# Nav General: HELP **URL:** \ **Category:** 500 Ton Master Upgrade\ **Created:** [February 21, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250 "2015-02-21T09:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seaisled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@seaisled](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seaisled)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/1 "2015-02-21T09:02:12Z")
USCG question # 827 The Benguela Current flows in A. SWl’y direction along the NW coast of Africa B. S’ly direction off the East Coast of Australia C NWl’y direction along the SW Coast of Africa. D. SWl’y direction along the SE coast of Greenland. Where in the exam room would i look for the answer to this? If not in a publication available in exam room, any recommendation of reference material I could study without trying to memorize coast pilots for Greenland, Africa, Australia, etc. would be appreciated. My [hawsepipe.net](http://hawsepipe.net) study stick claims this is a 500 ton master navigation general question. Never mind Bowditch Glossary is all knowing C it is. thanks ---
**Author:** ![Lone\_Star](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/lone_star/32/787_2.png) [@Lone\_Star](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lone_Star)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/2 "2015-02-21T11:30:41Z")
I don’t know how much “coast pilots” would help you for foreign countries like “Greenland, Africa, Australia”. For that, you would need to refer to Sailings Publications. SW Africa would be Pub 123. Since this is in reference to a major surface ocean currents, I recommend getting familiar with the direction and names for the major currents world wide. Just study this. ![](http://essayweb.net/geology/quicknotes/images/all_ocean_currents_small.png) [http://essayweb.net/geology/quicknotes/images/all\_ocean\_currents\_small.png](http://essayweb.net/geology/quicknotes/images/all_ocean_currents_small.png) - - - Updated - - - Also, do you have Bowditch available in the exam room? Chapter 31, Ocean Currents lists them all. A quick look in the index would point you right to the Benguela Current! Edit: See you already found good old Bowditch. ---
**Author:** ![Ctony](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ctony/32/189_2.png) [@Ctony](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ctony)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/3 "2015-02-21T11:47:46Z")
Not to hijack the thread, but I’d like to know which pub available in the test room is used for filling out a weather report? ---
**Author:** ![UnRepKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7bcc69/32.png) [@UnRepKing](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/UnRepKing)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/4 "2015-02-21T12:06:06Z")
bowditch vol II. it will be in the room ---
**Author:** ![LI\_Domer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/li_domer/32/768_2.png) [@LI\_Domer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/LI_Domer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/5 "2015-02-21T13:48:20Z")
Bowditch. There’s an illustration with world currents somewhere in the appendices. Also just read all of bow ditch and be fairly familiar with the appendix it will save your butt. ---
**Author:** ![acesouthcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@acesouthcoast](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/acesouthcoast)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/6 "2015-02-21T13:51:08Z")
> [@"seaisled"](#): > > USCG question # 827 The Benguela Current flows in A. SWl’y direction along the NW coast of Africa B. S’ly direction off the East Coast of Australia C NWl’y direction along the SW Coast of Africa. D. SWl’y direction along the SE coast of Greenland. Where in the exam room would i look for the answer to this? If not in a publication available in exam room, any recommendation of reference material I could study without trying to memorize coast pilots for Greenland, Africa, Australia, etc. would be appreciated. My [hawsepipe.net](http://hawsepipe.net) study stick claims this is a 500 ton master navigation general question. Never mind Bowditch Glossary is all knowing C it is. thanks I studied [hawsepipe.net](http://hawsepipe.net) as well and saw this question as well as other current questions like this so i just learned them all. When i actually tested i dont recall seeing any of these on the test for 1600 ton mate. ---
**Author:** ![Ctony](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ctony/32/189_2.png) [@Ctony](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ctony)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/7 "2015-02-21T16:14:42Z")
[QUOTE=acesouthcoast;155152]I studied [hawsepipe.net](http://hawsepipe.net) as well and saw this question as well as other current questions like this so i just learned them all. When i actually tested i dont recall seeing any of these on the test for 1600 ton mate.[/QUOTE] I can vouch for the possibility of one on the master exam. ---
**Author:** ![seaisled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@seaisled](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seaisled)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/8 "2015-02-22T09:29:56Z")
cool, thanks - - - Updated - - - That was going to be my question for today Ctony. So, about the coding of weather messages, any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 9:48am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/9 "2015-02-22T09:48:42Z")
Nav General is a 70 percent module, so use some commonsense guess and move on. The name Benguela sounds Spanish or Portuguese, so probably not in Greenland or Australia. Most American mariners ought to know its not in Greenland. It does not sound Aboriginal or English, so probably not Australia. Now you are down to two questions and a 50 percent chance of getting it right. The question is only worth two points. Guess. If you have time and feel so inclined, come back to it, and look in the books. The glossary in Bowditch is usually the first place I look for most things. ---
**Author:** ![Ctony](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ctony/32/189_2.png) [@Ctony](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ctony)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/10 "2015-02-22T09:56:56Z")
[QUOTE=tugsailor;155212]Nav General is a 70 percent module, so use some commonsense guess and move on. The name Benguela sounds Spanish or Portuguese, so probably not in Greenland or Australia. Most American mariners ought to know its not in Greenland. It does not sound Aboriginal or English, so probably not Australia. Now you are down to two questions and a 50 percent chance of getting it right. The question is only worth two points. Guess. If you have time and feel so inclined, come back to it, and look in the books. The glossary in Bowditch is usually the first place I look for most things.[/QUOTE] Benguela could be an aborigine word right? All kidding aside the original poster figured out his plight regarding currents. How about which pub is in the test room for filling out a weather report? If its in bowditch feel free to impale me with a pointy stick. Personally just because its a 70 % module doesn’t make me less concerned with it. I am testing again in the near future myself. ---
**Author:** ![LI\_Domer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/li_domer/32/768_2.png) [@LI\_Domer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/LI_Domer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/11 "2015-02-22T10:36:55Z")
I think they have either that form in the room or it’s an illustration. ---
**Author:** ![acesouthcoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@acesouthcoast](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/acesouthcoast)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/12 "2015-02-22T17:40:20Z")
> [@"Ctony"](#): > > Benguela could be an aborigine word right? All kidding aside the original poster figured out his plight regarding currents. How about which pub is in the test room for filling out a weather report? If its in bowditch feel free to impale me with a pointy stick. Personally just because its a 70 % module doesn’t make me less concerned with it. I am testing again in the near future myself. I might be wrong but i think the weather report info was in the international code of signals book. Total shot in the dark. I remember i found it in a book in the test room and was able to answer it but forgot the book cuz i never need that stuff at work. ---
**Author:** ![Nautical\_Wheeler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a4c791/32.png) [@Nautical\_Wheeler](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Nautical_Wheeler)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/13 "2015-02-22T21:15:18Z")
[QUOTE=Ctony;155142]Not to hijack the thread, but I’d like to know which pub available in the test room is used for filling out a weather report?[/QUOTE] Back when I took my 3rdAGT I had a couple of questions on filling out a weather report. I did not find it anywhere in the testing room. If it was in there, I missed it. I had to retake NavGen but passed my second time around. I had to actually look up how to do it on the NOAA site. In fact a lot of the knowledge I had to gain was not found in books within the testing center. This is knowledge I had to learn on my own outside of the school, such as reading books on the various subjects and a lot of googling. I would recommend Duttons, Chapmans, and Bowditch (Especially familiarizing yourself with vol2). Additionally, the Murphy books are a good resource as well. As for the ocean current questions those are easy enough. Bowditch vol 2 has the definitions in the glossary. Granted its not as easy as looking at a picture, but you can get enough from there to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rob](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/rob)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/14 "2015-02-23T09:45:54Z")
The answer is C. It flows northward along the SW coast of Africa. Source: [http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/benguela.html](http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/benguela.html) ---
**Author:** ![seaisled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@seaisled](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seaisled)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/nav-general-help/14250/15 "2015-02-25T05:04:08Z")
Pub 102 was a good read and is listed as one of the pubs in the test room. Thanks to acessouth, that should be the last piece of the puzzle for me. [http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf](http://www.seasources.net/PDF/PUB102.pdf)