Boating safety practice

What do two short blasts of a horn mean? I disagree with your plans. I intend to pass you on my starboard (right) side. I am stopping at the next dock. My flashlight needs batteries.

I intend to pass you on YOUR port side. MY starboard side

Which of these actions is a homeland security violation? avoiding restricted areas such as dams avoiding commercial ships on Lake Superior operating your boat in the main area of a lake approaching within 100 yards of a U.S. Navy boat

approaching within 100 yards of a U.S. Navy boat

By law, how far away must a vessel stay from a displayed diver-down flag? 5 feet 20 feet 35 feet 50 feet

50 ft

What precaution should you take while towing a trailered boat? Stay close to the right curb when turning to the right. Allow more time and distance for stopping. Partially deflate the trailer's tires. Keep outboard motors down for stability.

Allow more time and distance for stopping.

What are possible penalties for conviction of boating under the influence? community service fines and, in some cases, jail time jail time only fines only

fines and, in some cases, jail time

You are out on the water. You do not understand what another boater intends to do. What sound signal should you make? eleven prolonged blasts nine prolonged blasts seven to ten short blasts five or more short blasts

five or more short blasts

What is the maximum vessel speed when passing within 50 yards of a state-owned or state-controlled boating or fishing access area? "idle speed" 15 miles per hour 20 miles per hour 25 miles per hour

idle

The motor on a PWC is running. Which part of the PWC can cause severe internal injuries? safety lanyard fuel tank steering nozzle ignition safety switch

steering nozzle

It is a good idea for all boaters to use a pre-departure checklist. Why? to keep passengers calm to delay departure to follow the law to ensure safety

to ensure safety

What is the purpose of a lanyard attached to an ignition safety switch? to activate the boat's self-circling feature if the operator falls overboard to prevent the boat from starting for at least five minutes after fueling to shut off the engine if there is a spark in the compartment to shut off the engine if the operator falls overboard

to shut off the engine if the operator falls overboard

Which type of PFD will turn most unconscious people face up in the water? Type I Type XII Type G Type S

type 1

At what point should you open all windows and hatches when fueling? any time is OK during fueling after fueling either before or after fueling

after

Which of the following is legal? discharging oil in state waters discharging sewage in federal waters disposing of oil waste at an approved facility disposing of plastic in coastal waters

disposing of oil waste at an approved facility

Which PFD is designed to be thrown to someone in the water? air mattress near-shore vest ski belt ring buoy

ring buoy

When boating, what age children are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD when on deck and underway? over 7 years over 10 years under 13 years under 19 years

under 13 years

What should you do when approaching a low-head dam in a canoe or kayak? Carry your craft around the dam. Turn around and paddle backward over the dam. Cross with your craft parallel to the dam face. Shoot over the dam as fast as possible.

Carry your craft around the dam.

Which of these circumstances would require you to report a boating accident to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission? Your boat breaks down and requires on-the-water repairs. You do not have the required life jackets on board the vessel. Damage to your boat is more than $20 as the result of a boating accident. Damage to your boat is more than $2,000 as the result of a boating accident.

Damage to your boat is more than $2,000 as the result of a boating accident.

What does one short blast of a horn mean? I intend to pass you on my port (left) side. I disagree with your plans. I have lost my anchor. I am out of food and water.

I intend to pass you on my port (left) side.

One type of marker is used to warn boaters not to pass between the marker and the shore. What color is this marker? white with black vertical stripes white with blue vertical stripes black, gray, and white diagonal stripes green, orange, and yellow diagonal stripes

Inland Waters Obstruction Markers are white with black vertical stripes and indicate an obstruction to navigation. You should not pass between these buoys and the nearest shore.

You are operating a PWC. You are heading straight toward a dock. You turn the engine off and then turn the steering control hard right. Which way will the PWC go? It will continue straight toward the dock. It will turn sharply to the left. It will turn sharply to the right. It will go backward.

It will continue straight toward the dock.

When moored to a dock, what should you do before casting off while you warm up the engine? Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket. Use an oar or boat hook to keep the boat moving in the water. Shift into forward gear. Raise the engine out of the water.

Keep your boat tied to the dock while you warm up the engine. Make sure everyone on board is seated and wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Check that the engine is running properly and the departure area is clear of traffic.

What should you do with your float plan for a weekend water outing? Mail it to your home address. Stow it with the boat's registration papers. Fax it to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard station. Leave it with a friend or relative.

Leave it with a friend or relative.

What happens when a PWC's steering control is turned to the right? The back of the PWC is pushed to the right, and the PWC turns left. The back of the PWC is pushed to the left, and the PWC turns right. The stern of the PWC is pushed down. The bow of the PWC is pushed up.

The back of the PWC is pushed to the left, and the PWC turns right.

What should you keep in mind when selecting a ball hitch and coupler for towing your boat? The ball hitch and coupler must have the same manufacturer. The ball hitch and coupler must be the same size. The ball hitch must be larger than the coupler. The ball hitch must be the same color as the coupler.

The ball hitch and coupler must be the same size.

A motorboat is crossing paths with a PWC. What action should be taken? The motorboat should slow down and let the PWC pass because the PWC is smaller. The PWC should speed up and attempt to cross in front of the motorboat. The vessel on the port (left) should give way. The slower-moving vessel should give way.

The vessel on the port (left) should give way.

An inboard engine backfires. What will prevent the ignition of gasoline fumes? backfire flame arrestor boat fender carburetor timing device fuel flow detector

backfire flame arrestor

Who is responsible for reviewing a pre-departure checklist before a boat outing? manufacturer selling dealer boat operator no one

boat operator

Two boats are operating in the same general area. Who is responsible for maintaining a sharp lookout? the operators of both boats the operator of the stand-on vessel the operator of the give-way vessel the operator of the smaller boat

both boats

If the wind or current is pushing your boat away from the dock as you prepare to dock, which line should you secure first? towing line bow line starboard (right) line port (left) line

bow line

What is the first stage of cold water immersion? swim failure cold shock hyperventilation collapse

cold shock

Which navigation instrument is useful for steering when land is out of sight? compass tachometer marine radio depth finder

compass

You see a white marker with an orange circle and black lettering. What does this marker tell you? time of day controlled area wind speed polluted water

controlled area

You see a white marker with an orange diamond and black lettering. What does this marker tell you? no PWCs allowed good fishing area information or directions danger or hazard

danger or hazard

While boating, you see a red flag with a white diagonal stripe. What does this flag mean? diver underwater in the immediate area area designated for one boat at a time outer limits of a pump-out station zone center of an environmental survey area

diver underwater in the immediate area

Exhaust outlets are often located in the area under a boat's swim platform. This area should be strictly off limits. What is the danger if a swimmer enters this area? hypothermia hyperventilation fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning fatal carbon monoxide poisoning

fatal carbon monoxide poisoning

For most people, how many alcoholic drinks does it take before judgment and physical reaction time are impaired? one five ten fifteen

one

A passenger on a small boat falls overboard. How should this person be pulled back onto the boat? over the side into the operator's lap over the side just forward of the steering station over the stern with the engine turned off over the stern with the engine idling in neutral

over the stern with the engine turned off

What causes a PFD to wear out over time? washing it with soap and water storing it upside down exposure to cold air and rain exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun

over time, the ultraviolet radiation from the sun will break down the synthetic materials of your PFD. ... Because an inflatable PFD is a mechanical device, it requires regular maintenance.

Who is liable for any injury or damage caused by the reckless or negligent operation of a vessel? manufacturer dealer vessel owner marina owner

owner

What is required for a person younger than 26 years old to legally operate, unaccompanied, a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more? pass an approved boating safety course have a valid vehicle driver's license have at least 2 years of boating experience have at least 5 years of boating experience

pass an approved boating safety course

In addition to an all-round white light, what light(s) must power-driven vessels less than 65.6 feet (20 meters) long exhibit when underway between sunset and sunrise? blue or red flashing light red and green sidelights orange sternlight one lantern or flashlight shining a white light

red and green sidelights

Which of these is a sign of dehydration? shivering sleepiness talkativeness blue fingernails

sleepiness

What is the main function of an ignition safety switch? to shut off the engine if the operator is thrown overboard to shut off the engine when the boat or PWC is beached to prevent use of the boat or PWC without the owner's permission to prevent theft of the boat or PWC

to shut off the engine if the operator is thrown overboard

What color is a marker that indicates safe water on all sides? black with white dots blue with yellow triangles white with red vertical stripes gray with black diagonal stripes

white with red vertical stripes

What should be included on a float plan? your plans for the water outing your e-mail address your life insurance policy number the onboard location of life jackets

your plans for the water outing

One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way? the faster boat the larger boat the boat that is overtaking the boat being overtaken

the boat that is overtaking

A PWC is overtaking another vessel. Which vessel must give way? the vessel creating the least wake the PWC the slower vessel the faster vessel

the PWC

What minimum distance must be maintained from a U.S. Navy boat? 100 yards 500 yards 2,000 yards 5,000 yards

100 yrds

You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red, green, and white lights on another boat. What do these lights tell you? A sailboat under sail is crossing your path, but you have the right-of-way. A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on. Both vessels must give way. You are the stand-on vessel. A power-driven vessel is approaching on your starboard (right) side.

A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on. Both vessels must give way.

You are operating a powerboat at night. What does it mean when you see only a red and a green light on another boat? A sailing vessel is approaching head-on. You must give way. A sailing vessel is approaching from the starboard (right) side. A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right-of-way. A power-driven vessel is approaching from the port (left) side.

A sailing vessel is approaching head-on. You must give way.

What is likely to happen if you do not ventilate your boat after fueling? Gas fumes will slowly dissolve. Gas fumes will stay in the bottom of the boat. Gas fumes will give everyone carbon monoxide poisoning. Gas fumes will rise above the air and float awa

Gas fumes will stay in the bottom of the boat.

You are traveling upstream on a river at dusk. You see a buoy with the number 5 and a flashing green light. What should you do? Keep the buoy on your port (left) side. Head for shore immediately. Go around the buoy on either side. Wave an orange distress flag.

Keep the buoy on your port (left) side.

What should a sailboat operator do when approaching a PWC head-on? Slow down and change course. Slowly turn away from the PWC. Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn. Maintain present course and speed.

Maintain present course and speed.

What should you do FIRST if your boat runs aground? Shift the weight to the point of impact. Make sure no one is injured, and then check for leaks. Put the engine in reverse, and gun it. Put the engine in forward, and gun it.

Make sure no one is injured, and then check for leaks.

What happens when you modify a PWC's exhaust system? The PWC rides higher in the water. The PWC can carry additional passengers. Wake-jumping performance may be improved. Noise may be increased to an illegal level.

Noise may be increased to an illegal level.

Which symbol on a regulatory marker is used to mark a swimming area? green square yellow circle orange crossed diamond aqua diamond

Orange crossed diamond symbol on a regulatory marker is used to mark a swimming area. This symbol also means for boats to keep out of the area leaving a part of the sea for the swimming area. This symbol also made in a white buoy with black lettered writing "SWIM AREA"

PFDs on a boat must be readily accessible. Which storage method best meets this requirement? PFDs are stored in a locked, water-tight compartment at the bow. PFDs are sealed in their original plastic bags. PFDs are kept where they can be grabbed quickly by anyone on board. PFDs are secured in a locker with the dock lines and other gear.

PFDs are kept where they can be grabbed quickly by anyone on board.

A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the give-way vessel? sailboat PWC neither both

PWC

What is the likelihood of drowning for paddlers in small boats (such as canoes, kayaks, and rafts)? (Compare paddlers to other boaters.) Paddlers never drown. Paddlers are less than half as likely to drown. Paddlers are more than twice as likely to drown. Paddlers are 22 times more likely to drown.

Paddlers are more than twice as likely to drown.

What is the best way to retrieve an anchor? Pull the anchor straight up. Pull the rope from the stern. Drive the boat quickly toward shore, and pull on the anchor line as you go. Drive the boat quickly away from shore, and pull on the anchor line as you go.

Pull the anchor straight up.

A PWC capsizes. What is the best way to roll the PWC to turn it upright? Roll the PWC in direction of the sun. Roll the PWC to head north. Roll the PWC to head south. Roll the PWC according to the decal on the craft.

Roll the PWC according to the decal on the craft.

What should you do before fueling your boat? Shut OFF the engine. OPEN all windows, ports, doors, and other openings. Shut OFF the engine. CLOSE all windows, ports, doors, and other openings. Turn ON the engine. OPEN all windows, ports, doors, and other openings. Turn ON the engine. CLOSE all windows, ports, doors, and other openings.

Shut OFF the engine. CLOSE all windows, ports, doors, and other openings.

What should you do if the motor on your boat catches fire? Flood the engine compartment. Open the engine cover. Turn on the ventilation fan. Shut off the fuel supply if possible.

Shut off the fuel supply if possible.

A powerboat is about to cross paths with a sailboat under sail. What should the powerboat do? Do whatever is necessary to stay clear of the sailboat. Slowly turn in the opposite direction of the sailboat. Maintain present course and speed. Speed up to pass in front of the sailboat.

Slowly turn in the opposite direction of the sailboat.

What is the best way to check for gas fumes after fueling a PWC? Smell for fumes. Look for gas vapors. Listen for a hissing sound. Strike a match.

Smell for fumes.

What is a good safety precaution when fueling your boat? Sniff for fumes after fueling and before starting the engine. Run the ventilation system for at least four minutes before fueling. Keep all windows and doors open during fueling. Turn on the ventilation system after you pull away from the fuel dock.

Sniff for fumes after fueling and before starting the engine.

What is the risk when a PWC passes too closely behind another boat? The PWC may be sucked into the other boat's engine. The wake from the PWC can make a larger boat capsize. The PWC may catch on fire. The other boat may create a blind spot for the PWC operator.

The other boat may create a blind spot for the PWC operator.

Someone falls into the water from a dock. What is the FIRST thing you should do to help this person? Swim to the victim with a line. Row in circles around the victim. Throw an anchor overboard. Try to talk the victim to safety.

Try to talk the victim to safety.

What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to recreational boaters? U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Game Commission U.S. Wildlife Federation

U.S. Coast Guard

You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in the plan? registration number, size, and make of your boat floor plan of your boat's cabin and number of berths inventory of onboard provisions location of built-in flotation

You file a float plan for a weekend trip What should be included in the plan A float plan should: Describe the vessel, including its registration number, length, make, horsepower, and engine type. State where you are going, the detailed route, your planned departure time, and your expected return time. Give the name, address, and telephone number of each person on board and an emergency contact.

You are boating near shore at twilight. You see a square-shaped daymark. You cannot make out the marker's color. What color is it? brown beige green gray

green

Which is the safest area for towing a skier? near the shoreline where others can watch near other skiers or swimmers in the water in the middle of the lake away from other boaters in the heavy-traffic area of the waterway

in the middle of the lake away from other boaters

When does fog usually form in inlets and bays? at noon when the water heats up during the late afternoon during full moons or meteor showers in the morning or evening when the temperature changes

in the morning or evening when the temperature changes

You see a white buoy with an orange square and black lettering. What does this buoy tell you? keep out which fish are biting information or directions time of day

information or directions

You are operating a motorboat. You hear one prolonged blast from the horn of another vessel. What should you do? Increase your speed to at least 35 miles per hour. Look out for the other vessel. Turn on a red flashing light. Wave a United States flag.

is a warning signal (for example, used when coming around a blind bend or leaving the dock). Look out for the other vessel.

All vessels must have one Type I, II, or III U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD for each person on board or being towed. Which vessels also must have one Type IV PFD on board? vessels 3 ft. in length or longer vessels 16 ft. in length or longer vessels 29 ft. in length or longer not required for any vessels

vessels 16 ft. in length or longer

What are vessels less than 65.6 feet in length required to carry? blue or red flashing light blue and white Code Flag A (or Alfa flag) whistle or horn or some other means to make a sound signal state highway map

whistle or horn or some other means to make a sound signal

How should you pass a fishing boat? at normal cruising speed slowly on the upwind side of the fishing boat with minimum wake and well away from fishing lines as quickly as possible to avoid making a large wake

with minimum wake and well away from fishing lines

How can you recognize a commercial vessel towing at night? Look for orange lights. Look for yellow lights. Look for green lights. Look for red lights.

yellow?

How should firearms be transported in a boat? unloaded and lying flat on a seat or the boat's bottom unloaded with the safety on and in a gun case loaded and lying across a hunter's lap loaded with the safety on and upright in the stern

Before boarding the boat, place the unloaded firearm into the bow (front) of the boat with its muzzle pointing forward. ... Next, place the second unloaded firearm in the stern (rear) of the boat with its muzzle pointing rearward.

What is the best way to avoid overloading your boat? Make sure no one on the boat has more than 10 pounds of gear. Make sure to leave at least 10 inches of freeboard with the boat fully loaded. Don't exceed the limits listed on the capacity plate. Don't take large ice chests on board.

Don't exceed the limits listed on the capacity plate.

Where is a boat's gunwale located? across the seatbacks on the upper edge of each side in the bilge under the freeboard on each side

is the top edge of the hull of a ship or boat. Originally the structure was the "gun wale" on a sailing warship, a horizontal reinforcing band added at and above the level of a gun deck to offset the stresses created by firing artillery.

What type of engine is common on boats designed for shallow water? outrigger inward stem drive jet drive

jets

You see a green buoy. What should you do? Prepare for a thunderstorm. Wave an orange distress flag. Keep it on your left when heading upstream. Stay at least 500 feet away from it.

left/port side of the boat when heading upstream. The opposite is true when traveling downstream.

Responsible boaters use cleaning products that won't harm lakes or rivers. Which product is a responsible choice for cleaning your boat? industrial-strength detergent toxic cleaner ethylene glycol non-phosphate detergent

non-phosphate detergent

Which of the following is ILLEGAL operation of a PWC under North Carolina law? attaching the lanyard of an ignition safety switch to the operator's PFD operating a PWC after sunset operating a PWC at noon operating a PWC with each person wearing a Type III personal flotation device

operating a PWC after sunset

Which of the following is LEGAL operation of a PWC under North Carolina law? operating a PWC to chase or disturb wildlife operating a PWC equipped with blue flashing lights after sunset operating a PWC to jump the wake of another vessel when the operator cannot see around that vessel operating a PWC with each person wearing an approved personal flotation device

operating a PWC with each person wearing an approved personal flotation device

Which of the following items must be displayed on both sides of the bow of a vessel? registration number boater safety certification card vessel capacity plate owner's name

registration number