🔍 Key Concepts
• Plotting relative positions: Start by marking Montauk Point Light and Watch Hill Point Light, then place the given offsets (due east) on the chart.
• True course vs. compass course: Remember the sequence of corrections: True, Variation, Deviation, Compass (T–V–M–D–C).
• East/West corrections: Think about how easterly and westerly variation/deviation affect the direction of your corrections.
💭 Think About
• What is the true course from your starting position (3 miles due east of Montauk) to the destination (1.5 miles due east of Watch Hill)?
• Once you have the true course, how do you correctly apply local variation to find magnetic, and then deviation to find standard compass?
• Given the approximate geography of Long Island and the Rhode Island coast, should this course be generally northerly, southerly, easterly, or westerly? Which choices match that general direction?
✅ Before You Answer
• Be sure you are plotting from the offset positions, not from the lights themselves.
• Verify the local variation used for the area between Montauk and Watch Hill on the exam chart, and whether it is east or west.
• Confirm the algebraic signs when applying variation and deviation (e.g., "East is least, West is best" or your preferred memory aid) before choosing the final psc value.