California Boating Exam

Under which condition is a person at greatest risk of developing hypothermia? - ANS Being
immersed in cold water

How will a boat perform if it is loaded beyond its capacity? - ANS It will be difficult to control

A life jacket on your vessel should be sized for which person on board? - ANS It's intended
wearer

On a 15ft boat, which object is required to be on-board? - ANS One Coast Guard approved
life jacket for each person

When is it a good advice for adults to wear Coast Guard approved life jackets? - ANS When in
bad weather

What should be done with a badly discolored Coast Guard approved life jacket with a torn
strap? - ANS Discard and replace it

When operating a boat near other boats or when entering a congested area, why should you
watch your wake? - ANS It may cause personal injury or damage.

Which of the following is recommended as part of the annual maintenance program for a
gasoline powered boat? - ANS Examination of thru-hull fittings for sign of leakage or
corrosion.

Who has the primary responsibility for the safety of all persons aboard a recreational boat? -
ANS Boat operator

In what part of the boat are gasoline fumes most likely to accumulate? - ANS Bilge

How does alcohol use affect boat operators or passengers? - ANS Physical reactions become
slower

Under the influence of alcohol, what happens to a persons reasoning ability? - ANS It
becomes weaker

How does drinking alcohol while boating effect other conditions related to being out on the
water? - ANS Increases feeling of fatigue
What should you do first if a passenger falls overboard while your boat is at anchor? - ANS
Throw a type IV Coast Guard approved life jacket to the passenger

Which is the most important factor in determining a safe vessel speed on any given day? - ANS
Traffic Density

According to the navigation rules, what factor should be considered in determining a safe
speed? - ANS The state of visibility

when a power driven vessel is being overtaken by a sailboat, which is the stand-on vessel? -
ANS The power driven vessel

What immediate action should you take when operating a boat if you hear the fog signal of
another boat you cannot see? - ANS Slow to minimum speed

What is the proper method for lowering an anchor? - ANS From the bow

What is the primary responsibility for a vessel operator assisting a boat in distress? - ANS
Keeping his/her vessel and him/herself out of danger

Where should you aim a fire extinguishers stream when extinguishing a fire - ANS At the base
of the fire and use a sweeping motion

According to the US Coast Guard what are the leading causes of recreational boating fatalities?
- ANS Capsizing and falling overboard

Which of the following poses the greatest risk of serious injury to a person in the water near a
powerboat? - ANS Being struck by the moving propeller

Which term is used to describe a vessel that touches the bottom and gets stuck? - ANS
Grounded

While water-skiing, what is the preferred form of communication between the skier and the
observer? - ANS Hand signals

Who has the primary responsibility for preventing a PWC accident? - ANS The PWC operator

Which is the most stable position for a canoe paddlers? - ANS Sitting

According the the CA law, at what blood alcohol concentration level is it illegal for a person
younger than 21 to operate a vessel? - ANS 0.01 percent or more
People who hunt or fish from a boat should follow the boating safety rules and practices
established by which organization? - ANS The Coast Guard and applicable state boating
agencies

If jumping another boats wake, what must a personal watercraft operator do? - ANS Stay at
least 100 feet away from the other vessel

On a recreational boat, the location of emergency equipment such as life jackets, fire
extinguisher, visual distress signals and the radio should be reviewed before departure with
which persons? - ANS Everyone aboard.

According to CA law, at what blood alcohol concentration level is a person considered to be

Which agency must receive a boating accident report within 10 days if an accident involves
more than $500 in damages? - ANS California Division of Boating and Waterways

What is the minimum unsupervised age for operating a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower?
- ANS 16

When can a PWC be operated at night in California? - ANS Never

What should you do with your float plan when you return from boat outings? - ANS Cancel it

In US coastal waters, what colors are cone-shaped, even-numbered nun buoys? - ANS Red

Regulatory and informational markers are easily identified through which features? - ANS
White color with orange geometric shapes

What is the main danger of teak surfing, body surfing or platform dragging? - ANS 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? - ANS
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? - ANS Type B

Which are Coast Guard approved visual distressed signals - ANS Red meteor flares

To stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species, when is the best time ti clean your boat? - ANS
When you get back home
What is a common first indicator of an approaching thunderstorm? - ANS Threatening clouds
such as thunderheads.

What do a red, green and white light indicate when seen together at night? - ANS It is the
stern side of another boat that you are overtaking

What is the cause of most fatal boating accidents? - ANS Operator error

You man not exceed 5 miles per hour when operating within how many feet of a swimmer? -
ANS 200 feet

What is the main factor to consider when planning your vessel's approach to a dock where you
intend to tie up? - ANS Strength of the wind or current.

What should you do if your boat capsizes? - ANS Stay with the boat and climb on top of it

Which is the the best precaution against carbon monoxide poisoning? - ANS Keep fresh air
flowing though the vessel

Which safety precaution should be taken first by a boater operator when boating in stormy
weather? - ANS Make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.

What is the main reason operators are involved with collisions with reefs/shoals or submerged
hazards? - ANS 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? - ANS Report suspicious activities to the
proper authorities

What is a boat operator required to do at all times while the boat is underway? - ANS Maintain
a proper lookout.

When can a Navigation Rule be overlooked? - ANS If necessary to avoid immediate danger.

Maintaining a proper lookout using human sight and hearing apple's to boats under what
circumstances? - ANS All boats at all hours

According to the Navigation Rules, a risk of imminent collision exists in which situation? - ANS
The course of an approaching vessel does not change

Which is a characteristic of personal watercraft maneuverability? - ANS They allow for little
steering control at idle.
Which vessels must be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles? - ANS
Undocumented motorboats and sailboats more than 8 feet long

When is it good advice for adults to wear Coast Guard approved life jackets? - ANS When in
bad weather