MARYLAND BOATING EVALUATION EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What color must VDS smoke be? - ✔✔Orange.
✔✔What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
✔✔A sound-producing device.
✔✔What is a Diver Down Flag - ✔✔A red flag with a horizontal stripe signalling that
someone is scuba-diving nearby.
✔✔How many people does a vessel, who is water-skiing or towing another object,
need? - ✔✔At least three: The Captain, and Observer, and the person being towed. The
two formers must be at least twelve years old.
✔✔What is the law regarding PWCs and towing? - ✔✔A PWC may not tow water skiers
or a tube unless the PWC is meant, or designed, to do so, or if it cannot carry at least
three people.
✔✔How would an observer sit on a PWC? - ✔✔With their back against the captain,
facing the person being towed.
✔✔What is the law regarding waste? - ✔✔It is illegal to dump waste, oil, or trash into
any state/federally controlled waters. (NO DISCHARGE ZONE)
✔✔What increases risk on a boat?> - ✔✔The natural stressors---the sun, the moving
water, etc.---they tire the boater more quickly than on land, even if the boater may not
realize it.
✔✔What is the affect of boating on alcohol? - ✔✔Because of the stressors, it takes less
alcohol to get drunk on water than it does on land.
✔✔How much alcohol does it take to get drunk on water, when compared to the amount
on land? - ✔✔1/3.
✔✔What causes half of boat fatalities? - ✔✔Falling overboard and capsizing boats,
even in fair conditions.
✔✔What should you do if your boat capsizes or begins to swamp? - ✔✔Stay with the
boat.
✔✔What position should you go into in case you fall into cold waters and need to
conserve body heat? - ✔✔The H.E.L.P position, which protects the areas of the body
which let the most heat escape: The head/neck, the ribcage/armpits, and the groin.
, ✔✔Where may sources of Carbon monoxide be found on/around your boat? -
✔✔Gasoline engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, and heaters.
✔✔What should you do to avoid bad weather? - ✔✔Pay attention to any weather
coming from any directions, though most severe weather comes from the West.
✔✔What should you do in case of bad weather? - ✔✔-Slow down, though keep enough
power to keep control.
-Close all hatches, windows, and doors.
-Secure/Stow away gear.
✔✔What should you do when facing large waves? - ✔✔Slow down the boat, and enter
the waves at a diagonal (45 degree) angle. If you're on a PWC, you can go in straight.
✔✔What should you do if you run into an emergency? - ✔✔Put on your life jackets, and
call channel 16 (Coast Guard) and issue a MAYDAY.
✔✔What do all PWCs need on board? - ✔✔A PFD for every passanger, a fire
extinguisher, and a sound producing device.
✔✔ What should you do if oil spills on your boat? - ✔✔Call the National Response
Center
✔✔What are red buoys called? - ✔✔Nun buoys
✔✔In an overtaking situation, what vessel is the stand on vessel? - ✔✔The vessel in
the front
✔✔When boats are meeting head on, who is stand on - ✔✔Neither. They must both
give way and pass port to port.
✔✔In water skiing, how old should the captain and observer be? - ✔✔They both must
be twelve
✔✔In a crossing situation, what boat is giveaway? - ✔✔The boat on the left is the
giveaway vessel. The boat on the right has the right of way.
✔✔What speed must PWCs travel when within 100 feet of other structures - ✔✔6 knots
✔✔The noise and vibration of a boat... - ✔✔Make people tire more easily.
✔✔At what water depth does a PWC have to slow down to minimum wake speed? -
✔✔18 inches
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What color must VDS smoke be? - ✔✔Orange.
✔✔What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
✔✔A sound-producing device.
✔✔What is a Diver Down Flag - ✔✔A red flag with a horizontal stripe signalling that
someone is scuba-diving nearby.
✔✔How many people does a vessel, who is water-skiing or towing another object,
need? - ✔✔At least three: The Captain, and Observer, and the person being towed. The
two formers must be at least twelve years old.
✔✔What is the law regarding PWCs and towing? - ✔✔A PWC may not tow water skiers
or a tube unless the PWC is meant, or designed, to do so, or if it cannot carry at least
three people.
✔✔How would an observer sit on a PWC? - ✔✔With their back against the captain,
facing the person being towed.
✔✔What is the law regarding waste? - ✔✔It is illegal to dump waste, oil, or trash into
any state/federally controlled waters. (NO DISCHARGE ZONE)
✔✔What increases risk on a boat?> - ✔✔The natural stressors---the sun, the moving
water, etc.---they tire the boater more quickly than on land, even if the boater may not
realize it.
✔✔What is the affect of boating on alcohol? - ✔✔Because of the stressors, it takes less
alcohol to get drunk on water than it does on land.
✔✔How much alcohol does it take to get drunk on water, when compared to the amount
on land? - ✔✔1/3.
✔✔What causes half of boat fatalities? - ✔✔Falling overboard and capsizing boats,
even in fair conditions.
✔✔What should you do if your boat capsizes or begins to swamp? - ✔✔Stay with the
boat.
✔✔What position should you go into in case you fall into cold waters and need to
conserve body heat? - ✔✔The H.E.L.P position, which protects the areas of the body
which let the most heat escape: The head/neck, the ribcage/armpits, and the groin.
, ✔✔Where may sources of Carbon monoxide be found on/around your boat? -
✔✔Gasoline engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, and heaters.
✔✔What should you do to avoid bad weather? - ✔✔Pay attention to any weather
coming from any directions, though most severe weather comes from the West.
✔✔What should you do in case of bad weather? - ✔✔-Slow down, though keep enough
power to keep control.
-Close all hatches, windows, and doors.
-Secure/Stow away gear.
✔✔What should you do when facing large waves? - ✔✔Slow down the boat, and enter
the waves at a diagonal (45 degree) angle. If you're on a PWC, you can go in straight.
✔✔What should you do if you run into an emergency? - ✔✔Put on your life jackets, and
call channel 16 (Coast Guard) and issue a MAYDAY.
✔✔What do all PWCs need on board? - ✔✔A PFD for every passanger, a fire
extinguisher, and a sound producing device.
✔✔ What should you do if oil spills on your boat? - ✔✔Call the National Response
Center
✔✔What are red buoys called? - ✔✔Nun buoys
✔✔In an overtaking situation, what vessel is the stand on vessel? - ✔✔The vessel in
the front
✔✔When boats are meeting head on, who is stand on - ✔✔Neither. They must both
give way and pass port to port.
✔✔In water skiing, how old should the captain and observer be? - ✔✔They both must
be twelve
✔✔In a crossing situation, what boat is giveaway? - ✔✔The boat on the left is the
giveaway vessel. The boat on the right has the right of way.
✔✔What speed must PWCs travel when within 100 feet of other structures - ✔✔6 knots
✔✔The noise and vibration of a boat... - ✔✔Make people tire more easily.
✔✔At what water depth does a PWC have to slow down to minimum wake speed? -
✔✔18 inches
