2026 MISSOURI BOATING PRACTICE EXAMS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Measuring Length Overall - ✔✔A vessel's length overall dictates the equipment the
vessel must have to comply with federal and state laws. Length overall is measured
from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel. Bowsprits; rudders;
outboard motors and motor brackets; handles; and other fittings, attachments, and
extensions are not included in the measurement.
✔✔Length Overall - ✔✔Length of the hull excluding any attachments
✔✔Rudder - ✔✔Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near,
the stern of the boat
✔✔Class A - ✔✔Less than 16 feet
✔✔Class 1 - ✔✔16 feet to less than 26 feet
✔✔Class 2 - ✔✔26 feet to less than 40 feet
✔✔Class 3 - ✔✔40 feet to less than 65 feet
, ✔✔Outboard Engines - ✔✔Outboards have more power per pound of weight than do
inboard engines.
An outboard is a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear case, and
propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat.
A growing number of outboard engines are of four-stroke design, but many are still
conventional two-stroke engines that burn oil as a lubricant along with the fuel. New-
technology two-stroke outboards are direct-injection engines and burn over 75% cleaner
than conventional two-stroke outboards.
Steering of outboard boats is controlled by a tiller or steering wheel that swivels the
entire engine to direct propeller thrust.
✔✔Tiller - ✔✔Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
✔✔Transom - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull
✔✔What Is a Personal Watercraft? - ✔✔A PWC is 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.
✔✔What is considered a PWC? - ✔✔The U.S. Coast Guard includes personal
watercraft in the group of inboard vessels less than 16 feet in length.
✔✔What laws apply to PWCs? - ✔✔PWCs are subject to all of the same laws and
requirements of any other vessel plus a few laws specific to PWCs.
✔✔Jet drive - ✔✔Jet drives use an engine to power a strong water pump which sucks
up water and propels the PWC forward.Directing this jet steers the boat.
✔✔What is important to remember about PWCs? - ✔✔You need engine power to steer
and control them.
✔✔What do you need to know before you go out on a PWC? - ✔✔1. Read owners
manual
2. Watch manufacturers video
3. Keep it maintained
4. Know and understand all local, state and federal boating laws.
5. Know all PWC specific laws.
✔✔What are the three positions on a fuel selector switch and when should they be
used? - ✔✔On-when you are underway
Off-when the engine is off
Reserve- when you are out of fuel so you can get back to shore
✔✔Intake - ✔✔Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Measuring Length Overall - ✔✔A vessel's length overall dictates the equipment the
vessel must have to comply with federal and state laws. Length overall is measured
from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel. Bowsprits; rudders;
outboard motors and motor brackets; handles; and other fittings, attachments, and
extensions are not included in the measurement.
✔✔Length Overall - ✔✔Length of the hull excluding any attachments
✔✔Rudder - ✔✔Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near,
the stern of the boat
✔✔Class A - ✔✔Less than 16 feet
✔✔Class 1 - ✔✔16 feet to less than 26 feet
✔✔Class 2 - ✔✔26 feet to less than 40 feet
✔✔Class 3 - ✔✔40 feet to less than 65 feet
, ✔✔Outboard Engines - ✔✔Outboards have more power per pound of weight than do
inboard engines.
An outboard is a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear case, and
propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat.
A growing number of outboard engines are of four-stroke design, but many are still
conventional two-stroke engines that burn oil as a lubricant along with the fuel. New-
technology two-stroke outboards are direct-injection engines and burn over 75% cleaner
than conventional two-stroke outboards.
Steering of outboard boats is controlled by a tiller or steering wheel that swivels the
entire engine to direct propeller thrust.
✔✔Tiller - ✔✔Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
✔✔Transom - ✔✔Vertical surface at the back of the hull
✔✔What Is a Personal Watercraft? - ✔✔A PWC is 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.
✔✔What is considered a PWC? - ✔✔The U.S. Coast Guard includes personal
watercraft in the group of inboard vessels less than 16 feet in length.
✔✔What laws apply to PWCs? - ✔✔PWCs are subject to all of the same laws and
requirements of any other vessel plus a few laws specific to PWCs.
✔✔Jet drive - ✔✔Jet drives use an engine to power a strong water pump which sucks
up water and propels the PWC forward.Directing this jet steers the boat.
✔✔What is important to remember about PWCs? - ✔✔You need engine power to steer
and control them.
✔✔What do you need to know before you go out on a PWC? - ✔✔1. Read owners
manual
2. Watch manufacturers video
3. Keep it maintained
4. Know and understand all local, state and federal boating laws.
5. Know all PWC specific laws.
✔✔What are the three positions on a fuel selector switch and when should they be
used? - ✔✔On-when you are underway
Off-when the engine is off
Reserve- when you are out of fuel so you can get back to shore
✔✔Intake - ✔✔Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
