MARYLAND BOATING COMPREHENSIVE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What should you do before starting the engine? - ✔✔Sniff the bulge and engine
compartment for fuel vapors. Ventilate your boat until you cannot smell any fuel vapors.
Consider installing a gas vapor detection and alarm device.
✔✔What is tongue weight? - ✔✔Tongue weight is the amount of loaded trailer's weight
that presses down on the towing hitch.
✔✔What percent should the tongue weight be in comparison to the combined weight of
the trailer and vessel? - ✔✔10%
✔✔What will happen if the tongue weight is too light? - ✔✔The trailer will swing from
side to side, or "fishtail."
✔✔How should the safety chains be to support the trailer's coupler? - ✔✔Crisscrossed
✔✔What is a give-way vessel? - ✔✔The vessel that is required to take early and
substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down, or
changing course.
✔✔What is the stand-on vessel? - ✔✔The vessel that must maintain its course and
speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate
action.
✔✔In a crossing situation at night, between a sailboat and powerboat, who is the stand
on boat? - ✔✔The sailboat.
✔✔What does it mean if, at night, you see a red, green, and a white light? - ✔✔You are
approaching another vessel head on and you must give way.
✔✔What is a mooring buoy? - ✔✔They are white buoys with a blue horizontal band
that, with permission, you may anchor to. Found in marinas.
✔✔When anchoring, how many times should the line be in comparison to the water
depth? - ✔✔The line needs to be 7-10 times the maximum water depth.
✔✔Low-head dams. - ✔✔Avoid low-head dams. They might not seem dangerous at a
distance, or easily spotted, because of their size. However, they can pull you under and,
in the circular motion they produce, cause you to drown.
✔✔What happens when you shut off the engine of a PWC during operation? - ✔✔You
lose all steering control.
, ✔✔What is the exception to the law that states you must register your boat? - ✔✔If your
vessel is manually propelled or propelled by sails.
✔✔What does the State of Maryland require you to do to have for registration? - ✔✔A
Certificate of Vessel Numbers and registering decals.
✔✔What is the cut off date for who may operate a boat (grandfather clause)? - ✔✔July
1st, 1972
✔✔How old must you be to operate a PWC? - ✔✔16 (even with a Boating License)
✔✔What are the requirements for a PFD? - ✔✔They must be in good condition, the
proper size, and must be easily accessible.
✔✔How many PFDs do you need on board? - ✔✔You need a PFD for each person,
and a throwable PFD (Type IV)
✔✔What are Type IV PFDs - ✔✔They are PFDs designed to be thrown to someone in
distress. Not designed to be worn.
✔✔What is the Small Child PFD Law? - ✔✔A child under the age of 4 must wear a PFD
with the appropriate safety precautions for the infant, toddler, or child.
✔✔How long should you run your power ventilation system (if you have one)? - ✔✔Four
Minutes or more.
✔✔When should you turn on your power ventilation system? - ✔✔After Fueling, and
Before Starting your engine.
✔✔What must anchored vessels do at night when anchored outside a designated
mooring area? - ✔✔They must display a white light visible in all directions.
✔✔What are VDS classified as? - ✔✔Day Signals, night signals, or both.
✔✔How many VDS are required on board? - ✔✔Three for both night and day. Could be
six, or three.
✔✔What color must VDS smoke be? - ✔✔Orange.
✔✔What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
✔✔A sound-producing device.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What should you do before starting the engine? - ✔✔Sniff the bulge and engine
compartment for fuel vapors. Ventilate your boat until you cannot smell any fuel vapors.
Consider installing a gas vapor detection and alarm device.
✔✔What is tongue weight? - ✔✔Tongue weight is the amount of loaded trailer's weight
that presses down on the towing hitch.
✔✔What percent should the tongue weight be in comparison to the combined weight of
the trailer and vessel? - ✔✔10%
✔✔What will happen if the tongue weight is too light? - ✔✔The trailer will swing from
side to side, or "fishtail."
✔✔How should the safety chains be to support the trailer's coupler? - ✔✔Crisscrossed
✔✔What is a give-way vessel? - ✔✔The vessel that is required to take early and
substantial action to keep well away from other vessels by stopping, slowing down, or
changing course.
✔✔What is the stand-on vessel? - ✔✔The vessel that must maintain its course and
speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate
action.
✔✔In a crossing situation at night, between a sailboat and powerboat, who is the stand
on boat? - ✔✔The sailboat.
✔✔What does it mean if, at night, you see a red, green, and a white light? - ✔✔You are
approaching another vessel head on and you must give way.
✔✔What is a mooring buoy? - ✔✔They are white buoys with a blue horizontal band
that, with permission, you may anchor to. Found in marinas.
✔✔When anchoring, how many times should the line be in comparison to the water
depth? - ✔✔The line needs to be 7-10 times the maximum water depth.
✔✔Low-head dams. - ✔✔Avoid low-head dams. They might not seem dangerous at a
distance, or easily spotted, because of their size. However, they can pull you under and,
in the circular motion they produce, cause you to drown.
✔✔What happens when you shut off the engine of a PWC during operation? - ✔✔You
lose all steering control.
, ✔✔What is the exception to the law that states you must register your boat? - ✔✔If your
vessel is manually propelled or propelled by sails.
✔✔What does the State of Maryland require you to do to have for registration? - ✔✔A
Certificate of Vessel Numbers and registering decals.
✔✔What is the cut off date for who may operate a boat (grandfather clause)? - ✔✔July
1st, 1972
✔✔How old must you be to operate a PWC? - ✔✔16 (even with a Boating License)
✔✔What are the requirements for a PFD? - ✔✔They must be in good condition, the
proper size, and must be easily accessible.
✔✔How many PFDs do you need on board? - ✔✔You need a PFD for each person,
and a throwable PFD (Type IV)
✔✔What are Type IV PFDs - ✔✔They are PFDs designed to be thrown to someone in
distress. Not designed to be worn.
✔✔What is the Small Child PFD Law? - ✔✔A child under the age of 4 must wear a PFD
with the appropriate safety precautions for the infant, toddler, or child.
✔✔How long should you run your power ventilation system (if you have one)? - ✔✔Four
Minutes or more.
✔✔When should you turn on your power ventilation system? - ✔✔After Fueling, and
Before Starting your engine.
✔✔What must anchored vessels do at night when anchored outside a designated
mooring area? - ✔✔They must display a white light visible in all directions.
✔✔What are VDS classified as? - ✔✔Day Signals, night signals, or both.
✔✔How many VDS are required on board? - ✔✔Three for both night and day. Could be
six, or three.
✔✔What color must VDS smoke be? - ✔✔Orange.
✔✔What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
✔✔A sound-producing device.
