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Boater education card practice test

210 free practice questions for this exam, each with the reason for the answer and where to look it up.

Boating safety: practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

Practice tests that prepare you for this exam

Boating safety

Required equipment, navigation rules, aids to navigation, emergencies, water sports and boating laws for the boater education exam.

210 questions for this exam

About the exam

ExamBoater education card
Who runs itNASBLA, states
WhereUnited States (varies by state)

Question count, time limit and pass mark differ by where you take it. Check the official candidate bulletin from the organisation that runs your exam.

Sample questions

Which description fits a green lateral buoy in the US system?

  1. A can-shaped buoy with an odd number
  2. A cone-topped buoy with an odd number
  3. A can-shaped buoy with an even number
  4. A cone-topped buoy with an even number
Show the answer

A. A can-shaped buoy with an odd number

Green buoys are cans (cylinders with flat tops) and carry odd numbers. Red buoys are nuns, with cone-shaped tops and even numbers.

Reference: US Aids to Navigation System (33 CFR 62.25)

A chart shows 3 ft of water over a sandbar. Which measurement of your boat tells you whether you can cross it without touching bottom?

  1. Beam
  2. Freeboard
  3. Length overall
  4. Draft
Show the answer

D. Draft

Draft is the vertical distance from the waterline down to the lowest point of the boat (often the propeller or keel), so it is the least depth of water the boat needs. Freeboard is measured upward from the waterline and says nothing about clearing the bottom.

Reference: NASBLA boating education standard: boat terminology

A passenger falls overboard while the boat is underway. What should be done first?

  1. Throw a flotation device and keep the person in sight
  2. Jump in at once and swim to help the person
  3. Put the engine in reverse and back toward the person
  4. Radio a Mayday before doing anything else
Show the answer

A. Throw a flotation device and keep the person in sight

The immediate steps are to shout 'man overboard', throw something that floats, and have someone point at the person continuously while the operator turns back. Backing toward a person puts the propeller next to them.

Reference: NASBLA boating education standard: person overboard

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