MISSOURI BOATING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔You are operating a motorboat. You hear one prolonged blast from the horn of
another vessel. What should you do? - ✔✔Look out for the other vessel.
✔✔How long should your anchor line be? - ✔✔7 to 10 times the depth of the water
✔✔What is the main function of an ignition safety switch? - ✔✔to shut off the engine if
the operator is thrown overboard
✔✔What information would you find on a nautical chart of a harbor? - ✔✔water depth
✔✔What do lateral markers indicate? - ✔✔the edges of safe water areas
✔✔You see a white buoy with a blue band. What type of buoy is this? - ✔✔mooring
buoy
✔✔You see a white marker with an orange diamond and black lettering. What does this
marker tell you? - ✔✔danger or hazard
✔✔You see a white marker with an orange crossed diamond and black lettering. What
does this marker tell you? - ✔✔keep out
✔✔Which statement about PWCs is true? - ✔✔PWCs are subject to all boating laws,
plus a few laws specific to PWCs.
✔✔What is the most important thing to remember about steering a PWC? - ✔✔You lose
all steering control when the engine is idling or shut off.
✔✔The motor on a PWC is running. Which part of the PWC can cause severe internal
injuries? - ✔✔steering nozzle
✔✔An inboard engine backfires. What will prevent the ignition of gasoline fumes? -
✔✔backfire flame arrestor
✔✔What is the main advantage of a Type IV PFD? - ✔✔It is designed to be thrown to
someone in trouble.
✔✔What can you do to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species from one
waterway to another? - ✔✔Drain your live well and bilge on the ramp before leaving a
waterway area.
, ✔✔You are in a boating accident, and someone is injured. How quickly must you file an
accident report? - ✔✔within 48 hours
✔✔What is the minimum age in Missouri to operate a motorboat or PWC alone? - ✔✔14
years of age
✔✔Which of the following accurately describes the two types of diver-down flags? -
✔✔a blue-and-white flag or a rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe
✔✔According to Missouri law, who must wear a U.S. Coast GuardÐapproved life
jacket? - ✔✔a person riding as a passenger on a PWC
✔✔What must be displayed on both sides of the bow of a registered vessel? -
✔✔registration number
✔✔You are operating a PWC in an area where swimmers are in the water. When must
you slow your PWC to "slow, no wake" speed? - ✔✔when you are within 50 feet of the
swimmer
✔✔When are you required to operate a motorboat or PWC at 30 miles per hour or less?
- ✔✔between one-half hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise
✔✔What is the best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning while boating? -
✔✔Keep fresh air flowing through the boat.
✔✔Stage 2 (short-term swim failure) occurs 3-30 minutes following immersion in cold
water. What happens during Stage 2 of cold water immersion? - ✔✔You lose manual
dexterity, strength, and speed of movement.
✔✔Who is responsible for keeping a sharp watch to avoid a collision between two
boats? - ✔✔the operators of both boats
✔✔A passenger on your boat falls overboard. What should you do while this person is
being pulled back into the boat? - ✔✔Stop the engine.
✔✔What should you do if a fire breaks out in the back of your boat? - ✔✔Head the boat
into the wind.
✔✔How does alcohol affect you when you are operating a boat? - ✔✔makes it more
likely that you will have an accident
✔✔How do noise and vibration affect you when operating a boat? - ✔✔They make you
tire more rapidly.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+ TIP
✔✔You are operating a motorboat. You hear one prolonged blast from the horn of
another vessel. What should you do? - ✔✔Look out for the other vessel.
✔✔How long should your anchor line be? - ✔✔7 to 10 times the depth of the water
✔✔What is the main function of an ignition safety switch? - ✔✔to shut off the engine if
the operator is thrown overboard
✔✔What information would you find on a nautical chart of a harbor? - ✔✔water depth
✔✔What do lateral markers indicate? - ✔✔the edges of safe water areas
✔✔You see a white buoy with a blue band. What type of buoy is this? - ✔✔mooring
buoy
✔✔You see a white marker with an orange diamond and black lettering. What does this
marker tell you? - ✔✔danger or hazard
✔✔You see a white marker with an orange crossed diamond and black lettering. What
does this marker tell you? - ✔✔keep out
✔✔Which statement about PWCs is true? - ✔✔PWCs are subject to all boating laws,
plus a few laws specific to PWCs.
✔✔What is the most important thing to remember about steering a PWC? - ✔✔You lose
all steering control when the engine is idling or shut off.
✔✔The motor on a PWC is running. Which part of the PWC can cause severe internal
injuries? - ✔✔steering nozzle
✔✔An inboard engine backfires. What will prevent the ignition of gasoline fumes? -
✔✔backfire flame arrestor
✔✔What is the main advantage of a Type IV PFD? - ✔✔It is designed to be thrown to
someone in trouble.
✔✔What can you do to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species from one
waterway to another? - ✔✔Drain your live well and bilge on the ramp before leaving a
waterway area.
, ✔✔You are in a boating accident, and someone is injured. How quickly must you file an
accident report? - ✔✔within 48 hours
✔✔What is the minimum age in Missouri to operate a motorboat or PWC alone? - ✔✔14
years of age
✔✔Which of the following accurately describes the two types of diver-down flags? -
✔✔a blue-and-white flag or a rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe
✔✔According to Missouri law, who must wear a U.S. Coast GuardÐapproved life
jacket? - ✔✔a person riding as a passenger on a PWC
✔✔What must be displayed on both sides of the bow of a registered vessel? -
✔✔registration number
✔✔You are operating a PWC in an area where swimmers are in the water. When must
you slow your PWC to "slow, no wake" speed? - ✔✔when you are within 50 feet of the
swimmer
✔✔When are you required to operate a motorboat or PWC at 30 miles per hour or less?
- ✔✔between one-half hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise
✔✔What is the best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning while boating? -
✔✔Keep fresh air flowing through the boat.
✔✔Stage 2 (short-term swim failure) occurs 3-30 minutes following immersion in cold
water. What happens during Stage 2 of cold water immersion? - ✔✔You lose manual
dexterity, strength, and speed of movement.
✔✔Who is responsible for keeping a sharp watch to avoid a collision between two
boats? - ✔✔the operators of both boats
✔✔A passenger on your boat falls overboard. What should you do while this person is
being pulled back into the boat? - ✔✔Stop the engine.
✔✔What should you do if a fire breaks out in the back of your boat? - ✔✔Head the boat
into the wind.
✔✔How does alcohol affect you when you are operating a boat? - ✔✔makes it more
likely that you will have an accident
✔✔How do noise and vibration affect you when operating a boat? - ✔✔They make you
tire more rapidly.
