Chart Navigation & Plotting · Fixes — Cocked Hat
Three simultaneous bearings produce a small triangle ('cocked hat') instead of a point. What does this most commonly indicate?
- AThat one of the objects was misidentified beyond doubt
- BSmall random or systematic bearing errors; the ship is presumed within the triangle, and a large cocked hat warns of a bad LOP✓ Correct
- CThat the compass has no deviation
- DThat the fix is exact and reliable
Explanation
A cocked hat results from small bearing errors (timing, plotting, or a constant compass error). A tight triangle is acceptable; a large one signals a suspect bearing or misidentified object and the fix should be repeated or treated cautiously.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), three-bearing fix; cocked hat
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