NJ Boater Exam Questions with Complete Solutions
(Latest 2025/2026)
QUESTION: Keel Correct- Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that
increases stability in the water
QUESTION: Displacement Hull Correct- The type of hull that plows through the water
QUESTION: Planing Hull Correct- type of hull that is shaped to lift out of the water at high
speeds and ride on the surface
QUESTION: Vessels that have planing hulls Correct- most small vessels, PWC's, and small
sailboats all have:
QUESTION: Personal Watercraft Correct- A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its
primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting,
standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
QUESTION: Displacement Mode Correct- A planing hull, when operated at very slow speeds,
will cut through the water like a displacement hull.
QUESTION: Plowing Mode Correct- As speed increases, a planing hull will have a raised bow,
reducing the operator's vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid maintaining a speed that puts
your boat in plowing mode.
QUESTION: Planing Mode Correct- Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is
applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing mode at different
speeds.
QUESTION: Length overall Correct- Total length of the ship from bow to stern
QUESTION: Rudder Correct- Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or
near, the stern of the boat
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, QUESTION: Outboard Engine Correct- a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear
case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat
QUESTION: Transom Correct- Vertical surface at the back of the hull
QUESTION: Tiller Correct- Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
QUESTION: Inboard Engines Correct- An inboard is a four-stroke automotive engine adapted
for marine use. Inboard engines are mounted inside the hull's midsection or in front of the transom.
Attached to propeller through bottom of hull
QUESTION: Stern drives Correct- Stern drives are known also as inboard/outboards (I/Os)
because they combine features found on both inboard and outboard engines. Stern-drive engines
are four-stroke automotive engines adapted for marine use and are mounted inside the boat.
QUESTION: Two-stroke engine Correct- An engine design that produces one power stroke for
each revolution of the crankshaft.
QUESTION: Four-stroke engine Correct- Also known as Otto cycle. A combustion cycle that
consists of an intake, a compression, a power; and an exhaust stroke. Also called four-stroke engine.
QUESTION: Jet drive Correct- propel a vessel by forcing a jet of water out the back of the
vessel. Directing this jet of water steers the vessel
QUESTION: Impeller Correct- Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a
steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel
QUESTION: Intake Correct- Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
QUESTION: Intake grate Correct- Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris
from entering
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, QUESTION: Safety Lanyard Correct- short cord for attaching the ignition safety switch to the
operators wrist or personal flotation device (life jacket).
QUESTION: Steering Control Correct- means of controlling the steering nozzle
QUESTION: Drive shaft Correct- The long stem connection between the motor and the
impeller
QUESTION: Steering Nozzle Correct- Device used for directing the stream of water to the left
or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
QUESTION: Halyards Correct- Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails
QUESTION: Sheets Correct- Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind
QUESTION: Capacity Plate Correct- plate on the inside of the vessel that displays maximum
weight capacity and horsepower rating
QUESTION: Swamp Correct- when boat fills with water
QUESTION: Calculating Boat Capacity Correct- Number of people = (boat length (ft.) × boat
width (ft.)) / 15
QUESTION: Float plan Correct- information left with someone concerning your boating trip
QUESTION: Bilge Correct- Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's
interior where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
QUESTION: Tongue weight Correct- the amount of the loaded trailer's weight that presses
down on the towing hitch
3|Page
(Latest 2025/2026)
QUESTION: Keel Correct- Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that
increases stability in the water
QUESTION: Displacement Hull Correct- The type of hull that plows through the water
QUESTION: Planing Hull Correct- type of hull that is shaped to lift out of the water at high
speeds and ride on the surface
QUESTION: Vessels that have planing hulls Correct- most small vessels, PWC's, and small
sailboats all have:
QUESTION: Personal Watercraft Correct- A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its
primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting,
standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
QUESTION: Displacement Mode Correct- A planing hull, when operated at very slow speeds,
will cut through the water like a displacement hull.
QUESTION: Plowing Mode Correct- As speed increases, a planing hull will have a raised bow,
reducing the operator's vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid maintaining a speed that puts
your boat in plowing mode.
QUESTION: Planing Mode Correct- Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is
applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing mode at different
speeds.
QUESTION: Length overall Correct- Total length of the ship from bow to stern
QUESTION: Rudder Correct- Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or
near, the stern of the boat
1|Page
, QUESTION: Outboard Engine Correct- a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear
case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat
QUESTION: Transom Correct- Vertical surface at the back of the hull
QUESTION: Tiller Correct- Lever used to turn a rudder to steer a boat
QUESTION: Inboard Engines Correct- An inboard is a four-stroke automotive engine adapted
for marine use. Inboard engines are mounted inside the hull's midsection or in front of the transom.
Attached to propeller through bottom of hull
QUESTION: Stern drives Correct- Stern drives are known also as inboard/outboards (I/Os)
because they combine features found on both inboard and outboard engines. Stern-drive engines
are four-stroke automotive engines adapted for marine use and are mounted inside the boat.
QUESTION: Two-stroke engine Correct- An engine design that produces one power stroke for
each revolution of the crankshaft.
QUESTION: Four-stroke engine Correct- Also known as Otto cycle. A combustion cycle that
consists of an intake, a compression, a power; and an exhaust stroke. Also called four-stroke engine.
QUESTION: Jet drive Correct- propel a vessel by forcing a jet of water out the back of the
vessel. Directing this jet of water steers the vessel
QUESTION: Impeller Correct- Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a
steering nozzle at the rear of the vessel
QUESTION: Intake Correct- Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
QUESTION: Intake grate Correct- Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris
from entering
2|Page
, QUESTION: Safety Lanyard Correct- short cord for attaching the ignition safety switch to the
operators wrist or personal flotation device (life jacket).
QUESTION: Steering Control Correct- means of controlling the steering nozzle
QUESTION: Drive shaft Correct- The long stem connection between the motor and the
impeller
QUESTION: Steering Nozzle Correct- Device used for directing the stream of water to the left
or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
QUESTION: Halyards Correct- Lines (ropes) used to raise and lower the sails
QUESTION: Sheets Correct- Lines (ropes) used to control the angle of the sails to the wind
QUESTION: Capacity Plate Correct- plate on the inside of the vessel that displays maximum
weight capacity and horsepower rating
QUESTION: Swamp Correct- when boat fills with water
QUESTION: Calculating Boat Capacity Correct- Number of people = (boat length (ft.) × boat
width (ft.)) / 15
QUESTION: Float plan Correct- information left with someone concerning your boating trip
QUESTION: Bilge Correct- Interior of the hull below the floorboards; lowest part of a vessel's
interior where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
QUESTION: Tongue weight Correct- the amount of the loaded trailer's weight that presses
down on the towing hitch
3|Page
