2026 MISSOURI BOATING TEST PAPER ALL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Sailing Vessel - ✔✔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 - ✔✔Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground.
✔✔Risk of collision - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔In the direction that is against the current
,✔✔Guards - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Right
remember the phrase Red Right Returning.
✔✔Propulsion - ✔✔Devices other than a propeller such as jet drives and pump jets.
✔✔Interlocks - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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? - ✔✔The left side and it has an odd
number.
✔✔Can Buoys - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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.
✔✔Lighted Buoys - ✔✔These buoys use the lateral marker shapes, colors, and
numbers discussed previously. In addition, they have a matching colored light.
✔✔Day marks - ✔✔These are permanently placed signs attached to structures, such as
posts, in the water. Common daymarks are red triangles (equivalent to nuns) and green
squares (equivalent to cans). These may be lit.
✔✔What side should the yellow triangle buoy be on? - ✔✔Any marker displaying a
yellow triangle should be passed by keeping it on the starboard (right) side of the boat.
Any marker displaying a yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the port (left)
side of the boat.
✔✔What side should the yellow square buoy be on? - ✔✔Any marker displaying a
yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the port (left) side of the boat.
✔✔What does the square buoy be used for? - ✔✔icon for directions and information.
, ✔✔What does the diamond buoy be used for? - ✔✔Diamond buoy icon warning of
danger.
Warn of hazards and obstructions.
✔✔What does the circular buoy be used for? - ✔✔icon for marking controlled areas.
✔✔What does the circle buoy be used for? - ✔✔Mark controlled areas.
✔✔What does the crossed diamond buoy be used for? - ✔✔Mark exclusion (closed)
areas.
✔✔Common Non- Lateral Markers (Information.) - ✔✔Squares provide information such
as places to find food, supplies, and repairs; and they give directions, distances, and
other non-regulatory information.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Information (Danger Area). - ✔✔Diamonds warn of dangers
such as rocks, shoals, construction, dams, or stumps. Always proceed with caution and
keep a safe distance. Never assume that every hazard will be marked by a buoy.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Danger (Controlled Area.) - ✔✔Circles indicates a controlled
area such as "no wake," "idle speed," speed limit, or ski zone.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Prohibited (Exclusion Area). - ✔✔Crossed diamonds indicate
areas off-limits to all boats, such as swimming areas, dams, and spillways.
✔✔Safe Water Marker - ✔✔These are white with red vertical stripes and indicate
unobstructed water on all sides. They mark mid-channels or fairways and may be
passed on either side.
✔✔Mooring Buoy - ✔✔These are white with a blue horizontal band. They usually are
placed in marinas and other areas where boats are allowed to anchor. These are the
only buoys you may tie up to legally.
✔✔Inland Waters Obstruction Marker - ✔✔These are white with black vertical stripes
and indicate an obstruction to navigation. You should not pass between these buoys
and the nearest shore.
✔✔The Plow- Style Anchor - ✔✔Is good for most boats and gets its holding power by
plowing into bottom sediment.
✔✔The Fluke- Style Anchor - ✔✔(commonly referred to as Danforth) is similar to the
plow style but is more lightweight. It is also good for most boats and gets its holding
power from its pointed flukes digging into bottom sediment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Sailing Vessel - ✔✔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 - ✔✔Not anchored, tied to shore, or aground.
✔✔Risk of collision - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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 - ✔✔In the direction that is against the current
,✔✔Guards - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Right
remember the phrase Red Right Returning.
✔✔Propulsion - ✔✔Devices other than a propeller such as jet drives and pump jets.
✔✔Interlocks - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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? - ✔✔The left side and it has an odd
number.
✔✔Can Buoys - ✔✔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 - ✔✔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.
✔✔Lighted Buoys - ✔✔These buoys use the lateral marker shapes, colors, and
numbers discussed previously. In addition, they have a matching colored light.
✔✔Day marks - ✔✔These are permanently placed signs attached to structures, such as
posts, in the water. Common daymarks are red triangles (equivalent to nuns) and green
squares (equivalent to cans). These may be lit.
✔✔What side should the yellow triangle buoy be on? - ✔✔Any marker displaying a
yellow triangle should be passed by keeping it on the starboard (right) side of the boat.
Any marker displaying a yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the port (left)
side of the boat.
✔✔What side should the yellow square buoy be on? - ✔✔Any marker displaying a
yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the port (left) side of the boat.
✔✔What does the square buoy be used for? - ✔✔icon for directions and information.
, ✔✔What does the diamond buoy be used for? - ✔✔Diamond buoy icon warning of
danger.
Warn of hazards and obstructions.
✔✔What does the circular buoy be used for? - ✔✔icon for marking controlled areas.
✔✔What does the circle buoy be used for? - ✔✔Mark controlled areas.
✔✔What does the crossed diamond buoy be used for? - ✔✔Mark exclusion (closed)
areas.
✔✔Common Non- Lateral Markers (Information.) - ✔✔Squares provide information such
as places to find food, supplies, and repairs; and they give directions, distances, and
other non-regulatory information.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Information (Danger Area). - ✔✔Diamonds warn of dangers
such as rocks, shoals, construction, dams, or stumps. Always proceed with caution and
keep a safe distance. Never assume that every hazard will be marked by a buoy.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Danger (Controlled Area.) - ✔✔Circles indicates a controlled
area such as "no wake," "idle speed," speed limit, or ski zone.
✔✔Regulatory Marker- Prohibited (Exclusion Area). - ✔✔Crossed diamonds indicate
areas off-limits to all boats, such as swimming areas, dams, and spillways.
✔✔Safe Water Marker - ✔✔These are white with red vertical stripes and indicate
unobstructed water on all sides. They mark mid-channels or fairways and may be
passed on either side.
✔✔Mooring Buoy - ✔✔These are white with a blue horizontal band. They usually are
placed in marinas and other areas where boats are allowed to anchor. These are the
only buoys you may tie up to legally.
✔✔Inland Waters Obstruction Marker - ✔✔These are white with black vertical stripes
and indicate an obstruction to navigation. You should not pass between these buoys
and the nearest shore.
✔✔The Plow- Style Anchor - ✔✔Is good for most boats and gets its holding power by
plowing into bottom sediment.
✔✔The Fluke- Style Anchor - ✔✔(commonly referred to as Danforth) is similar to the
plow style but is more lightweight. It is also good for most boats and gets its holding
power from its pointed flukes digging into bottom sediment.
