USCG Exam PracticeThree-bearing fix and cocked-hat triangle
A navigator obtains a three-bearing fix and the resulting cocked hat is large. This MOST likely indicates:
- A. The vessel is in shoaling water
- B. The three charted objects were too close together in bearing
- ✓ Bearing or plotting errorCorrect
- D. The fix was taken from a running fix rather than simultaneous observations
Why C is correct
Per Bowditch Ch. 7 §705, a large cocked hat signals bearing or plotting error. A small cocked hat indicates a good fix; a large one is a warning to recheck observations and plot work.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 7 §705