MISSOURI BOATING CORE EXAM MANUAL 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔Propeller - ✔✔Rotating device that turns and powers a boat forward or backward.
✔✔Tiller - ✔✔Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat.
✔✔Transform - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull.
✔✔Steering Control - ✔✔Means of controlling the steering nozzle.
✔✔Safety Lanyard - ✔✔Short cord for attaching the ignition safety switch to the
operators wrist or personal life vest.
✔✔Throttle - ✔✔Lever.
✔✔Starboard - ✔✔Right side.
✔✔Port - ✔✔Left side.
✔✔Fuel cap - ✔✔Where you put gas in on the left side of the seadoo.
✔✔Draft - ✔✔Depth of water needed to float a vessel.
✔✔Intake - ✔✔Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller.
✔✔Intake grate - ✔✔Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris from
entering.
✔✔Drive shaft - ✔✔The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller.
✔✔Impeller - ✔✔Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a
steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel.
✔✔Steering nozzle - ✔✔Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right
at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
✔✔Halyards - ✔✔Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails.
✔✔Sheets - ✔✔Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind.
✔✔Capsize - ✔✔To turn on the side or turn completely over.
,✔✔Swamp - ✔✔To fill with water.
✔✔Transom - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull.
✔✔What is the maximum person on a sail boat - ✔✔7 people or 1050 lbs.
✔✔Bilge - ✔✔Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's interior
where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
✔✔Coupler - ✔✔The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on a towing vehicle.
✔✔Figure Eight Bend - ✔✔The figure-eight knot has several uses, including connecting
two ropes to make a longer line or making a "stopper" knot in a single line in order to
prevent the line from slipping through a hole or a gap in a block or a cleat.
✔✔Bowline Knot - ✔✔The bowline is a multi-purpose knot that is essential for boat
operators to know. Forming the knot creates a fixed loop on the end of the rope or
line—a loop that can be used for hitching, mooring, or lifting.
✔✔Anchor Bend Knot - ✔✔A type of hitching knot, the anchor bend is used to secure a
rope to an anchor or a ring. If additional security is needed, a half hitch can be tied at
the end.
✔✔Cleating Hitch - ✔✔Used to attach a line to a cleat on a dock, the cleating hitch is
formed by wrapping the line around the base of the cleat, then forming one or more
figure eights around the cleat. The knot is secured with a half hitch.
✔✔Clove Hitch - ✔✔The clove hitch is handy for temporary fastening, such as when
tying up to a piling. It's particularly useful because—with experience—it can be tied with
only one hand. For extra fastening power or for longer periods of time, add two half
hitches after tying the clove hitch.
✔✔Round Turn and Two Half Hitches - ✔✔Handy for tying down a bulky load or tying a
boat to a mooring post, the round turn and two half hitches is versatile. It is a secure
knot that does not jam and is easy to undo.
✔✔Vessel - ✔✔Every kind of watercraft capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water, including seaplanes.
✔✔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.
, ✔✔Stand-on vessel - ✔✔The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it
becomes apparent that the give-way boat is not taking appropriate action; if you must
take action, do not turn toward the give-way boat or cross in front of it.
✔✔Leeward - ✔✔Direction toward which the wind is blowing, or downwind. Leeward
vessel refers to the vessel that is downwind of the other.
✔✔Windward - ✔✔Direction from which the wind is blowing, or upwind. Windward
vessel refers to the vessel that is upwind of the other.
✔✔Engaged in commercial fishing - ✔✔Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or
other fishing equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, does not include a
vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that do not restrict
maneuverability
✔✔Restricted visibility - ✔✔Any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist,
falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.
✔✔Risk of collision - ✔✔Any situation when an approaching vessel continues on a
collision course (the bearing of the approaching vessel does not change), or when you
are approaching a very large vessel
✔✔Sidelights - ✔✔These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called
combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the
side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a
vessel's starboard (right) side.
✔✔Stern light - ✔✔This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.
✔✔Masthead light - ✔✔This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required
on all power-driven vessels. (On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, the
masthead light and sternlight may be combined into an all-round white light; power-
driven vessels 39.4 feet in length or longer must have a separate masthead light.) A
masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. The
absence of this light indicates a sailing vessel because sailboats under sail display only
sidelights and a sternlight.
✔✔Power driven vessel - ✔✔Any vessel propelled by machinery, including a sailboat
using an engine.
✔✔Sailing Vessel - ✔✔Any vessel under sail and with no engine in use
Vessel engaged in fishing: Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing
equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, this does not include a vessel fishing
with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that does not restrict maneuverability.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔Propeller - ✔✔Rotating device that turns and powers a boat forward or backward.
✔✔Tiller - ✔✔Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat.
✔✔Transform - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull.
✔✔Steering Control - ✔✔Means of controlling the steering nozzle.
✔✔Safety Lanyard - ✔✔Short cord for attaching the ignition safety switch to the
operators wrist or personal life vest.
✔✔Throttle - ✔✔Lever.
✔✔Starboard - ✔✔Right side.
✔✔Port - ✔✔Left side.
✔✔Fuel cap - ✔✔Where you put gas in on the left side of the seadoo.
✔✔Draft - ✔✔Depth of water needed to float a vessel.
✔✔Intake - ✔✔Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller.
✔✔Intake grate - ✔✔Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris from
entering.
✔✔Drive shaft - ✔✔The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller.
✔✔Impeller - ✔✔Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a
steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel.
✔✔Steering nozzle - ✔✔Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right
at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
✔✔Halyards - ✔✔Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails.
✔✔Sheets - ✔✔Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind.
✔✔Capsize - ✔✔To turn on the side or turn completely over.
,✔✔Swamp - ✔✔To fill with water.
✔✔Transom - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull.
✔✔What is the maximum person on a sail boat - ✔✔7 people or 1050 lbs.
✔✔Bilge - ✔✔Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's interior
where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
✔✔Coupler - ✔✔The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on a towing vehicle.
✔✔Figure Eight Bend - ✔✔The figure-eight knot has several uses, including connecting
two ropes to make a longer line or making a "stopper" knot in a single line in order to
prevent the line from slipping through a hole or a gap in a block or a cleat.
✔✔Bowline Knot - ✔✔The bowline is a multi-purpose knot that is essential for boat
operators to know. Forming the knot creates a fixed loop on the end of the rope or
line—a loop that can be used for hitching, mooring, or lifting.
✔✔Anchor Bend Knot - ✔✔A type of hitching knot, the anchor bend is used to secure a
rope to an anchor or a ring. If additional security is needed, a half hitch can be tied at
the end.
✔✔Cleating Hitch - ✔✔Used to attach a line to a cleat on a dock, the cleating hitch is
formed by wrapping the line around the base of the cleat, then forming one or more
figure eights around the cleat. The knot is secured with a half hitch.
✔✔Clove Hitch - ✔✔The clove hitch is handy for temporary fastening, such as when
tying up to a piling. It's particularly useful because—with experience—it can be tied with
only one hand. For extra fastening power or for longer periods of time, add two half
hitches after tying the clove hitch.
✔✔Round Turn and Two Half Hitches - ✔✔Handy for tying down a bulky load or tying a
boat to a mooring post, the round turn and two half hitches is versatile. It is a secure
knot that does not jam and is easy to undo.
✔✔Vessel - ✔✔Every kind of watercraft capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water, including seaplanes.
✔✔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.
, ✔✔Stand-on vessel - ✔✔The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it
becomes apparent that the give-way boat is not taking appropriate action; if you must
take action, do not turn toward the give-way boat or cross in front of it.
✔✔Leeward - ✔✔Direction toward which the wind is blowing, or downwind. Leeward
vessel refers to the vessel that is downwind of the other.
✔✔Windward - ✔✔Direction from which the wind is blowing, or upwind. Windward
vessel refers to the vessel that is upwind of the other.
✔✔Engaged in commercial fishing - ✔✔Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or
other fishing equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, does not include a
vessel fishing with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that do not restrict
maneuverability
✔✔Restricted visibility - ✔✔Any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist,
falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.
✔✔Risk of collision - ✔✔Any situation when an approaching vessel continues on a
collision course (the bearing of the approaching vessel does not change), or when you
are approaching a very large vessel
✔✔Sidelights - ✔✔These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called
combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the
side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a
vessel's starboard (right) side.
✔✔Stern light - ✔✔This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.
✔✔Masthead light - ✔✔This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required
on all power-driven vessels. (On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, the
masthead light and sternlight may be combined into an all-round white light; power-
driven vessels 39.4 feet in length or longer must have a separate masthead light.) A
masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. The
absence of this light indicates a sailing vessel because sailboats under sail display only
sidelights and a sternlight.
✔✔Power driven vessel - ✔✔Any vessel propelled by machinery, including a sailboat
using an engine.
✔✔Sailing Vessel - ✔✔Any vessel under sail and with no engine in use
Vessel engaged in fishing: Any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing
equipment that restricts maneuverability; however, this does not include a vessel fishing
with trolling lines or other fishing equipment that does not restrict maneuverability.
