Chart plot for 3rd

Professional Mariner Forum
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So I was told to study on chart 12221

I was told this is the hardest chart and that if i can master this one i can just look over the other charts. I am building a drafting table in my room. I might do a wall mount because these are so god damn big. I suck ass at directions and use gps every were i go so i will need to spend a lot of time doing charts far more time then any of you guys. But I am watching all the practical navigator videos for chart plot.

Block island is longer then long island sound and this chart does not have the TR at the end so I am not sure if that is even the right chart. I want to build my chart table to one chart if i can.
https://www.amazon.com/NOAA-Chart-13205-Island-Approaches/dp/B00J8N4UOW/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=block+island+sound+and+approaches+chart&qid=1624293444&sr=8-2

More over were is the best place to buy these charts? And from what i have been told I have a 80% chance of getting block island sound or long island but Chesapeake-Entrance is more for masters and chief mates since that is the hardest chart…again from what i have been told.

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Chart needs to say TR bro

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Did Chesapeake for my original 3m. It’s a crapshoot which chart you get, but you better study the TR charts.

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Best place to buy these charts? Thanks for the TR info.

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I recently purchased from here: https://www.oceangrafix.com/

Quick service and available in different formats and paper…

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Those charts are cheap thanks for the link.

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There are only 3 charts that are used for testing. And there are only about 20 practice tests for each (making a total of 60 versions of the exam). Get lapware or upgrade U and do all of them and ONLY use the TR charts

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Thanks will do.

i have upgrade U on android. I plan on lapware later on. Only 20 tests for each chart. That does not sound to bad. you can roll the dice and study hard on one or even 2 and hope you get lucky that you do not get the 3rd. lol.

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Nope, study/practice for all 3!
You need to learn where the significant landmarks, ATONs, points of land, etc are. I find the first chart plot someone does typically takes over 3 hrs because of this but after some practice most folks can complete one in 1.5 hrs

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Thanks. In the guys videos he points to all the bouys and land marks by hand and goes over the chart. Well at least all the ones the coast guard likes to use I like it.

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Do some of each. Some of the atons and landmarks are hard to find and you will waste valuable time on the exam hunting for them if you’ve never done the chart before. Otherwise, doing some of each is fine. If your plotting is solid and you can navigate, you will pass. No need to do every single chart exam, IMO.

Time is better spent on memorizing the many terrestrial navigation and stability formulas, and the various celestial computation setups. Also the various tide and current computation setups.

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I found this .pdf from lapware very helpful. In addition to the “TR” charts, get copies of the supporting pubs.

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Thanks for the PDF Flyer69.

Since this is turning into a charts of all things check this out. .05 lead nah I am going to be rolling .02

reviews seem good. Seems like this is something you would want for charts when the right answer is 0.1 and the wrong answer is 0.2

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I did my chart plot a couple of years ago using a number 2 wooden pencil and got a 93/100 The one that I missed wasn’t based on the pencil. Thinking your pencil actually matters is a misconception Focus on studying the charts instead

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There are no answer choices anywhere near that close. If this wasn’t such a ridiculous comment I’d work out how much of an effect the width of a pencil has on a chart of the scale used for the exam.

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I was exaggerating. Some answers are close yes I am always told how hard the charts are because of how accurate you have to be. Answers are close though. Not close enough for lead to change the whole answer.

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It was a bit of a reaction the the feckin’ mechanical pencil. I hate those things. Wrong answers (“distractors”) are generally not chosen just to be close, but to be what you would get if you made a common error.

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Don’t hate the mechanicals come over to the dark side.

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May be worthwhile to practice using the triangles effectively to avoid tacking all around the chart to get where you want.

David Burch has a post here about it

David Burch Navigation Blog: How to Plot with Triangles

However for plotting a bearing Burch skips the first step. It’s quickest to first set the one triangle aligned close to where it’s going to end up in the final step (using the known bearing and an approximate position on the track) before doing step one. and then slide it to where it is in step one, then make the slight adjustment needed to align on the exact bearing.

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There are usually one or two questions, position fixes, that can be solved accurately and quickly with a three arm protractor.

There will be three of four word questions that can be answered from the charts, light list or coast pilot without plotting. Such as: what is the chart datum? What information is available about such and such a place? Know how to quickly find the answers to these questions.

The most difficult part of the exam is plotting very accurately. More accurately than you will ever do in real life. That just takes practice. Slow down , be precise. Triangles are more accurate than parallel rules, rolling plotters, etc.

The set and drift is the second most difficult part of the exam. You just have to learn how to do it. Practice, practice, practice.

Be very familiar with all three charts. Read all the notes, look at every aid to navigation, know their names and where to find them.

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