effects of Current or the effects of Wind

EP

EP - Electronic Position This is your real position (Fix)

If a visual bearing is available, it is less reliable than one obtained by radar. True False

False

Course Over Ground

Instantaneous direction of the actual path over ground

SMG

Speed Made Good

SOG

Speed Over Ground

STW

Speed Through the Water

Speed Over Ground

Speed made good at any instant in time with respect to the ground

SOA

Speed of Advance

STW

Speed through the water

Course of Advance

The direction of the INTENDED path over ground

Speed Made Good

The overall actual speed of voyage

Course Made Good

The resultant direction from the beginning of the voyage to the end

Speed of Advance

The speed INTENDED to be made over ground along the COA

Charts are out of date before they are even printed. True False

True

Radar LOP may be combined to obtain a fix. True False

True