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!

Once test is submitted to you can use the Take Another Quiz link at the top to see more questions

Question 1 - Spring tides are tides that ...
) have lows lower than normal and highs higher than normal
) have lows higher than normal and highs lower than normal
) are unpredictable
) occur in the spring of the year

Question 2 - When the declination of the Moon is 0°12.5' S, you can expect some tidal currents in Gulf Coast ports to ...
) have either a double ebb or a double flood
) become reversing currents
) become weak and variable
) exceed the predicted velocities

Question 3 - What indicates that a tropical cyclone can be expected at your position within 24 to 48 hours?
) A daily fluctuation of over 6 millibars in the barometric reading
) A sudden wind shift from southwest to northwest followed by steadily increasing winds
) The normal swell pattern becoming confused, with the length of the swell increasing
) An overcast sky with steadily increasing rain from nimbostratus clouds

Question 4 - A current perpendicular to a vessel's track has the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good ...
) at high vessel speeds
) at low vessel speeds
) in shallow water
) in deep water

Question 5 - The position accuracy of Loran-C degrades with increasing distance from the transmitting stations as ...
) gains are made over the signal path
) a result of variation in propagation conditions
) the frequency of the pulses increases
) the stations shift pulses

Question 6 - The daily path of a celestial body that is parallel to the celestial equator is the ...
) altitude circle
) vertical circle
) diurnal circle
) hour circle

Question 7 - What is the mark on a lead line indicating 13 fathoms?
) White linen rag
) Red woolen rag
) Three knots
) Three strips of leather

Question 8 - Your vessel goes aground in soft mud. You would have the best chance of refloating it on the next tide if it grounded at ...
) low water neap
) low water spring
) high water neap
) high water spring

Question 9 - You are required to enter a lock on your voyage. Information on the lock regulations, signals, and radio communications can be found in ...
) Coast Pilot
) Corps of Engineer Information Bulletin
) must conform to the standards of the U.S. Aids to Navigation System
) are not permitted in or along first-class waterways and may be authorized for second- and third-class waterways

Question 10 - The navigation regulations applicable to a U.S. inland waterway can be found in the ...
) Notices to Mariners
) Channel Reports
) Sailing Directions
) Coast Pilots