Connecticut Safe Boating Actual Exam Guide: Official
CT DEEP Boating Safety Course Questions and
Verified Answers
Question 1
Who is required to obtain a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate (license)?
A) All boat operators regardless of age
B) Anyone born after June 15, 1993, operating a motorboat with any horsepower
C) Only operators of personal watercraft (PWCs)
D) Anyone operating a sailboat over 20 feet
Answer: B) Anyone born after June 15, 1993, operating a motorboat with any
horsepower
Rationale: Connecticut law requires anyone born after June 15, 1993, to possess a Safe
Boating Certificate to operate a motorboat (any horsepower) or PWC. Those born on or
before this date are exempt from the certificate requirement.
Question 2
What is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) alone in Connecticut?
A) 12 years
B) 14 years
C) 16 years
D) 18 years
,Answer: C) 16 years
Rationale: No person under 16 years of age may operate a PWC alone. Persons 16–17
must have a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation
(CPWO) .
Question 3
A 14-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate may operate a motorboat of what
maximum horsepower without adult supervision?
A) 10 HP
B) 15 HP
C) 20 HP
D) No horsepower limit
Answer: A) 10 HP
Rationale: No person less than 12 years of age who has an SBC or CPWO shall operate a
motor-powered vessel exceeding 10 horsepower unless accompanied on board by a person
at least 18 years of age who has been issued an SBC. This means a 14-year-old cannot
operate a boat exceeding 10 HP alone .
Question 4
A 13-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate may operate a motorboat of what
maximum horsepower if accompanied by a certified adult 18 or older?
A) 10 HP
B) 15 HP
,C) Unlimited HP
D) 25 HP
Answer: C) Unlimited HP
Rationale: A child under 12 with an SBC cannot operate over 10 HP even with supervision.
However, a 13-year-old with a certificate who is accompanied on board by a person at
least 18 years of age with an SBC may operate a motorboat of any horsepower .
Question 5
How long is a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate valid?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) Lifetime of the operator
Answer: D) Lifetime of the operator
Rationale: The Safe Boating Certificate is valid for the lifetime of the operator and does not
require renewal unless suspended or revoked .
Question 6
Who may legally operate a boat in Connecticut if they do not have a Safe Boating
Certificate but are over 18 and born before June 16, 1993?
A) Anyone born before June 16, 1993, regardless of age
B) Only those born after June 15, 1993
, C) No one
D) Only those with an out-of-state license
Answer: A) Anyone born before June 16, 1993, regardless of age
Rationale: The certificate requirement applies only to those born after June 15, 1993.
Those born on or before June 15, 1993, are exempt from the certificate requirement .
Question 7
What is the minimum age to operate a PWC in Connecticut if accompanied by a
certified adult 18 or older?
A) 12 years
B) 14 years
C) 15 years
D) 16 years
Answer: D) 16 years
Rationale: No person under age 16, even with a CPWO, may operate a personal
watercraft. There is no provision for supervised operation of a PWC by anyone under 16 .
Question 8
A 10-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate wants to operate a family boat (not a
PWC). What are the requirements?
A) May operate any motorboat alone
B) May only operate a boat with 10 HP or less and must be accompanied by a certified
CT DEEP Boating Safety Course Questions and
Verified Answers
Question 1
Who is required to obtain a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate (license)?
A) All boat operators regardless of age
B) Anyone born after June 15, 1993, operating a motorboat with any horsepower
C) Only operators of personal watercraft (PWCs)
D) Anyone operating a sailboat over 20 feet
Answer: B) Anyone born after June 15, 1993, operating a motorboat with any
horsepower
Rationale: Connecticut law requires anyone born after June 15, 1993, to possess a Safe
Boating Certificate to operate a motorboat (any horsepower) or PWC. Those born on or
before this date are exempt from the certificate requirement.
Question 2
What is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) alone in Connecticut?
A) 12 years
B) 14 years
C) 16 years
D) 18 years
,Answer: C) 16 years
Rationale: No person under 16 years of age may operate a PWC alone. Persons 16–17
must have a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation
(CPWO) .
Question 3
A 14-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate may operate a motorboat of what
maximum horsepower without adult supervision?
A) 10 HP
B) 15 HP
C) 20 HP
D) No horsepower limit
Answer: A) 10 HP
Rationale: No person less than 12 years of age who has an SBC or CPWO shall operate a
motor-powered vessel exceeding 10 horsepower unless accompanied on board by a person
at least 18 years of age who has been issued an SBC. This means a 14-year-old cannot
operate a boat exceeding 10 HP alone .
Question 4
A 13-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate may operate a motorboat of what
maximum horsepower if accompanied by a certified adult 18 or older?
A) 10 HP
B) 15 HP
,C) Unlimited HP
D) 25 HP
Answer: C) Unlimited HP
Rationale: A child under 12 with an SBC cannot operate over 10 HP even with supervision.
However, a 13-year-old with a certificate who is accompanied on board by a person at
least 18 years of age with an SBC may operate a motorboat of any horsepower .
Question 5
How long is a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate valid?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) Lifetime of the operator
Answer: D) Lifetime of the operator
Rationale: The Safe Boating Certificate is valid for the lifetime of the operator and does not
require renewal unless suspended or revoked .
Question 6
Who may legally operate a boat in Connecticut if they do not have a Safe Boating
Certificate but are over 18 and born before June 16, 1993?
A) Anyone born before June 16, 1993, regardless of age
B) Only those born after June 15, 1993
, C) No one
D) Only those with an out-of-state license
Answer: A) Anyone born before June 16, 1993, regardless of age
Rationale: The certificate requirement applies only to those born after June 15, 1993.
Those born on or before June 15, 1993, are exempt from the certificate requirement .
Question 7
What is the minimum age to operate a PWC in Connecticut if accompanied by a
certified adult 18 or older?
A) 12 years
B) 14 years
C) 15 years
D) 16 years
Answer: D) 16 years
Rationale: No person under age 16, even with a CPWO, may operate a personal
watercraft. There is no provision for supervised operation of a PWC by anyone under 16 .
Question 8
A 10-year-old with a Safe Boating Certificate wants to operate a family boat (not a
PWC). What are the requirements?
A) May operate any motorboat alone
B) May only operate a boat with 10 HP or less and must be accompanied by a certified
