MARYLAND BOATING STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔If you are driving a powerboat or PWC and meet another powerboat or PWC head-
on, you should turn to - ✔✔starboard
✔✔When two powerboats are meeting head-on, ___ is the stand-on vessel - ✔✔neither
of the boats
✔✔If you see a red and a white light ahead when boating at night, you should - ✔✔give
way to the other vessel
✔✔If you see only a green light while boating at night, you know that you are
encountering a - ✔✔sailboat and must give way
✔✔If you see only a white light while boating at night, you are ___ and you must give
way - ✔✔approaching an anchored vessel or overtaking another vessel
✔✔___ are the "traffic signals" that guide boaters safely along their course - ✔✔buoys
and markers
✔✔___ on lateral markers indicate the edge of the channel on your right side as a
boater heads upstream - ✔✔Red colors, red lights, and even numbers
✔✔This buoy indicates the edge of the channel on the ___ as a boater enters from the
open sea or heads upstream - ✔✔left side
✔✔A regulatory marker with an open diamond indicates a - ✔✔danger area
✔✔A regulatory marker with a diamond with an x indicates areas that are ___ to vessels
- ✔✔off-limits
✔✔A good rule of thumb is that the anchor line should be at least ___ times the depth of
the water - ✔✔5-10
✔✔You should never anchor from the ___ of the vessel as that can make the vessel
unstable - ✔✔stern
✔✔Operators of personal watercraft - ✔✔have requirements specific to them
✔✔In order to maintain steering control of a PWC, you must - ✔✔have power
, ✔✔As a courtesy to other boaters and people on shore, PWC operators should -
✔✔vary their operating area
✔✔Wake jumping and riding too close to other vessels are - ✔✔the most common
complaints other boaters have against PWC operators
✔✔A safety device that shuts the engine off if the operator is thrown from the proper
operating position is known as a - ✔✔ignition safety switch
✔✔The ___ is a number assigned and imprinted by the vessel manufacturer and is
unique to your vessel - ✔✔Hull Identification Number (HIN)
✔✔Allowing passengers on an open-bow to ___ while underway is unlawful operation -
✔✔sit on the bow or gunwale
✔✔If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit, it is illegal to -
✔✔ski behind a boat, operate a boat and operate a PWC
✔✔___ does not meet Connecticut requirements for an approved PFD on board for
each person on board or being towed - ✔✔Type IV: throwable device
✔✔Vessels 16 ft or longer are required to have one ___ U.S. Coast - ✔✔Type IV:
throwable device
✔✔In order for a PFD to be legal, it must be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and ___ -
✔✔readily accessible
✔✔PWC operators, no matter what age, must wear ___ whenever underway - ✔✔an
approved PFD
✔✔Powerboats less than 26 feet long that require a fire extinguisher must have a ___
extinguisher on board - ✔✔Type B
✔✔All vessels (including PWCs) are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher(s) on
board if - ✔✔the vessel has permanently installed fuel tanks, closed storage
compartments in which flammable materials may be stored or the vessel has closed
living spaces
✔✔It is recommended that you turn on your vessel's power ventilation system (if so
equipped) for at least ___ minutes after fueling and before starting the engine - ✔✔4
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔If you are driving a powerboat or PWC and meet another powerboat or PWC head-
on, you should turn to - ✔✔starboard
✔✔When two powerboats are meeting head-on, ___ is the stand-on vessel - ✔✔neither
of the boats
✔✔If you see a red and a white light ahead when boating at night, you should - ✔✔give
way to the other vessel
✔✔If you see only a green light while boating at night, you know that you are
encountering a - ✔✔sailboat and must give way
✔✔If you see only a white light while boating at night, you are ___ and you must give
way - ✔✔approaching an anchored vessel or overtaking another vessel
✔✔___ are the "traffic signals" that guide boaters safely along their course - ✔✔buoys
and markers
✔✔___ on lateral markers indicate the edge of the channel on your right side as a
boater heads upstream - ✔✔Red colors, red lights, and even numbers
✔✔This buoy indicates the edge of the channel on the ___ as a boater enters from the
open sea or heads upstream - ✔✔left side
✔✔A regulatory marker with an open diamond indicates a - ✔✔danger area
✔✔A regulatory marker with a diamond with an x indicates areas that are ___ to vessels
- ✔✔off-limits
✔✔A good rule of thumb is that the anchor line should be at least ___ times the depth of
the water - ✔✔5-10
✔✔You should never anchor from the ___ of the vessel as that can make the vessel
unstable - ✔✔stern
✔✔Operators of personal watercraft - ✔✔have requirements specific to them
✔✔In order to maintain steering control of a PWC, you must - ✔✔have power
, ✔✔As a courtesy to other boaters and people on shore, PWC operators should -
✔✔vary their operating area
✔✔Wake jumping and riding too close to other vessels are - ✔✔the most common
complaints other boaters have against PWC operators
✔✔A safety device that shuts the engine off if the operator is thrown from the proper
operating position is known as a - ✔✔ignition safety switch
✔✔The ___ is a number assigned and imprinted by the vessel manufacturer and is
unique to your vessel - ✔✔Hull Identification Number (HIN)
✔✔Allowing passengers on an open-bow to ___ while underway is unlawful operation -
✔✔sit on the bow or gunwale
✔✔If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit, it is illegal to -
✔✔ski behind a boat, operate a boat and operate a PWC
✔✔___ does not meet Connecticut requirements for an approved PFD on board for
each person on board or being towed - ✔✔Type IV: throwable device
✔✔Vessels 16 ft or longer are required to have one ___ U.S. Coast - ✔✔Type IV:
throwable device
✔✔In order for a PFD to be legal, it must be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and ___ -
✔✔readily accessible
✔✔PWC operators, no matter what age, must wear ___ whenever underway - ✔✔an
approved PFD
✔✔Powerboats less than 26 feet long that require a fire extinguisher must have a ___
extinguisher on board - ✔✔Type B
✔✔All vessels (including PWCs) are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher(s) on
board if - ✔✔the vessel has permanently installed fuel tanks, closed storage
compartments in which flammable materials may be stored or the vessel has closed
living spaces
✔✔It is recommended that you turn on your vessel's power ventilation system (if so
equipped) for at least ___ minutes after fueling and before starting the engine - ✔✔4
