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Nearly every state now has some type of boating education requirements. Take this 10-question quiz to find out how your knowledge stacks up.
Unlike on your favorite television game show, if you run into an issue while on the water, you often can’t easily “phone a friend.” And you might not even be able to look it up on your smart device. Plus, there’s way more at stake with your safety.
One of the principal missions of our BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is to help boaters become more educated – and thus safer – while on the water. It does this through its many valuable programs, but none more so than its free Online Boating Safety Course (BoatUS.org/free), currently recognized by 36 states. Here are some questions you might see on the BoatUS Foundation boating safety certification exam.
1. What does a boat’s capacity plate indicate?
a. Number of life jackets required
b. Vessel dimensions
c. Fuel tank and oil reservoir size
d. Safe load limit
Learn more about boat capacity here.
2. The tongue weight of a boat trailer should be what percent of the Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR)?
a. 1% to 4%
b. 5% to 10%
c. 11% to 15%
d. 16% to 20%
Calculate your trailer’s tongue weight: BoatUS.com/Tongue-Weight-DIY
3. Which of the following is a sign that the weather may change for the worse?
a. Clouds moving from east to west
b. A sudden drop in the temperature
c. Static on the FM band of the radio
d. A rise in the barometric pressure
Brush up on how weather works: BoatUS.com/Eye-On-Weather
4. Which of the following is a requirement for life jackets?
a. They must be properly sized for the intended wearer
b. They must be stored safely in a water-tight bag
c. They must provide miles-per-hour impact
d. They must be orange or other highly visible color
Learn more about life jackets: BoatUS.com/Life-Jacket-Basics
5. If you see a red, a green, and a white light on another boat, what does this tell you?
a. A boat is approaching you head-on
b. A boat is moving directly away from you
c. You have encountered a vessel at anchor with engine running
d. You are the stand-on vessel and must maintain course and speed
Study up on navigation lights: BoatUS.org/study-guide/navigation/lights
6. Which of the following is true of pyrotechnic visual distress devices?
a. Are always orange in color
b. Have an expiration date
c. Must be carried aboard every boat
d. Are ideal for all conditions
Find out about flares: BoatUS.com/Visual-Distress-Signals
7. What should you always do when a person falls overboard?
a. Have someone keep the victim in sight
b. Stop the boat and wait for the person to swim to it
c. Approach the person in the water from upwind
d. Keep engines at full throttle to return quickly
Learn more about handling crew-overboard situations: BoatUS.com/Powerboat-MOB
8. What is a requirement for fire extinguishers on a boat?
a. Must be filled with water
b. Must be red or orange in color
c. Must be Coast Guard-approved
d. Must be permanently mounted
Review the latest fire extinguisher requirements: BoatUS.org/Fire-Extinguishers
9. If your inboard/outboard boat runs aground, what action should you take in addition to shifting the weight away from the point of impact?
a. Stop the engine and lift the outdrive
b. Put the boat in reverse and gun the engine
c. Put the boat in forward and gun the engine
d. Keep the engine running and drop the anchor
Here’s what to do if you find yourself aground: BoatUS.com/Run-Aground
10. Which one of the following is true about can buoys?
a. They are painted red
b. They have even numbers
c. They are cylindrical in shape
d. They make good mooring buoys
Learn about aids to navigation (ATONs): BoatUS.org/navigation-rules
ANSWERS 1. d, 2. b, 3. b, 4. a, 5. a, 6. b, 7. a, 8. c, 9. a, 10. c
HOW DID YOU DO?
If you got them all right, congratulations! You know your boating safety basics. If you need a refresh or want to learn more about a particular subject, head on over to BoatUS.org/courses and sign up for a course today. The basic boating safety course is free (though a small donation is always welcome).