NavList:

There is actually an NVIC about calculators on exams, and I always brought a copy in case they gave me grief (they did for my CM/Master's test). For the deck exams, you may use programmable calculators as long as you can clear the memory and do so in front of the proctor.  What are not allowed are navigational computers/calculators.  So a Celestcomp or Starpath programmed calculator is forbidden. 

 

I never memorized formulae for navigation.  All were available in either HO229 or Bowditch Vol II (1984) which were open references in the exam room.  The latter is what I used for the great circle problems.

 

We actually had Gnomic projection charts as the basis of a couple of exam questions.  I had one on both my second mate's exam and Chief Mate/Master exam.  They still didn't help for a vast majority of your GC sailing questions.

 

I am just glad I am all done with those.  I might have to take a CE exam someday, but I don't think that i will with all of the rule changes.

 

Jeremy

 

Jeremy,

As you said

"Ironically in all of my exams, I used my TI85 calculator and only used HO 229 to make sure I had the formulae correct. :-)"

I recall using a scientific calculator exclusively on the USCG exams also. In the 80's programmable models were not allowed. I would pencil formulae directly onto the face of the calculator or tape a label to the calculator cover.

Not being able to use a great circle chart in the exam room was another inconvenience.

Greg Rudzinski

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