CALIFORNIA BOATING EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Which agency must receive a boating accident report within 10 days if an accident
involves more than $500 in damages? - ✔✔California Division of Boating and
Waterways
✔✔What is the minimum unsupervised age for operating a motorboat of more than 15
horsepower? - ✔✔16
✔✔When can a PWC be operated at night in California? - ✔✔Never
✔✔What should you do with your float plan when you return from boat outings? -
✔✔Cancel it
✔✔In US coastal waters, what colors are cone-shaped, even-numbered nun buoys? -
✔✔Red
✔✔Regulatory and informational markers are easily identified through which features? -
✔✔White color with orange geometric shapes
✔✔What is the main danger of teak surfing, body surfing or platform dragging? -
✔✔Exposure to lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide
✔✔If too much weight is placed on a hitch, what affect can it have on the tow vehicle? -
✔✔Front end will lift and make the vehicle difficult to control
✔✔Motorboats under 26-feet with installed fuel tank(s) are required to have which type
of fire extinguishers on-board? - ✔✔Type B
✔✔Which are Coast Guard approved visual distressed signals - ✔✔Red meteor flares
✔✔To stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species, when is the best time ti clean your
boat? - ✔✔When you get back home
✔✔What is a common first indicator of an approaching thunderstorm? - ✔✔Threatening
clouds such as thunderheads.
✔✔What do a red, green and white light indicate when seen together at night? - ✔✔It is
the stern side of another boat that you are overtaking
✔✔What is the cause of most fatal boating accidents? - ✔✔Operator error
, ✔✔You man not exceed 5 miles per hour when operating within how many feet of a
swimmer? - ✔✔200 feet
✔✔What is the main factor to consider when planning your vessel's approach to a dock
where you intend to tie up? - ✔✔Strength of the wind or current.
✔✔What should you do if your boat capsizes? - ✔✔Stay with the boat and climb on top
of it
✔✔Which is the the best precaution against carbon monoxide poisoning? - ✔✔Keep
fresh air flowing though the vessel
✔✔Which safety precaution should be taken first by a boater operator when boating in
stormy weather? - ✔✔Make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.
✔✔What is the main reason operators are involved with collisions with reefs/shoals or
submerged hazards? - ✔✔Did not check for local hazards prior to launch
✔✔Under the Department of Homeland Security, what actions should boat operators
take to ensure the safety of everyone on the nation's waterways? - ✔✔Report
suspicious activities to the proper authorities
✔✔What is a boat operator required to do at all times while the boat is underway? -
✔✔Maintain a proper lookout.
✔✔When can a Navigation Rule be overlooked? - ✔✔If necessary to avoid immediate
danger.
✔✔Maintaining a proper lookout using human sight and hearing apple's to boats under
what circumstances? - ✔✔All boats at all hours
✔✔According to the Navigation Rules, a risk of imminent collision exists in which
situation? - ✔✔The course of an approaching vessel does not change
✔✔Which is a characteristic of personal watercraft maneuverability? - ✔✔They allow for
little steering control at idle.
✔✔Which vessels must be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles?
- ✔✔Undocumented motorboats and sailboats more than 8 feet long
✔✔When is it good advice for adults to wear Coast Guard approved life jackets? -
✔✔When in bad weather
SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Which agency must receive a boating accident report within 10 days if an accident
involves more than $500 in damages? - ✔✔California Division of Boating and
Waterways
✔✔What is the minimum unsupervised age for operating a motorboat of more than 15
horsepower? - ✔✔16
✔✔When can a PWC be operated at night in California? - ✔✔Never
✔✔What should you do with your float plan when you return from boat outings? -
✔✔Cancel it
✔✔In US coastal waters, what colors are cone-shaped, even-numbered nun buoys? -
✔✔Red
✔✔Regulatory and informational markers are easily identified through which features? -
✔✔White color with orange geometric shapes
✔✔What is the main danger of teak surfing, body surfing or platform dragging? -
✔✔Exposure to lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide
✔✔If too much weight is placed on a hitch, what affect can it have on the tow vehicle? -
✔✔Front end will lift and make the vehicle difficult to control
✔✔Motorboats under 26-feet with installed fuel tank(s) are required to have which type
of fire extinguishers on-board? - ✔✔Type B
✔✔Which are Coast Guard approved visual distressed signals - ✔✔Red meteor flares
✔✔To stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species, when is the best time ti clean your
boat? - ✔✔When you get back home
✔✔What is a common first indicator of an approaching thunderstorm? - ✔✔Threatening
clouds such as thunderheads.
✔✔What do a red, green and white light indicate when seen together at night? - ✔✔It is
the stern side of another boat that you are overtaking
✔✔What is the cause of most fatal boating accidents? - ✔✔Operator error
, ✔✔You man not exceed 5 miles per hour when operating within how many feet of a
swimmer? - ✔✔200 feet
✔✔What is the main factor to consider when planning your vessel's approach to a dock
where you intend to tie up? - ✔✔Strength of the wind or current.
✔✔What should you do if your boat capsizes? - ✔✔Stay with the boat and climb on top
of it
✔✔Which is the the best precaution against carbon monoxide poisoning? - ✔✔Keep
fresh air flowing though the vessel
✔✔Which safety precaution should be taken first by a boater operator when boating in
stormy weather? - ✔✔Make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.
✔✔What is the main reason operators are involved with collisions with reefs/shoals or
submerged hazards? - ✔✔Did not check for local hazards prior to launch
✔✔Under the Department of Homeland Security, what actions should boat operators
take to ensure the safety of everyone on the nation's waterways? - ✔✔Report
suspicious activities to the proper authorities
✔✔What is a boat operator required to do at all times while the boat is underway? -
✔✔Maintain a proper lookout.
✔✔When can a Navigation Rule be overlooked? - ✔✔If necessary to avoid immediate
danger.
✔✔Maintaining a proper lookout using human sight and hearing apple's to boats under
what circumstances? - ✔✔All boats at all hours
✔✔According to the Navigation Rules, a risk of imminent collision exists in which
situation? - ✔✔The course of an approaching vessel does not change
✔✔Which is a characteristic of personal watercraft maneuverability? - ✔✔They allow for
little steering control at idle.
✔✔Which vessels must be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles?
- ✔✔Undocumented motorboats and sailboats more than 8 feet long
✔✔When is it good advice for adults to wear Coast Guard approved life jackets? -
✔✔When in bad weather
