NJ Boating Practice Exam 200+ Questions
and Answers (2026) | Question Bank |
Verified Solutions | A+
• Bow. CORRECT ANSWER: front of a ship
• Cleat. CORRECT ANSWER: Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
• Gunwale. CORRECT ANSWER: the upper edge of the side of a boat
• Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: Body of a vessel
• Port. CORRECT ANSWER: Left side of a vessel
• Starboard. CORRECT ANSWER: right side of a vessel
• Stern. CORRECT ANSWER: Rear of a vessel
• Beam. CORRECT ANSWER: Maximum width of a vessel
• Freeboard. CORRECT ANSWER: Distance from water to lowest point of the boat
where water could come on board
• Draft. CORRECT ANSWER: Depth of water needed to float a vessel
• Keel. CORRECT ANSWER: Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of
hull that increases stability in the water
• Displacement Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: The type of hull that plows through the
water
• Planing Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: type of hull that is shaped to lift out of the water at
high speeds and ride on the surface
• Vessels that have planing hulls. CORRECT ANSWER: most small vessels, PWC's,
and small sailboats all have:
• Personal Watercraft. CORRECT ANSWER: A small vessel that uses an inboard jet
drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or
persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
• Displacement Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: A planing hull, when operated at very slow
speeds, will cut through the water like a displacement hull.
,• Plowing Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: As speed increases, a planing hull will have a
raised bow, reducing the operator's vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid
maintaining a speed that puts your boat in plowing mode.
• Planing Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: Your boat is in planing mode when enough
power is applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing
mode at different speeds.
• Length overall. CORRECT ANSWER: Total length of the ship from bow to stern
• Rudder. CORRECT ANSWER: Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a
post at, or near, the stern of the boat
• Outboard Engine. CORRECT ANSWER: a portable, self-contained package of an
engine, gear case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat
• Transom. CORRECT ANSWER: Vertical surface at the back of the hull
• Tiller. CORRECT ANSWER: Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
• Inboard Engines. CORRECT ANSWER: An inboard is a four-stroke automotive engine
adapted for marine use. Inboard engines are mounted inside the hull's midsection or in
front of the transom. Attached to propeller through bottom of hull
• Stern drives. CORRECT ANSWER: Stern drives are known also as inboard/outboards
(I/Os) because they combine features found on both inboard and outboard engines.
Stern-drive engines are four-stroke automotive engines adapted for marine use and are
mounted inside the boat.
• Two-stroke engine. CORRECT ANSWER: An engine design that produces one power
stroke for each revolution of the crankshaft.
• Four-stroke engine. CORRECT ANSWER: Also known as Otto cycle. A combustion
cycle that consists of an intake, a compression, a power; and an exhaust stroke. Also
called four-stroke engine.
• Jet drive. CORRECT ANSWER: propel a vessel by forcing a jet of water out the back
of the vessel. Directing this jet of water steers the vessel
• Impeller. CORRECT ANSWER: Device used to pump and force water under pressure
through a steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel
• Intake. CORRECT ANSWER: Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
• Intake grate. CORRECT ANSWER: Screening cover over the intake, which prevents
large debris from entering
, • Safety Lanyard. CORRECT ANSWER: short cord for attaching the ignition safety
switch to the operators wrist or personal flotation device (life jacket).
• Steering Control. CORRECT ANSWER: means of controlling the steering nozzle
• Drive shaft. CORRECT ANSWER: The long stem connection between the motor and
the impeller
• Steering Nozzle. CORRECT ANSWER: Device used for directing the stream of water
to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
• Halyards. CORRECT ANSWER: Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails
• Sheets. CORRECT ANSWER: Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to
the wind
• Capacity Plate. CORRECT ANSWER: plate on the inside of the vessel that displays
maximum weight capacity and horsepower rating
• Swamp. CORRECT ANSWER: when boat fills with water
• Calculating Boat Capacity. CORRECT ANSWER: Number of people = (boat length (ft.)
× boat width (ft.)) / 15
• Float plan. CORRECT ANSWER: information left with someone concerning your
boating trip
• Bilge. CORRECT ANSWER: 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
• Tongue weight. CORRECT ANSWER: the amount of the loaded trailer's weight that
presses down on the towing hitch
• Coupler. CORRECT ANSWER: The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on
a towing vehicle
• Bunks. CORRECT ANSWER: Wooden supports on which the vessel rests while on
the trailer
• Figure 8 bend. CORRECT ANSWER: To join the ends of two ropes up to a 5mm
diameter difference, prevents line from slipping through a hole
• Bowline Knot. CORRECT ANSWER: 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.
and Answers (2026) | Question Bank |
Verified Solutions | A+
• Bow. CORRECT ANSWER: front of a ship
• Cleat. CORRECT ANSWER: Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
• Gunwale. CORRECT ANSWER: the upper edge of the side of a boat
• Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: Body of a vessel
• Port. CORRECT ANSWER: Left side of a vessel
• Starboard. CORRECT ANSWER: right side of a vessel
• Stern. CORRECT ANSWER: Rear of a vessel
• Beam. CORRECT ANSWER: Maximum width of a vessel
• Freeboard. CORRECT ANSWER: Distance from water to lowest point of the boat
where water could come on board
• Draft. CORRECT ANSWER: Depth of water needed to float a vessel
• Keel. CORRECT ANSWER: Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of
hull that increases stability in the water
• Displacement Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: The type of hull that plows through the
water
• Planing Hull. CORRECT ANSWER: type of hull that is shaped to lift out of the water at
high speeds and ride on the surface
• Vessels that have planing hulls. CORRECT ANSWER: most small vessels, PWC's,
and small sailboats all have:
• Personal Watercraft. CORRECT ANSWER: A small vessel that uses an inboard jet
drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or
persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
• Displacement Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: A planing hull, when operated at very slow
speeds, will cut through the water like a displacement hull.
,• Plowing Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: As speed increases, a planing hull will have a
raised bow, reducing the operator's vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid
maintaining a speed that puts your boat in plowing mode.
• Planing Mode. CORRECT ANSWER: Your boat is in planing mode when enough
power is applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing
mode at different speeds.
• Length overall. CORRECT ANSWER: Total length of the ship from bow to stern
• Rudder. CORRECT ANSWER: Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a
post at, or near, the stern of the boat
• Outboard Engine. CORRECT ANSWER: a portable, self-contained package of an
engine, gear case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat
• Transom. CORRECT ANSWER: Vertical surface at the back of the hull
• Tiller. CORRECT ANSWER: Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
• Inboard Engines. CORRECT ANSWER: An inboard is a four-stroke automotive engine
adapted for marine use. Inboard engines are mounted inside the hull's midsection or in
front of the transom. Attached to propeller through bottom of hull
• Stern drives. CORRECT ANSWER: Stern drives are known also as inboard/outboards
(I/Os) because they combine features found on both inboard and outboard engines.
Stern-drive engines are four-stroke automotive engines adapted for marine use and are
mounted inside the boat.
• Two-stroke engine. CORRECT ANSWER: An engine design that produces one power
stroke for each revolution of the crankshaft.
• Four-stroke engine. CORRECT ANSWER: Also known as Otto cycle. A combustion
cycle that consists of an intake, a compression, a power; and an exhaust stroke. Also
called four-stroke engine.
• Jet drive. CORRECT ANSWER: propel a vessel by forcing a jet of water out the back
of the vessel. Directing this jet of water steers the vessel
• Impeller. CORRECT ANSWER: Device used to pump and force water under pressure
through a steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel
• Intake. CORRECT ANSWER: Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
• Intake grate. CORRECT ANSWER: Screening cover over the intake, which prevents
large debris from entering
, • Safety Lanyard. CORRECT ANSWER: short cord for attaching the ignition safety
switch to the operators wrist or personal flotation device (life jacket).
• Steering Control. CORRECT ANSWER: means of controlling the steering nozzle
• Drive shaft. CORRECT ANSWER: The long stem connection between the motor and
the impeller
• Steering Nozzle. CORRECT ANSWER: Device used for directing the stream of water
to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
• Halyards. CORRECT ANSWER: Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails
• Sheets. CORRECT ANSWER: Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to
the wind
• Capacity Plate. CORRECT ANSWER: plate on the inside of the vessel that displays
maximum weight capacity and horsepower rating
• Swamp. CORRECT ANSWER: when boat fills with water
• Calculating Boat Capacity. CORRECT ANSWER: Number of people = (boat length (ft.)
× boat width (ft.)) / 15
• Float plan. CORRECT ANSWER: information left with someone concerning your
boating trip
• Bilge. CORRECT ANSWER: 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
• Tongue weight. CORRECT ANSWER: the amount of the loaded trailer's weight that
presses down on the towing hitch
• Coupler. CORRECT ANSWER: The part of the trailer that attaches to the ball hitch on
a towing vehicle
• Bunks. CORRECT ANSWER: Wooden supports on which the vessel rests while on
the trailer
• Figure 8 bend. CORRECT ANSWER: To join the ends of two ropes up to a 5mm
diameter difference, prevents line from slipping through a hole
• Bowline Knot. CORRECT ANSWER: 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.
