CALIFORNIA BOATING CORE EXAM MAIN 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible to
boats approaching from which direction(s)?
head-on only
port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind - ✔✔head-on and starboard (right)
✔✔You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another
boat. What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
A sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel. - ✔✔You must give way to the other vessel.
✔✔What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Game Commission
U.S. Wildlife Federation - ✔✔U.S. Coast Guard
✔✔Two powerboats are about to cross paths. What should the boat on the starboard
(right) do?
Speed up to cross in front of the other boat.
Speed up and turn toward the other boat.
Maintain course and speed, but stay alert.
Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn or whistle. - ✔✔Maintain course and
speed, but stay alert.
✔✔A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?
sailboat
PWC
neither
both - ✔✔sailboat
✔✔One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way?
, the faster boat
the larger boat
the boat that is overtaking
the boat being overtaken - ✔✔the boat that is overtaking
✔✔You are out on the water in foggy conditions. You hear one prolonged blast every
two minutes. What does this sound signal mean?
I am a power-driven vessel at anchor.
I am a power-driven vessel underway.
I am an inflatable raft at anchor.
I am an inflatable raft adrift in the water. - ✔✔I am a power-driven vessel underway.
✔✔Which of these anchors is a good choice for most recreational boats?
fluke-style
clamp-style
galvanized chain
concrete block - ✔✔fluke-style
✔✔What is the best way to avoid being run over by your own PWC or motorboat?
wear a USCG-approved life jacket
use the PWC's self-circling feature
swim away from the boat or PWC if you fall overboard
wear an ignition safety switch lanyard - ✔✔wear an ignition safety switch lanyard
✔✔Which class of boats has priority when using river locks?
paddleboats
personal watercraft
commercial boats
private fishing boats - ✔✔commercial boats
✔✔You are traveling upstream on a river. You see a green square daymark. What
should you do?
Slow down to no-wake speed.
Keep the marker on your port (left) side.
Wave a skier-down flag.
Go around the marker on either side. - ✔✔Keep the marker on your port (left) side.
✔✔You see a white marker with red vertical stripes. What type of marker is this?
polluted water marker
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible to
boats approaching from which direction(s)?
head-on only
port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind - ✔✔head-on and starboard (right)
✔✔You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another
boat. What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
A sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel. - ✔✔You must give way to the other vessel.
✔✔What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Game Commission
U.S. Wildlife Federation - ✔✔U.S. Coast Guard
✔✔Two powerboats are about to cross paths. What should the boat on the starboard
(right) do?
Speed up to cross in front of the other boat.
Speed up and turn toward the other boat.
Maintain course and speed, but stay alert.
Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn or whistle. - ✔✔Maintain course and
speed, but stay alert.
✔✔A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?
sailboat
PWC
neither
both - ✔✔sailboat
✔✔One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way?
, the faster boat
the larger boat
the boat that is overtaking
the boat being overtaken - ✔✔the boat that is overtaking
✔✔You are out on the water in foggy conditions. You hear one prolonged blast every
two minutes. What does this sound signal mean?
I am a power-driven vessel at anchor.
I am a power-driven vessel underway.
I am an inflatable raft at anchor.
I am an inflatable raft adrift in the water. - ✔✔I am a power-driven vessel underway.
✔✔Which of these anchors is a good choice for most recreational boats?
fluke-style
clamp-style
galvanized chain
concrete block - ✔✔fluke-style
✔✔What is the best way to avoid being run over by your own PWC or motorboat?
wear a USCG-approved life jacket
use the PWC's self-circling feature
swim away from the boat or PWC if you fall overboard
wear an ignition safety switch lanyard - ✔✔wear an ignition safety switch lanyard
✔✔Which class of boats has priority when using river locks?
paddleboats
personal watercraft
commercial boats
private fishing boats - ✔✔commercial boats
✔✔You are traveling upstream on a river. You see a green square daymark. What
should you do?
Slow down to no-wake speed.
Keep the marker on your port (left) side.
Wave a skier-down flag.
Go around the marker on either side. - ✔✔Keep the marker on your port (left) side.
✔✔You see a white marker with red vertical stripes. What type of marker is this?
polluted water marker
