Boater Card

What is good for cleaning your vessel and does not harm lakes or rivers?

non-phosphate products

What should you do if the motor on your boat catches fire?

shut off the fuel supply if possible

One boat is overtaking another. Which boat should stand on?

the boat being overtaken

How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?

Leave a little empty space in the tank.

How far must a PWC be from a vessel if jumping the wake of that vessel?

100 feet. PWC should not jump or attempt to jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel.

You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another boat. What should you do?

Give way to the other vessel

Which action is allowed when towing a water-skier with a vessel?

Having a 12-year-old on board to observe while an adult operates the vessel. Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must have a person on board, in addition to the operator, who can observe the person being towed. This observer must be at least 12 years of age.

All fire extinguishers are labeled with a letter and a number. What does the number indicate?

How much of a fire the extinguisher can put out. The number tells you how much of a fire the extinguisher can put out, and the letter tells you the type of fire it will extinguish.

You are retrieving your boat from the water. What should you do to prevent a traffic jam on the boat ramp?

Pull your boat away from the ramp to prepare it for the drive home

Visibility is restricted due to fog. What should the vessel operator do to avoid the risk of a collision?

Reduce speed to the minimum needed to stay on course.

Visibility is restricted due to fog. What should the vessel operator do to avoid the risk of a collision?

Reduce speed to the minimum needed to stay on course. Unless a risk of collision does not exist, an operator who hears the fog signal of another vessel ahead must reduce speed to the minimum at which the vessel can be kept on course.

How do you treat a victim of cold water immersion?

Seek medical attention immediately.

What is one of the first symptoms of hypothermia?

Shivering

Two boats are operating near each other. Which is the boat that must maintain its course and speed?

The stand-on vessel.

A motorboat is crossing paths with a PWC. What action should be taken?

The vessel on the port (left) should give way. When two power-driven vessels are on paths that cross, the vessel on the port (left) is the give-way vessel.

What should you require from others who operate your vessel?

They operate the vessel responsibly. You always should make sure that anyone operating your vessel understands his or her responsibilities as a driver and knows how to operate safely and responsibly.

If you use pyrotechnic visual distress signals, how many unexpired VDSs must you carry on board your vessel?If you use pyrotechnic visual distress signals, how many unexpired VDSs must you carry on board your vessel?

Three. A minimum of three unexpired VDSs must be carried in the vessel.

What is the best way to check the buoyancy of your PFD?

Wear the PFD in shallow water or a swimming pool. Regularly test a PFD's buoyancy in shallow water or a swimming pool.

When is it difficult to reboard a PWC?

When you are very tired. Don't ride your PWC if you are very tired because reboarding would be difficult..

Which of these anchors is a good choice for most recreational boats?

fluke-style

A boat's capacity plate gives the maximum weight and/or number of people the boat can carry safely in certain weather conditions. What are these conditions?

good weather

On California state waters, which vessels are required to carry a sound-producing device?

All vessels. The following requirements apply to vessels operating on California state waters. Vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, which includes PWC, are required to have some means to make an efficient sound signal. Vessels that are 39.4 feet or more in length are required to carry on board a whistle and a bell.

Which navigation instrument is useful for steering when land is out of sight?

Compass. The ability to steer a boat by a compass is useful if land is out of sight, visibility is reduced, or the boat operator is disoriented.

What amount of property damage requires the operator to submit a written accident report to the Division of Boating and Waterways?

more than $500

You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in the plan?

registration number, size, and make of boat