All questions
352 practice questions in 11 topics. Open a question to see its answer and its source in the US Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR).
Federal law and registration
- Where must the registration number be displayed on a boat?
- What is the smallest height allowed for the registration number characters?
- A registration number has letter and number groups. How must the groups be set apart?
- What must a boat with a motor have before it can be used?
- Which boat is covered by the federal numbering rule?
- Which boat is exempt from numbering?
- A tender has a motor under 10 horsepower. It only runs between its parent boat and the shore. What must it display to be exempt?
- What must an operator have on board a numbered boat?
- A boat under 26 feet is rented for noncommercial use for less than 7 days. Where may the certificate of number stay?
- A law enforcement officer asks to see the certificate of number. What must the operator do?
- A boat is numbered in one State. It is used briefly in another State. What is true?
- A boat moves to a new State of principal operation. For how many days is the old number valid there?
- For how long can a temporary certificate of number be valid?
- An owner changes address. Within how many days must the owner tell the issuing authority?
- Where must a Coast Guard validation sticker be displayed?
- Which event makes a certificate of number invalid?
- A boat is no longer mainly used in the State that issued its certificate. After how long is the certificate invalid?
- A certificate of number is issued by the Coast Guard. When does it expire?
- What penalty may apply to someone who willfully operates a recreational boat in violation of boating safety law?
- An operator ignores a boarding officer's direction to fix a hazard. What may happen?
Safety equipment
- A recreational boat is under way. How many wearable life jackets must be on board?
- At what boat length must a throwable life jacket be on board in addition to the wearable ones?
- Under federal rules, a boat is under way. Which children must wear a life jacket, unless below decks or in a cabin?
- A boat is under way. Where may a child under 13 be without a life jacket under the federal rule?
- A State has its own law that says children of a set age must wear life jackets. Which rule applies on that State's waters?
- A 17-foot kayak is on the water. Which life jacket rule does not apply to it?
- Which boats are exempt from carrying any life jacket required by the federal rule?
- How must the wearable life jackets on a boat be stored?
- How must the throwable life jacket on a boat be stored?
- A life jacket is too big for the child who will wear it. What does the rule say?
- What must be clearly marked on every required life jacket?
- Which problem makes a life jacket not serviceable?
- A foam life jacket has hardened foam that is soaked with water. Is it serviceable?
- An inflatable life jacket is not worn. What must be true of its inflation system?
- When does an inflatable life jacket not need an armed inflation system?
- Which life jacket is counted as a throwable device?
- Which life jackets count as wearable devices?
- Which boat must have a working ventilation system?
- A boat is 20 feet long. It has no fixed fire system. How many 5-B portable extinguishers are the minimum?
- A boat is 30 feet long with no fixed fire system in the engine space. How many 5-B portable extinguishers must it carry at minimum?
- A boat is 45 feet long with no fixed fire system in the engine space. How many 5-B extinguishers are the minimum?
- A 30-foot boat has a fixed fire system in the engine space. How many 5-B portable extinguishers are the minimum?
- Which extinguisher may replace two 5-B portable extinguishers?
- A small outboard boat is under 26 feet. When may it carry no portable extinguisher?
- Which feature does NOT, by itself, require a fire extinguisher on a boat?
- What is true of an extinguisher that is expired or shows signs of use?
- Which condition makes a portable extinguisher unfit for use as required equipment?
- Which kind of extinguisher is not accepted as required equipment?
- A Coast Guard boarding officer finds an especially hazardous condition. What may the officer direct the operator to do?
- Which order can a boarding officer give if a hazard is not fixed?
- Which fuel problem is an unsafe condition?
- A boat lacks the required ventilation for its tanks and engine spaces. How is this treated?
- What must a compartment with an installed gasoline engine and starter motor have?
- Where in the compartment must the intake duct for an exhaust blower be?
- Where must a battery not be placed in relation to fuel parts?
- How must an installed battery be secured?
- What must not touch the ungrounded battery terminals?
- How must the fuel fill opening be placed?
- What must a fuel tank vent have?
- When may an electric fuel stop valve open?
- How much may a fuel tank move on its mounting surface?
- Which engines does the rule for backfire flame control not cover?
Navigation lights and shapes
- Which vessels may show a flashing blue light under the pilot rules?
- Where must a law enforcement vessel place its flashing blue light?
- What does an alternately flashing red and yellow light mean when a vessel shows it?
- Which activity is on the list of public safety activities?
- During which hours must a boat under the Inland Navigation Rules show its navigation lights?
- It is daytime, but heavy fog limits what you can see. Your boat has navigation lights. What should you do?
- When do the rules about shapes, such as a ball or cone, apply?
- You must pass under a low bridge at night. What do the rules allow you to do with your lights?
- At night, which extra lights may a boat show besides its required navigation lights?
- How wide is the arc of a masthead light?
- How wide is the arc of each sidelight?
- How wide is the arc of a sternlight?
- What does an all-round light show?
- Which sidelight colors does a boat show on its starboard and port sides?
- A boat is shorter than 20 meters. How may it carry its two sidelights?
- What color is a towing light?
- How far away must the masthead light of a boat under 12 meters be visible?
- How far away must the sidelights of a boat under 12 meters be visible?
- A power boat is 15 meters long. How far away must its masthead light be visible?
- A boat is 14 meters long. How far away must its sidelights be visible?
- Which lights must a power-driven boat of 12 to under 50 meters show when underway at night?
- Is a second masthead light required on a power boat shorter than 50 meters?
- A power boat is 10 meters long. What lights may it show instead of the usual set?
- On the Great Lakes, what may a power boat carry in place of the second masthead light and the sternlight?
- A power boat tows another vessel astern. The tow is 150 meters long. How many masthead lights does the towing boat show in a vertical line?
- A power boat tows astern, and the tow is longer than 200 meters. How many masthead lights does the towing boat show in a vertical line?
- A tow longer than 200 meters shows a shape by day. Which shape?
- A boat tows astern at night. Where does its yellow towing light go?
- A pushing vessel is rigidly connected to the vessel it pushes ahead. How are they lighted?
- A power boat pushes ahead or tows alongside. Which lights does it show besides sidelights and two masthead lights?
- A vessel is being towed astern at night. Which lights must it show?
- Which lights does a vessel pushed ahead (not rigidly connected) show at its forward end?
- Which lights must a sailing vessel show when underway at night?
- A sailboat is 12 meters long. How may it carry its sidelights and sternlight?
- A sailboat may add two all-round lights at the masthead. Which colors, from top to bottom?
- A sailboat is 6 meters long and has no fixed lights. What must it do at night?
- A rowboat has no navigation lights. What must it have at night?
- A sailboat also runs its engine by day. What shape does it show forward?
- A sailboat under power is 10 meters long. Must it show the cone shape?
- Which lights show that a vessel is not under command?
- Which day shapes show that a vessel is not under command?
- A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver shows three lights in a vertical line. What colors?
- A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver shows three day shapes. Which ones?
- A dredge shows two green lights in a vertical line. What do they mean?
- A small boat is used for diving, and its size makes a full set of signals hard to show. What flag replica does it display?
- A boat is shorter than 12 meters and is not diving. Must it show the lights for restricted ability to maneuver?
- A boat of less than 50 meters is at anchor at night. Which light may it show?
- By day, a vessel at anchor shows one shape in its fore part. Which shape?
- A boat under 7 meters anchors away from channels and places where boats normally travel. What is the rule on anchor lights?
- Besides the anchor light, which extra lights show on a vessel aground, if practicable?
- A boat shorter than 12 meters runs aground. Must it show the two red lights and three balls?
- A boat under 20 meters anchors in a special anchorage area set by the Coast Guard. Must it show anchor lights?
Sound signals
- How long is a short blast?
- How long is a prolonged blast?
- At what length must a vessel carry a whistle?
- A boat is shorter than 12 meters and has no whistle. What must it have?
- At what length must a vessel carry a bell as well as a whistle?
- Under the Inland Navigation Rules, two power boats meet within half a mile. You sound one short blast. What does it mean?
- Under the Inland Navigation Rules, two power boats meet within half a mile. You sound two short blasts. What does it mean?
- What does a signal of three short blasts mean?
- You do not understand the other boat's plan, or doubt it is safe. What signal do you give?
- Under the Inland Navigation Rules, you want to overtake a power boat on its starboard side. What do you sound?
- Under the Inland Navigation Rules, you want to overtake a power boat on its port side. What do you sound?
- You are being overtaken and agree with the other boat's plan. What do you do?
- You are nearing a bend where you cannot see other boats. What signal do you give?
- A boat hears your prolonged blast at a bend. What should it do?
- You are leaving a dock or berth in a power boat. What signal do you sound?
- One flash of a signal light can add to a whistle signal. What does one flash mean?
- Two boats agree on how to pass by marine radio. Must they also sound whistle signals?
- You run a power boat in fog and make way through the water. What signal do you sound?
- Your power boat is stopped in fog and makes no way. What signal do you sound?
- A sailboat is underway in fog. Which signal does it sound?
- In fog, a boat towing another vessel sounds which signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes?
- A vessel at anchor rings its bell in fog. How often, and for how long?
- A boat at anchor wants to warn an approaching boat of its position. What may it add to the bell?
- A boat shorter than 12 meters has no bell or whistle for fog signals. What must it do?
Rules of the road
- Where do the Inland Navigation Rules apply?
- From what length must the operator of a self-propelled vessel carry a copy of the Inland Rules?
- A vessel meets the construction and equipment rules of the International Regulations. What does this mean under the Inland Rules?
- A U.S. boat is on the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. When do the Inland Rules apply to it?
- You skip a precaution that good seamanship requires, and a collision happens. What do the Rules say about you?
- When may a vessel depart from the Rules?
- Under the Rules, when is a boat a sailing vessel?
- Which boat is a power-driven vessel under the Rules?
- Which boat is underway?
- Which condition counts as restricted visibility?
- Which boat is engaged in fishing under the Rules?
- When are two vessels in sight of one another?
- What is a vessel not under command?
- Which vessel is restricted in her ability to maneuver because of her work?
- Which craft count as vessels under the Rules?
- The Rules on overtaking, meeting and crossing apply to which vessels?
- How must a vessel keep a look-out?
- When must a vessel keep a proper look-out?
- What is the goal of a proper look-out?
- What must a safe speed let a vessel do?
- Which is a factor in deciding safe speed at night?
- Which factor must you take into account for a safe speed?
- Which two things affect safe speed because of how your boat handles?
- Your boat has working radar. What must you remember when you set a safe speed?
- Which condition is a factor for safe speed for all vessels?
- You are in doubt whether a risk of collision exists. What must you assume?
- The compass bearing of an approaching boat does not appreciably change. What does this show?
- When can a risk of collision exist even though the bearing is changing?
- What do the Rules say about assumptions based on little information?
- How should you use radar if your boat has it and it works?
- How should action to avoid a collision be taken?
- How large should a change of course or speed be to avoid a collision?
- You need more time to judge a situation. What may you do?
- When may a change of course alone be the best way to avoid a close-quarters situation?
- How long must you check that your avoiding action works?
- What distance must your avoiding action give when you pass another vessel?
- A vessel that must not impede another is approaching it with risk of collision. What is true?
- Where should a vessel keep in a narrow channel?
- On the Western Rivers, who has the right-of-way when a power vessel going downstream meets one going upstream in a narrow channel?
- What must an upbound vessel do when a downbound vessel has the right-of-way in a narrow channel?
- Your boat is 15 meters long. A vessel that can only use a narrow channel is coming. What must you not do?
- What must a vessel engaged in fishing do in a narrow channel?
- When must a vessel not cross a narrow channel?
- You overtake a power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, and the other vessel agrees. What does the other vessel do?
- In a narrow channel, you signal to overtake and the other boat agrees. What is true about your duty to keep clear of it?
- You near a bend where other vessels may be hidden. What must you do?
- What should you avoid doing in a narrow channel, when the situation allows?
- How must a vessel move in a traffic separation scheme lane?
- A vessel must cross a traffic lane. At what angle should it cross?
- Which boat may use the inshore traffic zone even if it could use the traffic lane?
- What should a vessel avoid doing in a traffic separation scheme, as far as practicable?
- Your boat is not using a traffic separation scheme. How should you act near it?
- Your sailboat meets a power-driven vessel that follows a traffic lane. What must you not do?
- Two sailing vessels have the wind on different sides. Which one keeps out of the way?
- Two sailing vessels have the wind on the same side. Which one keeps out of the way?
- Your sailboat has the wind on the port side. You see a boat to windward and cannot tell its wind side. What do you do?
- For sailing vessels, which side is the windward side?
- Which vessel keeps out of the way in an overtaking situation?
- When is a vessel overtaking another?
- At night, what would you see of the vessel you are overtaking?
- You are in doubt whether you are overtaking another vessel. What do you assume?
- While you overtake a vessel, the bearing between you changes. What is your duty?
- Two power-driven vessels meet head-on with risk of collision. What does each do, unless agreed otherwise?
- At night, what shows that a head-on situation exists?
- You are in doubt whether a head-on situation exists. What do you assume?
- Two power-driven vessels are crossing with risk of collision. Which one keeps out of the way?
- In a crossing situation, what should the give-way vessel avoid if the circumstances allow?
- On the Western Rivers, a power vessel crosses the river. It meets a power vessel going up or down the river. Who keeps out of the way?
- What must a give-way vessel do?
- One vessel must keep out of the way. What does the other vessel do?
- When may the stand-on vessel act to avoid a collision by maneuver alone?
- Collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel alone. What must the stand-on vessel do?
- A stand-on power vessel in a crossing situation must act to avoid a collision with a power vessel. Which turn should it avoid, if possible?
- The stand-on vessel takes action to avoid a collision. What does this do to the give-way vessel's duty?
- Your power boat is underway and meets a sailing vessel under sail. Not in a narrow channel. Who keeps out of the way?
- Your power boat is underway. Which vessel do you keep out of the way of?
- A sailing vessel is underway. Which vessel must it keep out of the way of?
- Under the Rules, what should a seaplane on the water do in general?
- The restricted visibility Rule applies to vessels in which situation?
- What must a power-driven vessel do in restricted visibility, besides keeping a safe speed?
- You detect another vessel by radar alone and must turn. Which turn should you avoid, if possible?
- You detect a vessel by radar alone. Which turn should you also avoid, if possible?
- In fog, you hear a fog signal apparently ahead of your beam. What do you do, unless no risk exists?
- In restricted visibility, when must you navigate with extreme caution after hearing a fog signal ahead?
- You need to attract another vessel's attention, but you are not in distress. What may you use?
Aids to navigation
- Heading in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage, which buoy marks the left (port) side of a channel?
- Heading in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage, which buoy marks the right (starboard) side of a channel?
- What shape and color is the daymark on a fixed beacon that marks the starboard side of a channel?
- A buoy has red and green horizontal bands. What does it mark?
- A buoy has a green band on top of a red band. For the preferred channel, how do you treat it?
- A buoy has a red band on top of a green band. For the preferred channel, how do you treat it?
- How do IALA Region A lateral marks differ from Region B marks?
- What does a buoy with red and white vertical stripes mean?
- What shape are red and white safe water buoys?
- Which topmark does an isolated danger mark carry?
- What do you do when you see an isolated danger mark?
- What color are special marks?
- What is the main job of a special mark?
- On some state waters, a buoy has black and white vertical stripes. What does it mean?
- What colors do information and regulatory marks use?
- What does an orange diamond with a cross inside it mean?
- An orange circle on a white regulatory mark means what?
- What does an orange square or rectangle on a white mark show?
- How do you tell a mooring buoy from a channel marker?
- Which numbers do red aids to navigation carry?
- As you go in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage, how do the numbers on side marks change?
- What does the Conventional Direction of Buoyage normally mean?
- A waterway has no route from the sea. Which way does the Conventional Direction of Buoyage generally go around land?
- On the Atlantic Coast, which way is the Conventional Direction of Buoyage?
- Why should you look at a chart when you see an aid to navigation?
- Which statement about the aids to navigation system is true?
- Which buoy has a tapered, conical shape?
- Why should you not pass a beacon very close?
- Why should you not use a buoy alone to find your position?
- A lighted aid shows a green light. What does it mean when you go in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage?
- A lighted aid shows a red light. What does it mean when you go in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage?
- What does a yellow light on an aid tell you about which side to pass?
- Which light rhythm does a safe water mark show?
- Which light does an isolated danger mark show?
- What light rhythm does a preferred channel mark show?
- What color light do special marks show?
- How fast do ordinary flashing lights on side marks normally flash?
- What does a quick flashing light, about 60 flashes a minute, tell you?
- A light shows white in one sector and red in another. How should you use the color change?
- You travel south on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. What does a yellow triangle on an aid mean?
- You travel south on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. What does a yellow square on an aid mean?
- On the Western Rivers marking system, what is true about buoys?
- Why might a buoy bell or gong stay silent?
- How do you start a sound signal that has radio activation?
- You find an aid to navigation off station or damaged. What should you do?
Distress signals
- Do the lights for a vessel not under command tell others that the vessel is in distress?
- Which signal tells others that a vessel needs help?
- Which spoken word on the radiotelephone signals distress?
- What color of smoke is a distress signal?
- Which flare color is a distress signal?
- A gun or other explosive signal is fired as a distress signal. How often?
- A boat sounds its fog horn without stopping. What does this mean?
- Which flag signal shows distress?
- Which light signal shows distress?
- On what VHF channel is a digital selective calling (DSC) distress alert sent?
- Which Morse code group is a distress signal?
- Flames on a vessel, such as from a burning barrel, are listed as what?
- Which device sends a distress signal by radio from a vessel?
- Which two letters in the International Code of Signals show distress?
- Rockets or shells that throw red stars are fired at what pace to signal distress?
- May you use a distress signal to test it or to get attention when you are not in trouble?
- Which marker can help rescuers see you from the air or water?
- A supplemental signal for air rescue is a piece of canvas. What color?
- A motorboat is 18 feet long. What visual distress signals must it carry on coastal waters?
- A boat is under 16 feet long and used at night on coastal waters. What signals must it carry?
- A person uses a manually propelled boat on coastal waters. When must it carry visual distress signals?
- Where must required visual distress signals be kept on the boat?
- A flare has a date marked on it, and the date has passed. What is true?
- A boat carries one electric distress light and no other signals. What does it meet?
- A boat carries one orange flag and no other signals. What does it meet?
- Which set of signals meets both the day and night requirements?
- A required flare needs a launcher to fire. What must the boat also carry?
- When may a person on a boat display a visual distress signal?
Alcohol and drugs
- Under federal rules, what blood alcohol level means a recreational boat operator is under the influence?
- Can an operator with a lower blood alcohol level still be under the influence?
- A State sets its own blood alcohol level for boat operators. Which level applies on that State's waters?
- Who may direct a boat operator to take a chemical test when there is reasonable cause?
- Which fact gives reasonable cause for a chemical test?
- An operator refuses a timely chemical test that a law enforcement officer directs with reasonable cause. What is presumed?
- When is a vessel underway under this part?
- How does the rule treat an operator who is apparently under the influence, if the officer judges that continued operation is unsafe?
Accidents and reporting
- A person dies in a boating accident. How must the operator notify the reporting authority?
- Which accident needs a written report to the authorities?
- At what total damage amount must an operator report an accident?
- A person disappears from a boat in a way that suggests death or injury. What must the operator do?
- Within how many hours must a report be made when a person is injured and needs treatment beyond first aid?
- A person dies within 24 hours of a boating accident. Within how many hours must the report be made?
- An accident causes only property damage that totals $2,000 or more. Within how many days must the report be made?
- The operator cannot make the accident report. Who must make it?
- What form must an accident report take?
- Which item must the accident report include, if available?
- An accident happens outside the State where the boat is numbered. Where is the report sent?
Boat capacity and construction
- How many characters does a hull identification number have?
- Which letters are not used in the serial part of a hull identification number?
- In a hull identification number, which letter shows a build month of January?
- How many identical hull identification numbers must be on a boat hull?
- Where is the primary hull identification number on a boat with a transom?
- Where is the duplicate hull identification number placed?
- May a hull identification number be attached to a removable part of the boat?
- May a manufacturer give the same hull identification number to two boats?
- What must the capacity marking on a boat with an outboard motor show besides persons capacity?
- A boat has no motor rating and is not for motors. What words does its capacity marking carry?
- Which boats must have a capacity label?
- Where must the capacity information be displayed?
- How must a capacity marking be made?
- An outboard motor can make 115 pounds of thrust or more. What must it have?
- What warning is on a remote-start outboard that also has an emergency local start?
Pollution and the environment
- What is a Type III marine sanitation device?
- A boat has an installed toilet. What must the boat also have?
- A boat is 65 feet or shorter. Which marine sanitation devices may it use?
- Where must you secure a Type I or Type II device so it cannot discharge?
- In a no-discharge zone, which way secures a Type I or Type II device?
- Which way of securing a Type I or Type II device uses the door of the toilet room?
- In a zone where untreated sewage is banned, how do you secure a Type III device?
- What length of US boat must display a garbage placard?
- Do the garbage discharge rules cover recreational boats?
- How big must each garbage placard be at least?
- What must a garbage placard say about plastic?
- What else does the placard tell you about garbage rules?
- Which items count as plastic you may not throw overboard?
- What must you do with garbage that contains plastic?
- May you dump garbage from a boat into the navigable waters of the United States?
- Outside special areas, how far from land must you be to dump food waste that is not ground up?
- Food waste has been ground into small bits. Outside special areas, how far from land may you discharge it?
- When do the garbage discharge bans not apply?
- Which vessels do not need the oil discharge placard?
- What does the oil discharge placard warn about?
- What may a person not add to oily water to get around discharge limits?
- How does the federal rule treat a holding tank that only stores sewage and flushwater?
Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026