2026|2027 Maryland Boating Actual) Exam
Questions and Answers
A boat operator should never... - ANSWER-Take a boat on the water with excess
people or excess gear.
At what water depth does a PWC have to slow down to minimum wake speed? -
ANSWER-18 inches
Do sound-producing devices need to be Coast Guard approved? - ANSWER-No
How long should you run your power ventilation system (if you have one)? -
ANSWER-Four Minutes or more.
How many people does a vessel, who is water-skiing or towing another object,
need? - ANSWER-At least three: The Captain, and Observer, and the person being
towed. The two formers must be at least twelve years old.
How many PFDs do you need on board? - ANSWER-You need a PFD for each
person, and a throwable PFD (Type IV)
How many VDS are required on board? - ANSWER-Three for both night and day.
Could be six, or three.
How much alcohol does it take to get drunk on water, when compared to the
amount on land? - ANSWER-1/3.
How old does a captain need to be when towing someone, and what do they need
to have? - ANSWER-12 years old with a boaters safety certificate
How old must you be to operate a PWC? - ANSWER-16 (even with a Boating
License)
How should the safety chains be to support the trailer's coupler? - ANSWER-
Crisscrossed
How would an observer sit on a PWC? - ANSWER-With their back against the
captain, facing the person being towed.
If you see a white buoy with orange horizontal stripes and a cross inside a
diamond, what is it communicating - ANSWER-Boat exclusion area
In a crossing situation at night, between a sailboat and powerboat, who is the stand
on boat? - ANSWER-The sailboat.
, In a crossing situation, what boat is giveaway? - ANSWER-The boat on the left is
the giveaway vessel. The boat on the right has the right of way.
In an overtaking situation, what vessel is the stand on vessel? - ANSWER-The
vessel in the front
In water skiing, how old should the captain and observer be? - ANSWER-They both
must be twelve
Low-head dams. - ANSWER-Avoid low-head dams. They might not seem dangerous
at a distance, or easily spotted, because of their size. However, they can pull you
under and, in the circular motion they produce, cause you to drown.
The noise and vibration of a boat... - ANSWER-Make people tire more easily.
What are red buoys called? - ANSWER-Nun buoys
What are the requirements for a PFD? - ANSWER-They must be in good condition,
the proper size, and must be easily accessible.
What are Type IV PFDs - ANSWER-They are PFDs designed to be thrown to
someone in distress. Not designed to be worn.
What are VDS classified as? - ANSWER-Day Signals, night signals, or both.
What causes half of boat fatalities? - ANSWER-Falling overboard and capsizing
boats, even in fair conditions.
What color must VDS smoke be? - ANSWER-Orange.
What determines the boat's length? - ANSWER-Measured from the tip of the bow to
the stern of the vessel
What dictates the equipment the vessel must have? - ANSWER-The vessel's overall
length.
What do all PWCs need on board? - ANSWER-A PFD for every passanger, a fire
extinguisher, and a sound producing device.
What do Gasoline inboards need? - ANSWER-A Backfire flame arrestor
What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
ANSWER-A sound-producing device.
What does it mean if, at night, you see a red, green, and a white light? - ANSWER-
You are approaching another vessel head on and you must give way.
Questions and Answers
A boat operator should never... - ANSWER-Take a boat on the water with excess
people or excess gear.
At what water depth does a PWC have to slow down to minimum wake speed? -
ANSWER-18 inches
Do sound-producing devices need to be Coast Guard approved? - ANSWER-No
How long should you run your power ventilation system (if you have one)? -
ANSWER-Four Minutes or more.
How many people does a vessel, who is water-skiing or towing another object,
need? - ANSWER-At least three: The Captain, and Observer, and the person being
towed. The two formers must be at least twelve years old.
How many PFDs do you need on board? - ANSWER-You need a PFD for each
person, and a throwable PFD (Type IV)
How many VDS are required on board? - ANSWER-Three for both night and day.
Could be six, or three.
How much alcohol does it take to get drunk on water, when compared to the
amount on land? - ANSWER-1/3.
How old does a captain need to be when towing someone, and what do they need
to have? - ANSWER-12 years old with a boaters safety certificate
How old must you be to operate a PWC? - ANSWER-16 (even with a Boating
License)
How should the safety chains be to support the trailer's coupler? - ANSWER-
Crisscrossed
How would an observer sit on a PWC? - ANSWER-With their back against the
captain, facing the person being towed.
If you see a white buoy with orange horizontal stripes and a cross inside a
diamond, what is it communicating - ANSWER-Boat exclusion area
In a crossing situation at night, between a sailboat and powerboat, who is the stand
on boat? - ANSWER-The sailboat.
, In a crossing situation, what boat is giveaway? - ANSWER-The boat on the left is
the giveaway vessel. The boat on the right has the right of way.
In an overtaking situation, what vessel is the stand on vessel? - ANSWER-The
vessel in the front
In water skiing, how old should the captain and observer be? - ANSWER-They both
must be twelve
Low-head dams. - ANSWER-Avoid low-head dams. They might not seem dangerous
at a distance, or easily spotted, because of their size. However, they can pull you
under and, in the circular motion they produce, cause you to drown.
The noise and vibration of a boat... - ANSWER-Make people tire more easily.
What are red buoys called? - ANSWER-Nun buoys
What are the requirements for a PFD? - ANSWER-They must be in good condition,
the proper size, and must be easily accessible.
What are Type IV PFDs - ANSWER-They are PFDs designed to be thrown to
someone in distress. Not designed to be worn.
What are VDS classified as? - ANSWER-Day Signals, night signals, or both.
What causes half of boat fatalities? - ANSWER-Falling overboard and capsizing
boats, even in fair conditions.
What color must VDS smoke be? - ANSWER-Orange.
What determines the boat's length? - ANSWER-Measured from the tip of the bow to
the stern of the vessel
What dictates the equipment the vessel must have? - ANSWER-The vessel's overall
length.
What do all PWCs need on board? - ANSWER-A PFD for every passanger, a fire
extinguisher, and a sound producing device.
What do Gasoline inboards need? - ANSWER-A Backfire flame arrestor
What do vessels on state and federal controlled waters require to communicate? -
ANSWER-A sound-producing device.
What does it mean if, at night, you see a red, green, and a white light? - ANSWER-
You are approaching another vessel head on and you must give way.
