ASA 114 – Cruising Catamaran Certification Exam 150
Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales LATEST
UPDATE. THIS YEAR
About the ASA 114 Exam
The ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran certification is an advanced standard for sailors with
cruising experience to skipper a 30–50 foot multihull by day in coastal waters . Prerequisites
include ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications . The exam covers catamaran stability, twin-
engine maneuvering, heavy weather tactics, sail trim differences from monohulls, and
specialized multihull systems .
Section 1: Catamaran Design & Hardware (Questions 1-25)
1. A catamaran's stability is derived from what primary source?
A) Deep ballast keels
B) Water ballast tanks
C) Buoyancy in its two widely separated hulls
D) Canting keel system
Answer: C
Rationale: A catamaran's stability is derived from its wide beam and the buoyancy of its two
hulls, not from heavy ballast. Weight must be distributed evenly .
2. What is the purpose of a nacelle on a catamaran?
A) Housing the engines
B) Storing the anchor
C) Softening the impact of seas
D) Mounting the radar
Answer: C
Rationale: The nacelle is a forward projection of the bridge deck designed to soften the
impact of waves .
,3. On catamarans without fixed keels, what slides vertically through a trunk in each
hull?
A) Centerboard
B) Leeboard
C) Daggerboard
D) Swing keel
Answer: C
Rationale: Daggerboards slide vertically through trunks in each hull to provide lateral
resistance and improved performance when sailing upwind .
4. What component provides reinforcement to counter the effect of forestay tension
on the forward crossbeam?
A) Dolphin striker
B) Bobstay
C) Seagull striker
D) Bowsprit
Answer: C
Rationale: The seagull striker is located on the forward crossbeam and provides
reinforcement to counter the effect of forestay tension .
5. What supports the mast in a tripod rig?
A) Backstay and shrouds
B) Forestay and backstay
C) Forestay and shrouds
D) Spreaders and stays
Answer: C
Rationale: A tripod rig consists of a forestay and shrouds that support the mast without the
need for a backstay .
6. The downward force of a catamaran's mast is supported by the center _____
integrated into the bridge deck structure.
A) Keel
B) Crossbeam
,C) Mast step
D) Bulkhead
Answer: B
Rationale: The mast load is supported by the center crossbeam integrated into the bridge
deck structure .
7. The mainsheet traveler is often mounted over which crossbeam?
A) Forward
B) Center
C) Aft
D) Mast
Answer: C
Rationale: The mainsheet traveler is often mounted over the aft crossbeam .
8. What is the taut net spanning the space between the bows of a cruising catamaran
called?
A) Catwalk
B) Trampoline
C) Bridgedeck
D) Nacelle
Answer: B
Rationale: The trampoline is a taut net spanning the space between the bows .
9. A solid walkway along the centerline between the bridge deck and the forward
crossbeam is called a:
A) Trampoline
B) Gangway
C) Catwalk
D) Passageway
Answer: C
Rationale: The catwalk is a solid walkway along the centerline between the bridge deck
and the forward crossbeam .
10. The cabin on top of the bridge deck on a catamaran is called the:
, A) Salon
B) Deckhouse
C) Pilothouse
D) Cabin top
Answer: B
Rationale: The deckhouse is the cabin on top of the bridge deck .
11. Diamond stays are wire rigging braced by spreaders or struts that:
A) Support the boom
B) Keep the mast in column
C) Reinforce the crossbeam
D) Hold the trampoline
Answer: B
Rationale: Diamond stays are wire rigging braced by spreaders that keep the mast in
column .
12. A line or wire that supports a boom when it is not being supported by its sail is
called:
A) Outhaul
B) Boom vang
C) Topping lift
D) Mainsheet
Answer: C
Rationale: The topping lift supports the boom when it is not being supported by its sail .
13. Where is the dinghy boarding most conveniently done on a catamaran?
A) Side deck
B) Bow
C) Transom
D) Bridge deck
Answer: C
Rationale: Dinghy boarding is conveniently done at the transom, which offers a low step to
embark. Maintain three points of contact .
Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales LATEST
UPDATE. THIS YEAR
About the ASA 114 Exam
The ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran certification is an advanced standard for sailors with
cruising experience to skipper a 30–50 foot multihull by day in coastal waters . Prerequisites
include ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications . The exam covers catamaran stability, twin-
engine maneuvering, heavy weather tactics, sail trim differences from monohulls, and
specialized multihull systems .
Section 1: Catamaran Design & Hardware (Questions 1-25)
1. A catamaran's stability is derived from what primary source?
A) Deep ballast keels
B) Water ballast tanks
C) Buoyancy in its two widely separated hulls
D) Canting keel system
Answer: C
Rationale: A catamaran's stability is derived from its wide beam and the buoyancy of its two
hulls, not from heavy ballast. Weight must be distributed evenly .
2. What is the purpose of a nacelle on a catamaran?
A) Housing the engines
B) Storing the anchor
C) Softening the impact of seas
D) Mounting the radar
Answer: C
Rationale: The nacelle is a forward projection of the bridge deck designed to soften the
impact of waves .
,3. On catamarans without fixed keels, what slides vertically through a trunk in each
hull?
A) Centerboard
B) Leeboard
C) Daggerboard
D) Swing keel
Answer: C
Rationale: Daggerboards slide vertically through trunks in each hull to provide lateral
resistance and improved performance when sailing upwind .
4. What component provides reinforcement to counter the effect of forestay tension
on the forward crossbeam?
A) Dolphin striker
B) Bobstay
C) Seagull striker
D) Bowsprit
Answer: C
Rationale: The seagull striker is located on the forward crossbeam and provides
reinforcement to counter the effect of forestay tension .
5. What supports the mast in a tripod rig?
A) Backstay and shrouds
B) Forestay and backstay
C) Forestay and shrouds
D) Spreaders and stays
Answer: C
Rationale: A tripod rig consists of a forestay and shrouds that support the mast without the
need for a backstay .
6. The downward force of a catamaran's mast is supported by the center _____
integrated into the bridge deck structure.
A) Keel
B) Crossbeam
,C) Mast step
D) Bulkhead
Answer: B
Rationale: The mast load is supported by the center crossbeam integrated into the bridge
deck structure .
7. The mainsheet traveler is often mounted over which crossbeam?
A) Forward
B) Center
C) Aft
D) Mast
Answer: C
Rationale: The mainsheet traveler is often mounted over the aft crossbeam .
8. What is the taut net spanning the space between the bows of a cruising catamaran
called?
A) Catwalk
B) Trampoline
C) Bridgedeck
D) Nacelle
Answer: B
Rationale: The trampoline is a taut net spanning the space between the bows .
9. A solid walkway along the centerline between the bridge deck and the forward
crossbeam is called a:
A) Trampoline
B) Gangway
C) Catwalk
D) Passageway
Answer: C
Rationale: The catwalk is a solid walkway along the centerline between the bridge deck
and the forward crossbeam .
10. The cabin on top of the bridge deck on a catamaran is called the:
, A) Salon
B) Deckhouse
C) Pilothouse
D) Cabin top
Answer: B
Rationale: The deckhouse is the cabin on top of the bridge deck .
11. Diamond stays are wire rigging braced by spreaders or struts that:
A) Support the boom
B) Keep the mast in column
C) Reinforce the crossbeam
D) Hold the trampoline
Answer: B
Rationale: Diamond stays are wire rigging braced by spreaders that keep the mast in
column .
12. A line or wire that supports a boom when it is not being supported by its sail is
called:
A) Outhaul
B) Boom vang
C) Topping lift
D) Mainsheet
Answer: C
Rationale: The topping lift supports the boom when it is not being supported by its sail .
13. Where is the dinghy boarding most conveniently done on a catamaran?
A) Side deck
B) Bow
C) Transom
D) Bridge deck
Answer: C
Rationale: Dinghy boarding is conveniently done at the transom, which offers a low step to
embark. Maintain three points of contact .
