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NEW (2025-2026) USCG COXSWAIN EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Coxswain Legal Authority - ANSWER USCG Regulations COMDINST M5000.3B Chapter 5 Rank and Command 5 - 1 - 8 Authority and Responsibility of Boat Coxswain Coxswain Responsibilities - ANSWER Shall be responsible in order of precedence
- safety and conduct of passengers and crew
- safe operation and navigation of boat assigned
- completion of sortie or mission assigned or undertaken
- Hazards to life and property
- Violations of laws and regulations
- Discrepancies in aids to navigation Who can relieve the coxswain - ANSWER 1. CO/ OINC, XO/XPO, or 2.senior officer of a distress, emergency, or other abnormal situation Policy on Coxswain Leaving Boat - ANSWER 1. In the coxswain's judgement, and after careful consideration of the remaining crew members experience, the operational benefits clearly outweigh the risks of leaving the boat without a qualified coxswain. 2 When time permits, every effort is made by the coxswain to receive the concurrence of their operational commander. Safe Towing Speed - ANSWER The square root of the vessels length at waterline multiplied by 1.34 = Max Towing Speed minus 10% Distance Speed and Time - ANSWER 3 Equations D = S X T/ S = 60D / T T = 60D / S Maximum Underway Limits - ANSWER 29' RBS II
8 hours in less than 4 ft seas 6 hours in over 4 ft seas 45 RB-M 10 hours in less than 4 ft seas 8 hours in over 4 ft seas 6 hours in heavy weather conditions 29' RBS II Boat Weight (Fully Outfitted, Fuel, No Crew) - ANSWER 8400 LBS 29' Boat Maximum Weight (Fully Outfitted, 10 POB) - ANSWER 11800 LBS 29' RBS II Trailering Weight (Fully Outfitted, Fuel, Trailer, No Crew) - ANSWER 9960 LBS 4 Types of Turns - ANSWER Racetrack Anderson Destroyer Williamson Warranted Risk - ANSWER The level to which you are permitted to hazard your assets and your shipmates for mission success. If mission likely to save human life, warrants maximum effort. Disciplined Initiative - ANSWER The optimal application of onscene empowerment, due to extreme conditions on scene initiative calls for a deviation, but must pay due diligence to risk management and develop a well though out plan. Crew Fatigue - ANSWER Reading underway, rough seas, engine noise, heat, sunlight, standing, cold weather, rain. Lose Focus, irritability, alertness, situational awareness, judgment. PEACE - ANSWER tool to conduct risk assessment on all critical mission elements. Planning, Event Complexity, Assets Crew
Examples of prudent actions i. Ungrounding of small recreational vessels ii. Dewatering iii. General damage control iv. Allowing the next tide to refloat the vessel v. Help set anchors vi. Evacuate passengers vii. Help determine vessels seaworthiness c. Salvage ops are performed at the discretion of the units CO/OINC d. Coast Guard is under NO OBLIGATION to agree to any operator demands or requests. Again, safety of crew and people is top priority. Surface Swimmer Policy - ANSWER a. Surface swimmers from station boats are normally deployed only to assist in man‐ overboard situations. They shall not enter capsized hulls. Reference (e) states: "... the coxswain will designate one of the crew as a swimmer.. .a swimmer should be used only when absolutely necessary because when a crewmember goes over the side to assist, it means an additional person has to be picked up from the water. Another crewmember must tend the line attached to the swimming harness at all times.. ." b. Surface swimmers may attempt to direct trapped persons out but shall not dive under the vessel c. Typically only deployed in Man‐Over‐Board (MOB) situations. MEDICO - ANSWER A REQUEST FOR MEDICAL ADVISE AT SEA medevac - ANSWER AN EVACUATION FROM A VESSEL AT SEA DUE TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Drifting Patterns - ANSWER Pre Tow Questions - ANSWER Problem Position
POB
PFD'S Medical Emergencies? Status of Vessel Make Round of Vessel Backing Plates Towed by CG before? Brief tow plan Emergency Breakaway procedures
Expanding Square Search - ANSWER SS: Single Unit, Expanding Square Search i. Use when search area is small. ii. Location of the object is known within relatively close limits, but some doubt exists about the distress position. High degree of confidence the search object is close to the estimated datum position. iii. A concentrated search is desired. Victor Sierra search - ANSWER Single Unit, Sector Search i. Use When: Search area is small ii. Location of the object is well known iii. Concentrated search is desired parallel search - ANSWER Single Unit, Parallel Search i. Use When: Search area is large ii. Location of the object is approximate iii. Uniform coverage is desired creeping line search - ANSWER large area, uniform coverage, probability of being in one end of the search than the other. Track line search - ANSWER TSR: Single Unit, Track Line Search, Return i. Use When: The intended route of the search object is known ii. A rapid and reasonably thorough coverage of the missing craft's intended track and the area immediately adjacent, such as along a datum line is desired Emergency Phases of SAR - ANSWER a. An UNCERTAINTY phase exists when there is knowledge of a situation that may need to be monitored, or to have more information gathered, but that does not require moving resources. b. An ALERT phase exists when a craft or person is experiencing some difficulty and may need assistance, but is not in immediate danger or in need of immediate response. Apprehension is usually associated with the ALERT phase. c. The DISTRESS phase exists when grave or imminent danger requiring immediate response to the distress scene threatens a craft or person. Types of Stability - ANSWER longitudinal and transverse Static and dynamic forces Warning signs of instability - ANSWER Listing Slow to plane Rolling
Max Persons on board - ANSWER 10 Fuel Tank Capacity (Gasoline) - ANSWER 110 gallons Fuel Tank Capacity ( Diesel) - ANSWER 3.3 gallons Propulsion Engines - ANSWER Twin 225 HP Honda Engines, 4 Stroke Max Speed - ANSWER 47 KNOTS @ 6000 RPM CRUISE SPEED - ANSWER 25 KNOTS @ 3250 RPM MAX RANGE - ANSWER 175 NAUTICAL MILES MAX OPERATING WINDS - ANSWER 25 knots MAX OPERATING SEAS - ANSWER 6 ft (no surf) MAX TOWING - ANSWER 10 DISPLACEMENT TONS MAX OPERATING DISTANCE - ANSWER 10NM OPERATION IN ICE - ANSWER NOT CAPABLE MAX OPERATING DISTANCE OFFSHORE - ANSWER 10 NM PROPELLER SPECS - ANSWER HONDA 3 BLADE, 15 3/8 X 18P BOAT HULL FRAMES - ANSWER FRAMES 1 THRU 9, FORWARD TO AFT FRAME 3 AIRTIGHT BULKHEAD FRAME 7 AFT CABIN FRAME BILGE PUMPS - ANSWER 3 - RULE 2000GPH PUMPS 1 - WINDOW SUMP PUMP 800 GPH List restrictive casualties - ANSWER Engine Performance - RPM Limits Fuel/Oil/ Hydraulic Leaks
Bilge Pumps Inoperative Tilt Trim System Faulty Nav lights malfunctioning Depth Sounder not functioning Heading sensor inoperable GPS Inoperable Radar Inoperative Handheld compass One radio not operating Loudhailer and horn inoperative Disabling Casualty List - ANSWER Engine Lube Oil Pressure Engine Cooling Water Engine Fails to start Loss of Engine Control Charging System Issues Electrical Breaker issues TRIPPING Steering System Enge in Loose No electronics / signaling No 12 volt dc Truck hitch not rated to 12000 punds No fire extinguishers missing kill switch lanyard Hull damage, breach under water line Safe Speed - Rule 6 - ANSWER Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. Factors determining safe speed: ALL VESSELS 1 visibility 2 traffic density 3 Maneuverability/stopping ability 4 presense of backlight 5 state of wind, sea, and current
White All Around Lights Sound Signal Short-Prolonged-Short Towing - ANSWER Black Diamond Yellow over White- Towing at night Sound Signal - One Prolonged, Two Short Side Tow - ANSWER Black Diamond Yellow over yellow Alongside a fellow Sound Signal- One prolonged, two short Vessel being towed - ANSWER One prolonged, three short All around lights Sailboat - ANSWER Inverted Triangle Red over green , sailing machine one prolonged, two short Aground - ANSWER Alot of balls to run aground 3 black balls 2 red lights Fishing Vessel - ANSWER Two triangles inverted Red over white, fishing at night One Prolonged, two short Trawling Vessel - ANSWER Two triangles inverted Green over white trawling at night One prolonged, two short Restricted in ability to maneuver - ANSWER Ball diamond ball red white red lights one prolonged, two short two green on side means go two red onside means no go Vertically integrated risk management - ANSWER Concept of up and down risk mitigation,
Boat crews are not alone and dont always have the burden of making hard decisions while on scene Constant communication with OOD, OIC, Sector can assist in mission success. 29' RBS II Navigational Draft - ANSWER 6 FEET 29' RBS II DEPTH SOUNDER OFFSET - ANSWER 1.5 FEET Restricted Waters Cross Track Error XTE - ANSWER No more than 60 Yards or .03 Nautical Miles Coastal Waters Cross Track Error XTE - ANSWER No more than 200 yards or .1 nautical miles Open Ocean Cross Track Error - ANSWER No more than 400 yards or. nautical miles. Seat Belts and Helmet Policy - ANSWER Shall be worn when vessel speed exceeds 30 knots and when directed by coxswain. Hazardous Ops Tactical Maneuvers Helo Ops Heavy Weather Navigation Planning - ANSWER Encompasses development of long and short term plans. Deliberate Risk- at the start of every day Real Time Risk- at the start of each activity Laser Policy - ANSWER Manuever away and annoucer laser and position Shield eyes Navigate mark position notify ood/pic/sector ood notifies local authorities reassess risk vs gain
