DELAWARE BOATING SAFETY EDUCATION
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. What is the minimum age to operate a motorboat in Delaware without
supervision?
a) 12 years old
b) 14 years old
c) 16 years old
d) 18 years old
c) 16 years old
Operators under 16 must be supervised by someone 18 or older with a
boating certificate.
2. What must you have onboard for each person when operating a boat?
a) Fire extinguisher
b) Throwable PFD only
c) Whistle only
d) USCG-approved life jacket
d) USCG-approved life jacket
Each person must have a properly fitting, approved PFD readily accessible.
3. When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) after sunset in
Delaware?
a) Never
, b) Until 30 minutes after sunset
c) Until 1 hour after sunset
d) Only during daylight hours and in fog
a) Never
PWCs must only be operated during daylight hours.
4. When must navigation lights be displayed?
a) When anchored
b) Only when docked
c) From sunset to sunrise and during restricted visibility
d) Only when moving
c) From sunset to sunrise and during restricted visibility
Navigation lights help prevent collisions at night or in fog.
5. What is the best way to avoid propeller strike accidents?
a) Keep people in the water near the stern
b) Turn off the engine when people are boarding
c) Idle in shallow water
d) Use full throttle in crowded areas
b) Turn off the engine when people are boarding
Propeller injuries often occur when people are near the engine. Shut it off
first.
6. What is required when towing a skier behind a vessel?
a) One observer in addition to the operator
b) Navigation lights on
c) A PWC must tow them
, d) Two observers at all times
a) One observer in addition to the operator
Delaware requires a competent observer besides the driver when towing.
7. What should you do when you see a red buoy?
a) Keep it on your left when returning from open water
b) Always pass on the right
c) Keep it on your right when returning from open water
d) Avoid the area completely
c) Keep it on your right when returning from open water
“Red, right, returning” is the rule for navigation.
8. Which is a sign of a restricted visibility situation?
a) Clear skies
b) Dense fog
c) Calm water
d) Anchored boat
b) Dense fog
Fog limits visibility, requiring extra caution and navigation lights.
9. What is the purpose of the capacity plate?
a) Shows fuel requirements
b) Lists trailer weight
c) Shows maximum weight and number of people
d) Indicates boat color
c) Shows maximum weight and number of people
Staying within limits prevents capsizing and swamping.
, 10.What does a diver-down flag look like?
a) Red flag with a white diagonal stripe
b) Solid yellow flag
c) White flag with a blue cross
d) Black and white checkerboard
a) Red flag with a white diagonal stripe
This warns boats to keep clear due to divers below.
11.What should you do when you see a diver-down flag?
a) Speed up
b) Keep at least 100 feet away
c) Approach to see the diver
d) Drop anchor near it
b) Keep at least 100 feet away
Staying clear protects divers and avoids entanglement.
12.Which is an example of careless operation?
a) Maintaining proper lookout
b) Speeding through a no-wake zone
c) Having life jackets for each person
d) Obeying buoy markers
b) Speeding through a no-wake zone
No-wake zones are to protect shorelines and swimmers.
13.Who is responsible for making sure passengers know safety procedures?
a) The oldest passenger
b) The youngest passenger
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. What is the minimum age to operate a motorboat in Delaware without
supervision?
a) 12 years old
b) 14 years old
c) 16 years old
d) 18 years old
c) 16 years old
Operators under 16 must be supervised by someone 18 or older with a
boating certificate.
2. What must you have onboard for each person when operating a boat?
a) Fire extinguisher
b) Throwable PFD only
c) Whistle only
d) USCG-approved life jacket
d) USCG-approved life jacket
Each person must have a properly fitting, approved PFD readily accessible.
3. When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) after sunset in
Delaware?
a) Never
, b) Until 30 minutes after sunset
c) Until 1 hour after sunset
d) Only during daylight hours and in fog
a) Never
PWCs must only be operated during daylight hours.
4. When must navigation lights be displayed?
a) When anchored
b) Only when docked
c) From sunset to sunrise and during restricted visibility
d) Only when moving
c) From sunset to sunrise and during restricted visibility
Navigation lights help prevent collisions at night or in fog.
5. What is the best way to avoid propeller strike accidents?
a) Keep people in the water near the stern
b) Turn off the engine when people are boarding
c) Idle in shallow water
d) Use full throttle in crowded areas
b) Turn off the engine when people are boarding
Propeller injuries often occur when people are near the engine. Shut it off
first.
6. What is required when towing a skier behind a vessel?
a) One observer in addition to the operator
b) Navigation lights on
c) A PWC must tow them
, d) Two observers at all times
a) One observer in addition to the operator
Delaware requires a competent observer besides the driver when towing.
7. What should you do when you see a red buoy?
a) Keep it on your left when returning from open water
b) Always pass on the right
c) Keep it on your right when returning from open water
d) Avoid the area completely
c) Keep it on your right when returning from open water
“Red, right, returning” is the rule for navigation.
8. Which is a sign of a restricted visibility situation?
a) Clear skies
b) Dense fog
c) Calm water
d) Anchored boat
b) Dense fog
Fog limits visibility, requiring extra caution and navigation lights.
9. What is the purpose of the capacity plate?
a) Shows fuel requirements
b) Lists trailer weight
c) Shows maximum weight and number of people
d) Indicates boat color
c) Shows maximum weight and number of people
Staying within limits prevents capsizing and swamping.
, 10.What does a diver-down flag look like?
a) Red flag with a white diagonal stripe
b) Solid yellow flag
c) White flag with a blue cross
d) Black and white checkerboard
a) Red flag with a white diagonal stripe
This warns boats to keep clear due to divers below.
11.What should you do when you see a diver-down flag?
a) Speed up
b) Keep at least 100 feet away
c) Approach to see the diver
d) Drop anchor near it
b) Keep at least 100 feet away
Staying clear protects divers and avoids entanglement.
12.Which is an example of careless operation?
a) Maintaining proper lookout
b) Speeding through a no-wake zone
c) Having life jackets for each person
d) Obeying buoy markers
b) Speeding through a no-wake zone
No-wake zones are to protect shorelines and swimmers.
13.Who is responsible for making sure passengers know safety procedures?
a) The oldest passenger
b) The youngest passenger
