Boaters Safety - Practice Exam Questions and Answers with Verified
Solutions | Latest 2026 Update
Q: A boat's capacity plate gives the maximum weight and/or number of people
the boat can carry safely in certain weather conditions. What are these
conditions?
rainy weather
weather with winds up to 76 knots weather with winds up to 154 knots good
weather
Answer:
good weather
Q: You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in
the plan?
your boat's horsepower rating
onboard location of food and cooking utensils names and addresses of your
passengers
chart showing planing speed vs. fuel use
Answer:
names and addresses of your passengers
Q: What should you do with your float plan for a weekend water outing?
Mail it to your home address.
Stow it with the boat's registration papers. Fax it to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard
station.
Leave it with a friend or relative.
Answer:
Leave it with a friend or relative.
Q: Where should portable gasoline fuel tanks be filled?
in the boat's cabin
in the boat's cockpit on the dock
on the gunwale
Answer:
on the dock
,Q: Which fueling practice is safe?
fueling your boat at night when it is cooler filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel
dock
turning on the boat's ventilation system while fueling
opening all windows, ports, doors, and other openings before fueling
Answer:
filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
Q: What factor determines a boat's required equipment?
storage capacity rate of speed fuel tank weight
length of boat
Answer:
length of boat
Q: What is the problem with using your boat's engine to drive it onto a trailer?
You may break the winch cable. You may damage the engine.
The boat's forward motion can disconnect the trailer lights.
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
Answer:
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
Q: How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?
Leave a little empty space in the tank. Fill the tank all the way up.
Tip the PWC to top off the fuel tank.
Overfill slightly to avoid any air pocket.
Answer:
Leave a little empty space in the tank.
Q: When moored to a dock, what should you do before casting off while you
warm up the engine?
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Use an oar or boat hook to keep the boat moving in the water. Shift into forward
gear.
Raise the engine out of the water.
, Answer:
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Q: Which side of a boat has a green light at night?
gunwale starboard (right) stern
keel
Answer:
starboard (right)
Q: Which vessel should display yellow lights when towing?
PWC
sailboat ski boat
commercial vessel
Answer:
commercial vessel
Q: You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible
to boats approaching from which direction(s)?
head-on only port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind
Answer:
head-on and starboard (right)
Q: You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on
another boat. What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way. A
sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel.
Answer:
You must give way to the other vessel.
Q: What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
Solutions | Latest 2026 Update
Q: A boat's capacity plate gives the maximum weight and/or number of people
the boat can carry safely in certain weather conditions. What are these
conditions?
rainy weather
weather with winds up to 76 knots weather with winds up to 154 knots good
weather
Answer:
good weather
Q: You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in
the plan?
your boat's horsepower rating
onboard location of food and cooking utensils names and addresses of your
passengers
chart showing planing speed vs. fuel use
Answer:
names and addresses of your passengers
Q: What should you do with your float plan for a weekend water outing?
Mail it to your home address.
Stow it with the boat's registration papers. Fax it to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard
station.
Leave it with a friend or relative.
Answer:
Leave it with a friend or relative.
Q: Where should portable gasoline fuel tanks be filled?
in the boat's cabin
in the boat's cockpit on the dock
on the gunwale
Answer:
on the dock
,Q: Which fueling practice is safe?
fueling your boat at night when it is cooler filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel
dock
turning on the boat's ventilation system while fueling
opening all windows, ports, doors, and other openings before fueling
Answer:
filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
Q: What factor determines a boat's required equipment?
storage capacity rate of speed fuel tank weight
length of boat
Answer:
length of boat
Q: What is the problem with using your boat's engine to drive it onto a trailer?
You may break the winch cable. You may damage the engine.
The boat's forward motion can disconnect the trailer lights.
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
Answer:
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
Q: How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?
Leave a little empty space in the tank. Fill the tank all the way up.
Tip the PWC to top off the fuel tank.
Overfill slightly to avoid any air pocket.
Answer:
Leave a little empty space in the tank.
Q: When moored to a dock, what should you do before casting off while you
warm up the engine?
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Use an oar or boat hook to keep the boat moving in the water. Shift into forward
gear.
Raise the engine out of the water.
, Answer:
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Q: Which side of a boat has a green light at night?
gunwale starboard (right) stern
keel
Answer:
starboard (right)
Q: Which vessel should display yellow lights when towing?
PWC
sailboat ski boat
commercial vessel
Answer:
commercial vessel
Q: You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible
to boats approaching from which direction(s)?
head-on only port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind
Answer:
head-on and starboard (right)
Q: You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on
another boat. What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way. A
sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel.
Answer:
You must give way to the other vessel.
Q: What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
