USCG AUXILIARY INSTRUCTOR PQS
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ 4.3.2 Starboard Sidelight. Answer: Green; 112.5 deg
◉ 4.3.3 Stern Light. Answer: White; 135 deg
◉ 4.3.4 Masthead/Steaming Light. Answer: White; 225 deg (above
the sidelights)
◉ 4.3.5 Anchor Light. Answer: White; 360 degrees
◉ 4.3.6 Small Boat Combination Light. Answer: Red, Green, and
White light; 360 degrees
◉ 4.3.7 State when boats are required to display navigational lights.
Answer: 1. Between sunrise and sunset
2. Any time there is limited visability
◉ 4.4.1 Identified Short Blast and its duration. Answer: About 1
second
,◉ 4.4.2 Identified Prolonged Blast and its duration. Answer: About
4-6 seconds
◉ 4.4.3 Identified the danger signal and when its used. Answer: 5
short blasts; Danger/Don't Understand
◉ 4.5.1 Name six of the 17 accepted maritime distress signals.
Answer: 1. Mayday radio broadcast
2. Signaling mirror
3. Signal whistle
4. November code flag over Charlie code flag
5. Continuous fog horn
6. SOS - Morse code
7. Gun fired at 1 minute intervals
8. High-intensity white flashing light
9. Red parachute flare
◉ Astern Propulsion Signal. Answer: 3 Short Blasts
◉ Leaving the Dock/Entering Main Channel (Inland). Answer: 1
Prolonged
, ◉ 3.1.1a Double braided. Answer: Two hollow braided line with a
core of single laid. Always synthetic.
◉ 3.1.1b Three strand. Answer: Twisted from three lines of three
twisted strands of yarn
◉ 3.1.2c Natural fiber. Answer: - Low strength
- Low stretch
- Not load-bearing in the Coast Guard
- Susceptible to rot
◉ 3.1.2b Nylon. Answer: - Strong
- High stretch
- Resistant to weather wear (except salt build-up and exposure over
time)
◉ 3.1.2a Polypropylene. Answer: - Strong
- Floats
- Slippery
◉ 3.1.5 Bight. Answer: Turn back line on itself
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ 4.3.2 Starboard Sidelight. Answer: Green; 112.5 deg
◉ 4.3.3 Stern Light. Answer: White; 135 deg
◉ 4.3.4 Masthead/Steaming Light. Answer: White; 225 deg (above
the sidelights)
◉ 4.3.5 Anchor Light. Answer: White; 360 degrees
◉ 4.3.6 Small Boat Combination Light. Answer: Red, Green, and
White light; 360 degrees
◉ 4.3.7 State when boats are required to display navigational lights.
Answer: 1. Between sunrise and sunset
2. Any time there is limited visability
◉ 4.4.1 Identified Short Blast and its duration. Answer: About 1
second
,◉ 4.4.2 Identified Prolonged Blast and its duration. Answer: About
4-6 seconds
◉ 4.4.3 Identified the danger signal and when its used. Answer: 5
short blasts; Danger/Don't Understand
◉ 4.5.1 Name six of the 17 accepted maritime distress signals.
Answer: 1. Mayday radio broadcast
2. Signaling mirror
3. Signal whistle
4. November code flag over Charlie code flag
5. Continuous fog horn
6. SOS - Morse code
7. Gun fired at 1 minute intervals
8. High-intensity white flashing light
9. Red parachute flare
◉ Astern Propulsion Signal. Answer: 3 Short Blasts
◉ Leaving the Dock/Entering Main Channel (Inland). Answer: 1
Prolonged
, ◉ 3.1.1a Double braided. Answer: Two hollow braided line with a
core of single laid. Always synthetic.
◉ 3.1.1b Three strand. Answer: Twisted from three lines of three
twisted strands of yarn
◉ 3.1.2c Natural fiber. Answer: - Low strength
- Low stretch
- Not load-bearing in the Coast Guard
- Susceptible to rot
◉ 3.1.2b Nylon. Answer: - Strong
- High stretch
- Resistant to weather wear (except salt build-up and exposure over
time)
◉ 3.1.2a Polypropylene. Answer: - Strong
- Floats
- Slippery
◉ 3.1.5 Bight. Answer: Turn back line on itself
