Spinnaker Sailing
Navigation and Weather Quiz
These questions and their answers are gleaned from the USCG Mariners Tests, and we trust in them for their accuracy. There are over 700 questions regarding weather and navigation here and all quiz questions are picked randomly. Questions are graded individually and you do not have to answer all questions to check your answers. Don't be discouraged if you miss a few questions, some of them are pretty hard. However, the more you take this test the more you will learn!
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Question 1 - Deviation in a compass is caused by the ...
) vessel's geographic position
) vessel's heading
) earth's magnetic field
) influence of the magnetic materials of the vessel

Question 2 - Which statement about satellite navigation is TRUE?
) While a fix can be generated by signals received from two satellites, three satellites are necessary for reliable accuracy.
) The satellites are in equatorial orbits around the earth about 60° of longitude apart.
) The satellite navigation system determines a fix by measuring the doppler shift of the radio signals from the satellite.
) The ship's receiver cannot begin processing data until the antenna locks onto the satellite and starts continuous tracking.

Question 3 - If the compass heading and the magnetic heading are the same then ...
) the deviation has been offset by the variation
) there is something wrong with the compass
) the compass is being influenced by nearby metals
) there is no deviation on that heading

Question 4 - When a warm air mass is adjacent to a cold air mass, the separation line between the two is called a(n) ...
) stratosphere
) troposphere
) stratopause
) equipotential line

Question 5 - A buoy bears 176° T at 3000 yards. What is the course to make good to leave the buoy 100 yards to starboard?
) 174° T
) 176° T
) 178° T
) 180° T

Question 6 - Apparent time is based on ...
) a fictitious sun moving along the celestial equator
) the visible sun moving along the ecliptic
) the Moon's motion in relation to the Sun
) the movement of the first point of Aries

Question 7 - When correcting a magnetic compass, a deviation table should be made ...
) before correcting for any deviation
) after correcting for variation
) after adjusting the fore-and-aft and athwartships permanent magnets
) before the quadrantal correctors are placed on the compass

Question 8 - What is characteristic of an isophase light?
) 4 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse, 3 sec. flash, 2 sec. eclipse
) 2 sec. flash, 5 sec. eclipse
) 1 sec. flash, 1 sec. eclipse
) 6 sec. flash, 3 sec. eclipse

Question 9 - Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicates that the safest water is on the ...
) north side of the mark
) west side of the mark
) east side of the mark
) south side of the mark

Question 10 - How is the annual rate of change for magnetic variation shown on a pilot chart?
) Gray lines on the uppermost inset chart
) Red lines on the main body of the chart
) In parenthesis on the lines of equal magnetic variation
) Annual rate of change is not shown.