NJ Boating Exam 2026 – New Jersey Boater Test
Questions & Answers, Practice Exam & Study Guide
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - correct answers -12 or younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - correct answers -13 years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - correct answers -16 years old
True or False: Anyone age 13 or older can operate a powerboat that is operated by a trolling motor or
one horsepower or less or if the the boat is longer than 12 feet it must have less than ten horsepower -
correct answers -True
When should your navigation lights be on? - correct answers -Sunset to Sunrise or during the day if
visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - correct answers -Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - correct answers -Sunrise to Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - correct answers -Yes you have to go at slow speed
no wake
1
, Where is the best place to transfer gear from your vehicle to your boat before launching? - correct
answers -Away from the boat ramp. Preparation should be done away from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - correct answers -Yes, but you must go at
a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - correct answers -Slow speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area? (diamond with a cross) - correct
answers -NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? - correct answers -500 yards
away
If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be going? - correct answers -Slow, no
wake speed
If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? - correct answers -Be stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock? - correct
answers -200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock how fast should you go? -
correct answers -No wake speed, slow
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - correct answers -Nautical Chart
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Questions & Answers, Practice Exam & Study Guide
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - correct answers -12 or younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - correct answers -13 years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - correct answers -16 years old
True or False: Anyone age 13 or older can operate a powerboat that is operated by a trolling motor or
one horsepower or less or if the the boat is longer than 12 feet it must have less than ten horsepower -
correct answers -True
When should your navigation lights be on? - correct answers -Sunset to Sunrise or during the day if
visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - correct answers -Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - correct answers -Sunrise to Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - correct answers -Yes you have to go at slow speed
no wake
1
, Where is the best place to transfer gear from your vehicle to your boat before launching? - correct
answers -Away from the boat ramp. Preparation should be done away from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - correct answers -Yes, but you must go at
a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - correct answers -Slow speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area? (diamond with a cross) - correct
answers -NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? - correct answers -500 yards
away
If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be going? - correct answers -Slow, no
wake speed
If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? - correct answers -Be stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock? - correct
answers -200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock how fast should you go? -
correct answers -No wake speed, slow
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - correct answers -Nautical Chart
2
