A Range is a straight LOP, while a visual bearing is a curved LOP. This statement is

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Cannot determine

Answer: (B)

LOP stands for line of position, the path you lie on as you plot your location. A range is formed when two fixed objects line up with your vessel; the line that goes through those two objects on the chart is a straight line, and you are somewhere along that straight range line. A visual bearing to a single object gives you another LOP: you plot a line through that fixed object in the direction dictated by the measured bearing (or the reciprocal bearing from the object). That result is also a straight line on the chart, because it’s defined by a single direction from a fixed point. Curved LOPs don’t come into play for these plotting methods on standard coastal charts. Therefore the statement is not correct.