NJ BOATING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - ANSWER-12 or younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - ANSWER-13 years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-True
When should your navigation lights be on? - ANSWER-Sunset to Sunrise or during the
day if visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - ANSWER-Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - ANSWER-Sunrise to Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - ANSWER-Yes you have to go at
slow speed no wake
Where is the best place to transfer gear from your vehicle to your boat before
launching? - ANSWER-Away from the boat ramp. Preparation should be done away
from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - ANSWER-Yes, but you
must go at a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - ANSWER-Slow speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area? (diamond with
a cross) - ANSWER-NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? - ANSWER-500
yards away
If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be going? -
ANSWER-Slow, no wake speed
, If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? - ANSWER-Be
stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina, pier, wharf, or
dock? - ANSWER-200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock how fast
should you go? - ANSWER-No wake speed, slow
What should you do after you run aground? - ANSWER-Check if everyone is okay,
check for leaks, turn the engine off, shift weight in the boat forward, raise the engine
and push yourself using a boat hook or an ore
Must you register boat every year? - ANSWER-Yes
Where are validation decals placed? - ANSWER-Next to the registration numbers on
both sides of the bow of the boat
Where are registration numbers located on a boat? - ANSWER-Both sides of the BOW
of the boat
What is located on the starboard side of the stern or transom of your boat? - ANSWER-
HULL identification number
What is a mandatory Coast Guard requirement that you must have on your boat in
federally controlled waters? - ANSWER-Approved visual distress signals
What are approved visual distress signals? - ANSWER-Flare, SOS light, red meteors,
or distress flags
What is required on all boats? - ANSWER-Life jackets, fire extinguishers, whistle, horn
How fast should you go when approaching a dock? - ANSWER-Slow speed
Should you go towards or away from the current or wind when docking your boat? -
ANSWER-AGAINST the wind or current
What should you do before you fuel your boat? - ANSWER-1. Get everyone off the boat
2. Make sure everything is turned off including all electrical equipment
3. Close all windows, doors, ports, and openings
4. Remove portable fuel tanks from the boat and fill them on the dock
5. Make sure fire extinguisher is handy
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - ANSWER-Nautical Chart
ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - ANSWER-12 or younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - ANSWER-13 years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-True
When should your navigation lights be on? - ANSWER-Sunset to Sunrise or during the
day if visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - ANSWER-Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - ANSWER-Sunrise to Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - ANSWER-Yes you have to go at
slow speed no wake
Where is the best place to transfer gear from your vehicle to your boat before
launching? - ANSWER-Away from the boat ramp. Preparation should be done away
from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - ANSWER-Yes, but you
must go at a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - ANSWER-Slow speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area? (diamond with
a cross) - ANSWER-NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? - ANSWER-500
yards away
If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be going? -
ANSWER-Slow, no wake speed
, If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? - ANSWER-Be
stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina, pier, wharf, or
dock? - ANSWER-200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock how fast
should you go? - ANSWER-No wake speed, slow
What should you do after you run aground? - ANSWER-Check if everyone is okay,
check for leaks, turn the engine off, shift weight in the boat forward, raise the engine
and push yourself using a boat hook or an ore
Must you register boat every year? - ANSWER-Yes
Where are validation decals placed? - ANSWER-Next to the registration numbers on
both sides of the bow of the boat
Where are registration numbers located on a boat? - ANSWER-Both sides of the BOW
of the boat
What is located on the starboard side of the stern or transom of your boat? - ANSWER-
HULL identification number
What is a mandatory Coast Guard requirement that you must have on your boat in
federally controlled waters? - ANSWER-Approved visual distress signals
What are approved visual distress signals? - ANSWER-Flare, SOS light, red meteors,
or distress flags
What is required on all boats? - ANSWER-Life jackets, fire extinguishers, whistle, horn
How fast should you go when approaching a dock? - ANSWER-Slow speed
Should you go towards or away from the current or wind when docking your boat? -
ANSWER-AGAINST the wind or current
What should you do before you fuel your boat? - ANSWER-1. Get everyone off the boat
2. Make sure everything is turned off including all electrical equipment
3. Close all windows, doors, ports, and openings
4. Remove portable fuel tanks from the boat and fill them on the dock
5. Make sure fire extinguisher is handy
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - ANSWER-Nautical Chart
