Navigation General · Piloting & Bearings
Using the bow-and-beam bearing method, a vessel runs 6 nm between taking a 45° bow bearing and the abeam bearing on the same lighthouse. What is the approximate distance off the lighthouse when it is abeam?
- A3.0 nm
- B8.5 nm
- C6.0 nm✓ Correct
- D4.2 nm
Explanation
With the bow-and-beam method (first bearing 45° on the bow, second bearing abeam/90°), the distance off when abeam equals the distance run between bearings. Distance run = 6 nm, so distance off = 6.0 nm.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. 9), Ch. 8
Practice the full Navigation General bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2190 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related Navigation General questions
- Piloting & Bearings
A navigator takes simultaneous bearings: Lighthouse A bears 000°T, Lighthouse B bears 090°T. The intersection of these two LOPs gives a:
- Piloting & Bearings
Which geometric arrangement of three simultaneous LOPs gives the most reliable three-bearing fix?
- Piloting & Bearings
What is a danger bearing?
- Piloting & Bearings
A vessel is on course 090°T. A lighthouse bears 045°T (45° on the port bow). Later, the same lighthouse bears 000°T (90° on the port beam). This is an example of:
- Piloting & Bearings
When doubling the angle on the bow, the first relative bearing is 30° and the second is 60°. The vessel ran 4 nm between bearings. What is the distance from the vessel to the lighthouse at the second bearing?
- Piloting & Bearings
A vessel is on course 000°T and observes a lighthouse bearing 045°T at 1200. At 1230, the vessel has run 5 nm and the lighthouse now bears 090°T. What is the distance off the lighthouse at 1230?