Help with 1600 NC test Navigation....

[subatomicstang]

I purchased a freelance software from Hawspipe, and everything was going smoothe until i opened up the navigation section. Bunch of terrestrial stuff thats ive not done before. Sunrise, sunset, chronometer error etc.... just stuff im not familiar with, and the reference it gives me is to bowditch, and i am a bit overwhelmes. Anyone have any suggestions on how i can get through this part of the test? Ive asked a couple buddies that are academy grads, and they cant remember the stuff either. I dont have the resources to pay 2000.00 for a prep course, and take that time off work. Im doing all of this on my own dime. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Randy

[water]

Sounds like it it time to add Bowditch to your library!

You can do a quick search here - someone recently posted a link to an on line copy.

[Mr 100-ton]

several schools offer the terrestrial course for about 900 dollars,,, you might be able to get it cheaper in this economy

I found the course helpful

are you testing for mate or master???

[New3M]

Sunrise, sunset, and chronometer error are all celestial stuff - they shouldn't be on a terrestrial test. If you're looking for a way to do them though the Nautical Almanac spells it out pretty well.

[Mr 100-ton]

I just took the 1 week Terrestrial course,,, in the course and on the COURSE test was
navigation compass
zonetime/GMT caculations
set and drift/ terestrial observation
electronic navigation
course by terrestrial navigation (distance off)
Tides and Currents
speed by RPM
fuel consumption
compass error by azimuth/amplitude
true and apparent wind

not sure what is on the coast guard test

[Conspearasea]

I just finished testing for the 500/1600 master last friday. I passed 5 of the 6 modules, terrestrial being the one i failed. I concentrated my studying on the 5 I passed and only briefly looked at the Terrestrial module 205.

I used lapware for my prep, and it is extremely helpful...the questions they generated for my study tests were very close to my test in reality. The terrestrial tests they generated were also very close to my actual test. If you use the lapware program, the terrestrial questions all have solutions available that are detailed enough to learn from.

I will be using the lapware to study this month while at work, in combination with with Bowditch and a couple of others. I also have the Capt Joes software that has tutorials in it......Only downfall to lapware is you have to have internet service to use it, you cannot save/print any of the solutions.

I highly recommend you take a look at the lapware.org program, it is worth every penny, as others on here will attest to I am sure. It without doubt is the reason I passed the other five modules, 200 201 203 204 and 206.

Good luck, I am in the exact same boat as you.....I am not going to a course, I am going to learn it on my own.


Edit... heres the link to Bowditch online http://www.irbs.com/bowditch/

[Conspearasea]

Sunrise, sunset, and chronometer error are all celestial stuff - they shouldn't be on a terrestrial test. If you're looking for a way to do them though the Nautical Almanac spells it out pretty well.

I can verify that this is NOT the case, I took the test on Friday. Zone sunrise/sunset, chronometer error, time ticks, fuel consumption etc are all Big parts of the exam.

[cappy208]

Sunrise, sunset, and chronometer error are all celestial stuff - they shouldn't be on a terrestrial test. If you're looking for a way to do them though the Nautical Almanac spells it out pretty well.

One would think they wouldn't be....... but they are! This is new for about three years now.

[Diesel]

I purchased a freelance software from Hawspipe, and everything was going smoothe until i opened up the navigation section. Bunch of terrestrial stuff thats ive not done before. Sunrise, sunset, chronometer error etc.... just stuff im not familiar with, and the reference it gives me is to bowditch, and i am a bit overwhelmes. Anyone have any suggestions on how i can get through this part of the test? Ive asked a couple buddies that are academy grads, and they cant remember the stuff either. I dont have the resources to pay 2000.00 for a prep course, and take that time off work. Im doing all of this on my own dime. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Randy

Yeah, this is all terrestrial stuff....what Academy did your buddies go to that they can't remember chronometer error?....??? Just curious.

[New3M]

I guess I'm thinking of Terrestrial as the Chart Plot exam. I seem to recall azimuth/amplitudes being on Near Coastal, but definitely NOT on the chart plot exam.

[subatomicstang]

I'm going to check out lapware. I'm using hawspipe but I need some detailed solutions

[Conspearasea]

It seems expensive at first to use lapware, but I believe you will find it worth the dough. Its 125 bucks to set up w/ your first month and then 75 bucks a month thereafter w/ no other commitments. I am hoping that I will pay for two months before I finish my exams.

Good luck, the people on here have been very informative and helpful since I signed up.....great resource for the professional mariner.

[subatomicstang]

Yes ive been browsing this site for a while its great! Thanks to everyone for the help. Im going to give Lapware a shot before i give in and go to a class!

[jdcavo]

... This is new for about three years now.

More like eight and a half. They were added when the exams were changed for STCW on 2/1/02.

[Capt ETC]

If you don't want to gamble, you should find a class to go to. You'll get taught on how to come to the answer instead of matching the question to the answer. The terrestrial questions are ones that you need to work out, like the plotting. I was taught each of the segments of the terrestrial separately. I poured over the methods until I got them down without hesitation. I didn't take any shortcuts and went through the whole process for every single question on a blank sheet of paper. I kept doing this until I knew exactly what to do without looking at notes. I made 100% on that test at the REC without breaking a sweat. It was worth every minute of my time. The software can get you through the other stuff if you want to go that route. Even the guy that is saying "get this software" failed the terrestrial module. You are going to teach yourself at the class anyway. At least you can be corrected if you're a bad teacher.

[Conspearasea]

The software can get you through the other stuff if you want to go that route. Even the guy that is saying "get this software" failed the terrestrial module. You are going to teach yourself at the class anyway. At least you can be corrected if you're a bad teacher.

If you happened to read my post.....I didn't study the terrestrial before taking the test the first time due to time constraints with work and family. The software is not going to teach you how to "deduce an answer" , it will teach you how to work the problem out from start to finish, Just like a teacher in class will do. In conjunction with the tutorials from Capt Joes software and the solutions in lapware that show step by step solutions, I do not see how a teacher in a class will teach anything differently. You even go so far as to say "You are going to teach yourself at the class anyway". I couldn't afford anymore classes and losing time off at home w/ a 28/14 schedule and decided to "teach myself" while on the boat, INSTEAD of teaching myself in "a class" that I paid big bucks for.

I believe the OP was asking for alternative methods for studying for the tests, it even sounds as though he wants to learn the subject and not simply pass. My suggestions will give the resources to learn the subject and pass just as efficiently as if you took the class. I am sure I am not the only one on here who has learned this subject w/o the class, and learned it by reading and practicing it on my own.

Capt ETC- So since you are such an advocate for "class", I take it that if you had the option to "test at a school" for 500/1600 I imagine you would have taken the easy way out there also???

If you are interested in learning on your own, do some searches on here and you will find my recommendations suggested elsewhere by very reputable members.

[subatomicstang]

Im going to go with Lapware for sure. Im just waiting my approval for so i know what modules i will be taking.. anyone have that info?
Conspearasea , let me know how your studying works out for you.

[Conspearasea]

Have you looked at the newest Deck and engineering guide put out June 2010 by the USCG? It is available by download at the NMC website. Page 3-17 shows ESS (exam structure sheet ) for Master 500/1600 GRT NC with the modules you will need. Your approval letter will reflect these modules, and my letter was exactly as listed on the ESS No. 1-7. The cover sheet on my tests even stated it was the Master 500/1600 GRT tests.

EXAMINATION
STRUCTURE
SHEET
NO. 1-7
Endorsement - MASTER
Tonnage Group-NMT 500/1600 GROSS REGISTERED TONS
Route- OCEANS OR NEAR COASTAL
Action- RAISE IN GRADE (from Mate NMT 500 GRT O or NC)
RAISE IN GRADE (from Mate NMT 1600 GRT O or NC)
INCREASE IN SCOPE (from Master NMT 500 GRT O or NC)
EXAM CODE
20BR
MODULES NUMBER OF QUESTIONS MINIMUM SCORE
054XX Rules of the Road: International and Inland 50 90
201XX Deck General 50 70
200XX Navigation General: Near Coastal 50 70
202XX Navigation General: Oceans 50 70
203XX Deck Safety and Environmental Protection 50 70
204XX Navigation Problems: Chart Plot 10 90
205XX Navigation Problems: Near Coastal 10 90
206XX Navigation Problems: Oceans 15 80

BTW 205xx is your "terrestrial" as it is usually referred to. I would guess you will have the same modules, but have no way of verifying this....it's just what I am reading.

Hope this helps out, and I am sure I will pass "w/o breaking a sweat" because now that I have time to study, it is going very well using Bowditch, Duttons and the software. Best of luck w/ the whole process, I will offer advice anyway I can even if my ego might get slapped by someone being a little bitch because I "failed" the first time......I will reiterate the fact that I chose to NOT study TNav before my first test, due to time/family. End of Rant....