USCG COXSWAIN LATEST STUDY EXAM GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔Using Asymmetric or Opposed Propulsion (Twin-Screw Theory) - ✔✔Any difference
in thrust affects the boat's heading. The amount of this difference can vary from
that needed to hold a course at cruising speed to turning a boat 360° in its own length
by
opposing propulsion (splitting throttles).
Up to a point, the greater the difference in RPMs, the greater the effect on the change in
heading.
✔✔Performing Single-Screw Compound Maneuvering (Single-Screw Theory) -
✔✔When maneuvering a twin-engine vessel on one drive, the coxswain must
account for the propeller rotation and side force for the particular drive used (normally
starboard: right-hand turning, port: left-hand turning), and the offset of the drive from
centerline.
✔✔MAYDAY - ✔✔MAYDAY is a distress call of the highest priority. Spoken three times,
it shows that a
person, boat, or aircraft is threatened by grave or imminent danger and requires
immediate
assistance. Broadcast on 2182 kHz or Channel 16.
✔✔PAN-PAN - ✔✔Broadcast on 2182 kHz or Channel 16, this urgency signal consists
of three repetitions of the
group of words "PAN-PAN" (pahn-pahn). It means that the calling Station has a very
urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, vehicle, or person.
✔✔SECURITÉ - ✔✔"SECURITÉ" (SEE-CURE-IT-TAY) is a safety signal spoken three
times and transmitted on
2182 kHz or Channel 16. It indicates a message concerning the safety of navigation, or
important weather warnings will be transmitted on 2670 kHz or Channel 22.
✔✔Breaking Waves - ✔✔Plunging waves.
Spilling breakers.
Surging breakers.
✔✔Plunging Waves - ✔✔Plunging waves result when there is a sudden lack of water
ahead of the wave, such as in a
steep rise of the ocean floor. This situation prevents the wave from traveling along, and
causes the crest to be hurled ahead of the front of the wave and break with tremendous
force.
, ✔✔Spilling Breakers - ✔✔Spilling breakers result from waves of low steepness moving
over a gentle sloping ocean
floor. They normally have a small crest of white water spreading evenly down the wave,
and
break slowly without violence.
✔✔Surging Breakers - ✔✔A surging breaker occurs on very steep beaches. The wave
builds very quickly and expends
its energy on the beach. It is very unlikely that a surging breaker will be encountered
while
aboard a boat unless beaching it on a very steep beach.
✔✔Small Craft Advisory - ✔✔An advisory in coastal waters for winds
from approximately 18 to 33 KT inclusive or for sea
conditions, either predicted or occurring,
that are considered potentially hazardous
to small boats.
✔✔Gale Warning - ✔✔A warning of sustained winds in the range
34 to 47 KT inclusive either predicted or
occurring, not associated with tropical
cyclones.
✔✔Storm Warning - ✔✔A warning of sustained winds of 48 KT or
more, not associated with a tropical
cyclone.
✔✔Hurricane Warning - ✔✔A warning for sustained winds of 64 KT
or greater either predicted or occurring,
associated with a tropical cyclone.
✔✔The Effect do currents have on Waves - ✔✔An outgoing or ebb current running
across a bar builds up a more intense sea than the
incoming or flood current. The intense sea results because the rush of water out against
the
incoming ground swell slows the wave speed and steepens the wave prematurely.
✔✔Wind Effects on Current - ✔✔Wind affects the speed of currents. Sustained wind in
the same direction as the current
increases the speed of the current by a small amount. Wind in the opposite direction
slows it
down and may create a chop. A very strong wind, blowing directly into the mouth of an
inlet or bay, can produce an unusually high tide by piling up the water. Similarly, a very
strong wind blowing out of a bay can cause an unusually low tide and change the time
of the
AND ANSWERS FIRM A+
✔✔Using Asymmetric or Opposed Propulsion (Twin-Screw Theory) - ✔✔Any difference
in thrust affects the boat's heading. The amount of this difference can vary from
that needed to hold a course at cruising speed to turning a boat 360° in its own length
by
opposing propulsion (splitting throttles).
Up to a point, the greater the difference in RPMs, the greater the effect on the change in
heading.
✔✔Performing Single-Screw Compound Maneuvering (Single-Screw Theory) -
✔✔When maneuvering a twin-engine vessel on one drive, the coxswain must
account for the propeller rotation and side force for the particular drive used (normally
starboard: right-hand turning, port: left-hand turning), and the offset of the drive from
centerline.
✔✔MAYDAY - ✔✔MAYDAY is a distress call of the highest priority. Spoken three times,
it shows that a
person, boat, or aircraft is threatened by grave or imminent danger and requires
immediate
assistance. Broadcast on 2182 kHz or Channel 16.
✔✔PAN-PAN - ✔✔Broadcast on 2182 kHz or Channel 16, this urgency signal consists
of three repetitions of the
group of words "PAN-PAN" (pahn-pahn). It means that the calling Station has a very
urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, vehicle, or person.
✔✔SECURITÉ - ✔✔"SECURITÉ" (SEE-CURE-IT-TAY) is a safety signal spoken three
times and transmitted on
2182 kHz or Channel 16. It indicates a message concerning the safety of navigation, or
important weather warnings will be transmitted on 2670 kHz or Channel 22.
✔✔Breaking Waves - ✔✔Plunging waves.
Spilling breakers.
Surging breakers.
✔✔Plunging Waves - ✔✔Plunging waves result when there is a sudden lack of water
ahead of the wave, such as in a
steep rise of the ocean floor. This situation prevents the wave from traveling along, and
causes the crest to be hurled ahead of the front of the wave and break with tremendous
force.
, ✔✔Spilling Breakers - ✔✔Spilling breakers result from waves of low steepness moving
over a gentle sloping ocean
floor. They normally have a small crest of white water spreading evenly down the wave,
and
break slowly without violence.
✔✔Surging Breakers - ✔✔A surging breaker occurs on very steep beaches. The wave
builds very quickly and expends
its energy on the beach. It is very unlikely that a surging breaker will be encountered
while
aboard a boat unless beaching it on a very steep beach.
✔✔Small Craft Advisory - ✔✔An advisory in coastal waters for winds
from approximately 18 to 33 KT inclusive or for sea
conditions, either predicted or occurring,
that are considered potentially hazardous
to small boats.
✔✔Gale Warning - ✔✔A warning of sustained winds in the range
34 to 47 KT inclusive either predicted or
occurring, not associated with tropical
cyclones.
✔✔Storm Warning - ✔✔A warning of sustained winds of 48 KT or
more, not associated with a tropical
cyclone.
✔✔Hurricane Warning - ✔✔A warning for sustained winds of 64 KT
or greater either predicted or occurring,
associated with a tropical cyclone.
✔✔The Effect do currents have on Waves - ✔✔An outgoing or ebb current running
across a bar builds up a more intense sea than the
incoming or flood current. The intense sea results because the rush of water out against
the
incoming ground swell slows the wave speed and steepens the wave prematurely.
✔✔Wind Effects on Current - ✔✔Wind affects the speed of currents. Sustained wind in
the same direction as the current
increases the speed of the current by a small amount. Wind in the opposite direction
slows it
down and may create a chop. A very strong wind, blowing directly into the mouth of an
inlet or bay, can produce an unusually high tide by piling up the water. Similarly, a very
strong wind blowing out of a bay can cause an unusually low tide and change the time
of the
