From: Hosheen <hosheen@earthlink.net> Subject: Nautical knowledge test Date: 1 Feb 2001 Newsgroups: alt.sailing.asa
I prepared this test for a delivery company for whom I have done a
delivery or two. .
JES
Nautical Knowledge Test
I prepared this test is about common, and not so common, nautical lore
for a boat delivery service to give to prospective crew members. The
idea is to send it, with the answers, to prospective crew. Then they
have to take the same test, sans answers, before they may crew on a
delivery. This was to ensure that they had at least the basic knowledge
required if not a lot of experience. I'm including it here for your
amusement.
The questions become more difficult as you go along, with numbers 61 and
higher mostly oriented to off-shore sailing. Try them anyway, you may
know more than you think. Most rules are based on common sense and
apply on small lakes as well as the ocean. The ones you don't know (if
any) will give you ample opportunity to do some research. I would
expect that many in this group would get a perfect score. Trick
questions? Would I do that?
1. The front edge of a sail is the. . .?
2. The back edge of a sail is the . . .?
3. The rear bottom corner of a sail is the . . .?
4. The basic method of trimming a sail is. . .?
5. The front bottom corner of a sail is. . .?
6. Sailing downwind is called. . .?
7. Turning the bow of a boat through the wind is called. . .?
8. Turning the stern through the wind is. . .?
9. What does “Prepare to come about,? mean?
10. What does “Helm’s a-lee,” mean?
11. What is a sheet?
12. What is a halyard?
13. What is an outhaul?
14. Where is the gooseneck?
15. A jib is. . .?
16. A Genoa is. . .? What is a 135 Genoa?
17. When should fenders be taken is?
18. What does “Ease the starboard jib sheet,” mean?
19. What does “Bear off,” mean?
20. Two sailboats are on starboard tack. Which one is the privileged
vessel?
21. A row boat is crossing your bow. Who is the privileged vessel?
22. What is “In irons”? How do you get out? Hint: Bail money won't
help.
23. What is a topping lift?
24. What is the most common use of a figure-eight knot?
25. What is a “Broad reach”? Note: This is not a politically
incorrect term for heavy petting.
26. What is “Wing on wing? Can you order it from the Colonel's or
Churches?
27. If the wind is coming from the boat's left, you are on a. . .?
28. When anchoring, how can you ensure that the anchor is set?
29. What is scope? How much (if any) should you have? (Your best
friends can help with this.)
30. When should you reef?
31. What is the most important safety rule on any boat?
32. When jibing, how do you control the boom from swinging too fast?
33. What is leeward?
34. As you are sailing, you notice that a shroud is about to break.
What do you do?
35. In 20 feet of calm, protected water, how much anchor line should
you let out? (minimum)
36. What is “abeam”?
37. What color are the bow lights?
38. What is a boom preventer?
39. What is a boom vang?
40. How many sails are on a cat boat? A dog boat? (These only sail in
poodles)
41. In daylight, you see a boat approaching from your starboard bow.
From visual observation alone, how can you determine if you are on a
collision course?
42. Two boats under sail are on a converging course. Who is the
privileged vessel?
43. You look up a mast and see that the top has a slight bend aft. Why
is this and what do you do?
44. Sheet winches turn in what direction?
45. Halyard winches turn in what direction?
46. A crew member falls overboard. What is your first action? Your
second?
47. What is a sheepshank? (No, it's not a mutton dish.)
48. The wind has built until the leeward rail is in the water but the
boat is going more slowly. What can you do and why? (Screaming will
not help)
49. What is weather helm?
50. In a bay, you see a boat motionless in the water. There is a black
ball suspended in the shrouds. What does this mean?
51. What is “heaving to”? (other than mal de mer, that is)
52. What are “Lazy Jacks”?
53. What are “Scuppers”?
54. What is a knockdown?
55. What is a capsize?
56. What is leeway?
57. What is a cutter rig?
58. What is a Marlinespike?
59. What is a two-speed winch for?
60. When meeting another vessel head-on, each should turn…?
61. What is a foul current?
62. Five short blasts of a horn mean?
63. A crew member is sea sick. What can you do for him or her? (Short
of calling Dr. Kevorkian)
64. A crew member has a 1/2 inch deep cut on his forearm oozing blood.
What is the best first aid?
65. What is “Mean low water”?
66. What two maneuvers are most likely to cause damage to a boat?
67. On nautical charts, deep water is colored ________ and shallow
water is colored _________?
68. What is variation?
69. What is deviation? (NO! It is not that!)
70. You are on watch alone at night on the ocean. What is the most
essential safety gear?
71. You are on watch alone at night again. You see lights you don't
understand. What do you do?
72. In clear daylight conditions at sea, how far is the horizon if
you're seven feet above the water?
73. What do you do with plastic six-pack rings at sea?
74. What are “jacklines”?
75. How many battens does a roller-furling Genoa have?
76. You are entering a river from the ocean or lake. Where is the most
difficult part likely to be? How can you identify this place?
77. The wind is from 90° true. What course would you sail if your
destination is due east?
78. Where does the captain sleep?
79. If the propeller turns clockwise (as viewed from astern) in forward
gear, what happens when you start to back up?
80. You are in a 35 foot boat under sail. A large tanker is
approaching from your port bow. Who is the privileged vessel?
81. A course of North West is _____ ° true?
82. What is “Loran”?
83. What is “GPS”?
84. How many feet are in a fathom?
85. At night, off your port bow, there is a red light moving to the
left followed by a white light. What's happening? What should you do?
86. In the situation in question 85, the lights are off your starboard
bow. What should you do?
87. You are on a course of 135° true. Which way are you going?
88. What is a torque turn?
89. What is the best type of meal to prepare at sea if conditions are a
little rough?
90. While under power, you look in the engine compartment and notice a
slow drip of water where the prop shaft enters the hull. What should
you do and why?
91. Lightning strikes your mast. Assuming everyone is OK, what should
you check first?
92. What is dead reckoning? (“I reckon he's dead, Jim.” NOT!)
93. You're entering a marina in California at night. You see a buoy
with a red light. On which side of the boat should you pass the buoy?
94. In question 93, if the marina were in New Jersey, where does the
buoy belong? In Iowa?
95. You are twenty one and a half miles off shore. A crew member
throws a chicken bone overboard. Is this legal?
96. At night, off your port bow you see a green light, a white light up
high, and a second white light down low and behind the first white
light. All are moving to your right. What is it? What should you do?
97. If you can only have one type of flare, what's the best type to
have?
98. How do you stop a marine diesel engine?
99. If the captain says to “Strike the mizzen,” what does he want?
100. You are several miles off shore at night. You see a flashing
yellow light in front of you. What is it?
101. Your head has broken beyond repair. You still have four more days
at sea. What can you do?
102. The diesel tank runs dry. Luckily, you have spare fuel. After
pouring it in the tanks, the engine won't start. What's wrong?
103. Under your bunk is a valve that goes through the hull. There is a
tapered wooden rod tied to it. What's it for?
104. What direction is 0° true?
105. Waves are starting to break over the bow. You notice that a hatch
over the captain's bunk is open. The captain is sleeping. What should
you do? (“Snicker” is not an acceptable answer.)
106. You are 99 miles off shore. A gallon of oil has spilled in the
bilge. After sponging it up, can you throw it overboard?
107. You are cook for the day. How much water do you need to cook one
cup of rice?
108. On a beat of 155°, the wind shifts until you can't hold your
course. The captain is asleep, (does this guy ever do anything besides
sleep?) what do you do?
109. You are nearing the southeast coast of the United States. A boat
with a diagonal red stripe on its bow is overtaking you and hails you to
stop. Armed men are on deck. What do you do?
110. When may the off-watch be called on deck?
111. What is the holding tank for? (No, it's not the brig.)
112. What is the international verbal distress signal?
113. What is a “lubber”?
114. What does an orange flag flown from the spreaders mean?
115. What's the most important thing to have on a life raft? (Besides
the crew)
116. You've been steering a steady course in light conditions. A crew
member in a safety harness steps next to you with a quick question.
When you glance down at the compass, you notice that you're 10° off
course. You haven't moved the wheel. What happened?
There now. Wasn't that fun? What? Well, look it up. That's how you
learn.