USCG Exam PracticeDead reckoning — DR plot maintenance
A vessel's DR plot will most reliably remain accurate when it is regularly confirmed by which action?
- A. Maintaining a constant engine RPM
- B. Applying set and drift corrections to the course steered
- ✓ Obtaining external fixes whenever possibleCorrect
- D. Advancing the most recent LOP along the DR track
Why C is correct
Bowditch Ch. 1 §102 states that DR accuracy degrades over time and must be confirmed by external fixes whenever possible. Applying current corrections improves accuracy but does not substitute for an external fix, and advancing an LOP produces only a running fix.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 1 §102