Massachusetts Boating Test 2025-2026 –
Complete Verified Questions and Answers
with Explanations
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
| | |
You should never anchor from the
| | | | | | of the vessel as that can
| | | | |
make the vessel unstable. --- correct answer ---Stern
| | | | | | | |
To maintain steering control of a PWC, you must never allow the
| | | | | | | | | | |
engine to
| | | or | . --- correct answer ---Return to idle or shut off
| | | | | | | | |
,The most common complaints boaters have against PWC operators
| | | | | | | |
are
| | and | . --- correct answer ---Wake jumping and riding too
| | | | | | | |
close
|
As a courtesy to other boaters and people on shore, PWC operators
| | | | | | | | | | |
should
| | the operating area. --- correct answer ---Vary
| | | | | |
Name a safety device that shuts the engine off if the operator is
| | | | | | | | | | | |
thrown from the proper operating position. --- correct answer ---
| | | | | | | | | |
| Emergency Ignition Safety Switch | | |
To avoid propeller strike accidents, make sure
| | | | | | | when passengers |
are boarding or disembarking a boat. --- correct answer ---The
| | | | | | | | | |
engine is shut off
| | | |
The | is a number assigned and imprinted by the vessel
| | | | | | | |
manufacturer and is unique to your vessel. --- correct answer ---
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Hull Identification Number
| |
Allowing passengers to ride on the | | | | | | or | while underway is | |
reckless operation. --- correct answer ---Bow or gunwale
| | | | | | | |
If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit, it
| | | | | | | | | | |
is illegal to
| | | | a vessel. --- correct answer ---Operate
| | | | |
,In order for a PFD to be legal, it must be
| | | | | | | | | | | -approved, in | |
condition, and
| | | accessible. --- correct answer ---U.S. Coast | | | | |
Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and readily
| | | | | | | | |
accessible
|
Name the five types of PFDs. --- correct answer ---I) Offshore life
| | | | | | | | | | |
Jacket
|
II) Near-shore Vest |
III) Flotation aid |
IV) Throwable device |
V) Special-use device |
These Type | | PFDs are | | devices, and most states require at
| | | | |
least one of these to be on board vessels 16 feet in length or longer.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--- correct answer ---Type IV PFDs are throwable devices
| | | | | | | |
PWC operations, no matter what age, must wear an approved
| | | | | | | | | |
whenever underway. --- correct answer ---Personal Flotation
| | | | | | |
Device (PFD)
| |
Fire extinguishers should be placed in an area that is
| | | | | | | | | | and not |
near the
| | | . --- correct answer ---Accessible and not near the
| | | | | | | |
engine
|
, It is recommended that you wait at least
| | | | | | | | minutes after turning | |
on your vessel's blower (if so equipped) and before starting your
| | | | | | | | | | |
engine. --- correct answer ---Four
| | | | |
For an 18-foot-powerboat, required navigation lights include a red
| | | | | | | |
light on the
| | | | , a green light on the
| | | | | | , and | | . --- correct
| |
| answer ---Red light on the port (left), a green light on the starboard
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(right), and a white light
| | | | |
A 16-foot canoe away from dock after dark must have on hand at
| | | | | | | | | | | |
least a
| | | or | . --- correct answer ---Flashlight or lantern
| | | | | |
Name two visual distress signals (VDSs) for use at night. --- correct
| | | | | | | | | | |
| answer ---I) Red flares | | |
II) Red meteors |
III) Electric Light |
Describe the appearance of a divers flag. --- correct answer ---Red
| | | | | | | | | |
flag with white diagonal stripe
| | | | |
If an observer is on board when pulling a skier behind a vessel, the
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
vessel should be rated to carry at least
| | | | | | | | | people. --- correct | |
| answer ---Three |
Complete Verified Questions and Answers
with Explanations
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
| | |
You should never anchor from the
| | | | | | of the vessel as that can
| | | | |
make the vessel unstable. --- correct answer ---Stern
| | | | | | | |
To maintain steering control of a PWC, you must never allow the
| | | | | | | | | | |
engine to
| | | or | . --- correct answer ---Return to idle or shut off
| | | | | | | | |
,The most common complaints boaters have against PWC operators
| | | | | | | |
are
| | and | . --- correct answer ---Wake jumping and riding too
| | | | | | | |
close
|
As a courtesy to other boaters and people on shore, PWC operators
| | | | | | | | | | |
should
| | the operating area. --- correct answer ---Vary
| | | | | |
Name a safety device that shuts the engine off if the operator is
| | | | | | | | | | | |
thrown from the proper operating position. --- correct answer ---
| | | | | | | | | |
| Emergency Ignition Safety Switch | | |
To avoid propeller strike accidents, make sure
| | | | | | | when passengers |
are boarding or disembarking a boat. --- correct answer ---The
| | | | | | | | | |
engine is shut off
| | | |
The | is a number assigned and imprinted by the vessel
| | | | | | | |
manufacturer and is unique to your vessel. --- correct answer ---
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Hull Identification Number
| |
Allowing passengers to ride on the | | | | | | or | while underway is | |
reckless operation. --- correct answer ---Bow or gunwale
| | | | | | | |
If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above the legal limit, it
| | | | | | | | | | |
is illegal to
| | | | a vessel. --- correct answer ---Operate
| | | | |
,In order for a PFD to be legal, it must be
| | | | | | | | | | | -approved, in | |
condition, and
| | | accessible. --- correct answer ---U.S. Coast | | | | |
Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and readily
| | | | | | | | |
accessible
|
Name the five types of PFDs. --- correct answer ---I) Offshore life
| | | | | | | | | | |
Jacket
|
II) Near-shore Vest |
III) Flotation aid |
IV) Throwable device |
V) Special-use device |
These Type | | PFDs are | | devices, and most states require at
| | | | |
least one of these to be on board vessels 16 feet in length or longer.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--- correct answer ---Type IV PFDs are throwable devices
| | | | | | | |
PWC operations, no matter what age, must wear an approved
| | | | | | | | | |
whenever underway. --- correct answer ---Personal Flotation
| | | | | | |
Device (PFD)
| |
Fire extinguishers should be placed in an area that is
| | | | | | | | | | and not |
near the
| | | . --- correct answer ---Accessible and not near the
| | | | | | | |
engine
|
, It is recommended that you wait at least
| | | | | | | | minutes after turning | |
on your vessel's blower (if so equipped) and before starting your
| | | | | | | | | | |
engine. --- correct answer ---Four
| | | | |
For an 18-foot-powerboat, required navigation lights include a red
| | | | | | | |
light on the
| | | | , a green light on the
| | | | | | , and | | . --- correct
| |
| answer ---Red light on the port (left), a green light on the starboard
| | | | | | | | | | | |
(right), and a white light
| | | | |
A 16-foot canoe away from dock after dark must have on hand at
| | | | | | | | | | | |
least a
| | | or | . --- correct answer ---Flashlight or lantern
| | | | | |
Name two visual distress signals (VDSs) for use at night. --- correct
| | | | | | | | | | |
| answer ---I) Red flares | | |
II) Red meteors |
III) Electric Light |
Describe the appearance of a divers flag. --- correct answer ---Red
| | | | | | | | | |
flag with white diagonal stripe
| | | | |
If an observer is on board when pulling a skier behind a vessel, the
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
vessel should be rated to carry at least
| | | | | | | | | people. --- correct | |
| answer ---Three |
