Boating Exam Quesitons

What should the operator of powerboat A do if powerboat B begins to cross on the starboard (right) side?

a. Speed up and maintain present course.
b. Give way by slowing down and changing course.
c. Turn sharply to port (left).
d. Speed up to pass in front of powerboat B.

b

A motorboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?

a. motorboat
b. PWC
c. neither
d. both

c

One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way?

a. the faster boat
b. the larger boat
c. the boat that is overtaking
d. the boat being overtaken

c

Which side of a boat has a red light at night?

a. port (left)
b. gunwale
c. stern
d. keel

a

You are operating a powerboat at night. You see green and white lights on another boat. What do these lights tell you?

a. You are the stand-on vessel but be prepared to give way if necessary.
b. A sailboat is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
c. A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
d. You are the give-way vessel in a head-on situation.

a

What do three short blasts of a horn mean?

a. I am speeding up to increase my wake.
b. I need another life jacket.
c. I am backing up.
d. I disagree with your plans.

c

A boater sounds five short blasts on a horn. What does this signal mean?

a. I am heading for the closest dam.
b. I am taking a lunch break.
c. I am towing a skier.
d. I disagree with your intentions.

d

You see a green buoy. What should you do?

a. Prepare for a thunderstorm.
b. Wave an orange distress flag.
c. Keep it on your left when heading upstream.
d. Stay at least 500 feet away from it.

c

You are traveling upstream on a river. You see a red triangular daymark. What should you do?

a. Keep the marker on your starboard (right) side.
b. Stop and write your name on the marker.
c. Go around the marker on either side.
d. Ignore the marker.

a

You enter a harbor. You see a buoy with red and white vertical stripes. What should you do?

a. Watch for water-skiers.
b. Put your engine in reverse.
c. Go around the buoy on either side.
d. Stop for gas.

c

You see a white buoy with a blue band. What type of buoy is this?

a. fishing area buoy
b. mooring buoy
c. lateral marker
d. regulatory marker

b

You see a white buoy with orange bands and an orange diamond. What should you do?

a. Use the marker as a mooring buoy if you wish to tie up.
b. Watch out for dangers such as rocks or stumps.
c. Follow directions to food or other services.
d. Stay at least 700 feet away from it.

b

You see a white buoy with an orange crossed diamond and black lettering. What does this marker tell you?

a. keep out
b. sailboats only
c. information or directions
d. wind speed

a

When boating on coastal waters, it is important to be aware of the tides. What can tides cause?

a. hurricanes
b. tsunamis
c. strong currents
d. falling barometer

c

What happens when a PWC’s steering control is turned to the right?

a. The back of the PWC is pushed to the right, and the PWC turns left.
b. The back of the PWC is pushed to the left, and the PWC turns right.
c. The stern of the PWC is pushed down.
d. The bow of the PWC is pushed up.

b

Stage 2 (short-term swim failure) occurs 3-30 minutes following immersion in cold water. What happens during Stage 2 of cold water immersion?

a. Your blood pressure drops, and your heart rate nearly stops.
b. You suddenly have trouble breathing, floating, and speaking.
c. You lose manual dexterity, strength, and speed of movement.
d. You lose manual dexterity, vision, and speech.

c

You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another boat. What should you do?

a. Stop quickly because you are approaching a sailboat.
b. Give way to the other vessel.
c. Speed up and turn to port (left).
d. Speed up and maintain a head-on course.

b