MISSOURI BOATING LICENSE COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Windward. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: Any condition in which visibility is
restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms,
or any other similar causes.
◉ Risk of collision. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: This white light is seen only from behind or
nearly behind the vessel.
◉ Masthead light. Answer: 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. Answer: Any vessel propelled by machinery,
including a sailboat using an engine.
◉ Sailing Vessel. Answer: 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.
◉ Underway. Answer: Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground.
◉ Risk of collision. Answer: Any situation when an approaching
vessel continues on a collision course (the bearing of the
approaching vessel does not change), or anytime you are
approaching a very large vessel.
◉ All around white light. Answer: On power-driven vessels less than
39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead
light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other
vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when
sidelights are extinguished.
◉ upstream. Answer: In the direction that is against the current
◉ Guards. Answer: Devices that provide some type of physical
barrier around the propeller. These include deflection devices, full
cages, ring guards, ringed props, and "Kort Nozzles."
◉ When you are moving away in the water what side should the red
be on?. Answer: Right remember the phrase Red Right Returning.
, ◉ Propulsion. Answer: Devices other than a propeller such as jet
drives and pump jets.
◉ Interlocks. Answer: Devices that automatically turn off the engine
or sound an alarm. For example, a ladder interlock stops the engine
or triggers an alarm when passengers use the ladder to enter or
leave the water.
◉ Sensors. Answer: Wireless sensors or other devices worn by
boaters that shut off the boat's engine or trigger an alarm if the
wearer falls overboard.
◉ Where will the green boueys be on the boat?. Answer: The left
side and it has an odd number.
◉ Can Buoys. Answer: These cylindrical-shaped buoys are always
marked with green markings and odd numbers. They mark the edge
of the channel on your port (left) side when entering from the open
sea or heading upstream.
◉ Nun Buoys. Answer: These cone-shaped buoys are always marked
with red markings and even numbers. They mark the edge of the
channel on your starboard (right) side when entering from the open
sea or heading upstream.
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ Windward. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: Any condition in which visibility is
restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms,
or any other similar causes.
◉ Risk of collision. Answer: 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. Answer: 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. Answer: This white light is seen only from behind or
nearly behind the vessel.
◉ Masthead light. Answer: 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. Answer: Any vessel propelled by machinery,
including a sailboat using an engine.
◉ Sailing Vessel. Answer: 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.
◉ Underway. Answer: Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground.
◉ Risk of collision. Answer: Any situation when an approaching
vessel continues on a collision course (the bearing of the
approaching vessel does not change), or anytime you are
approaching a very large vessel.
◉ All around white light. Answer: On power-driven vessels less than
39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead
light and sternlight into a single white light that can be seen by other
vessels from any direction. This light serves as an anchor light when
sidelights are extinguished.
◉ upstream. Answer: In the direction that is against the current
◉ Guards. Answer: Devices that provide some type of physical
barrier around the propeller. These include deflection devices, full
cages, ring guards, ringed props, and "Kort Nozzles."
◉ When you are moving away in the water what side should the red
be on?. Answer: Right remember the phrase Red Right Returning.
, ◉ Propulsion. Answer: Devices other than a propeller such as jet
drives and pump jets.
◉ Interlocks. Answer: Devices that automatically turn off the engine
or sound an alarm. For example, a ladder interlock stops the engine
or triggers an alarm when passengers use the ladder to enter or
leave the water.
◉ Sensors. Answer: Wireless sensors or other devices worn by
boaters that shut off the boat's engine or trigger an alarm if the
wearer falls overboard.
◉ Where will the green boueys be on the boat?. Answer: The left
side and it has an odd number.
◉ Can Buoys. Answer: These cylindrical-shaped buoys are always
marked with green markings and odd numbers. They mark the edge
of the channel on your port (left) side when entering from the open
sea or heading upstream.
◉ Nun Buoys. Answer: These cone-shaped buoys are always marked
with red markings and even numbers. They mark the edge of the
channel on your starboard (right) side when entering from the open
sea or heading upstream.
