Boater Education Card Exam (NASBLA-approved boating safety course)
Required equipment: practice questions
Our Boater Education Card (U.S.) bank has 82 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
On new life jacket labels, a higher performance level number (for example 150 instead of 70) means:
- Less buoyancy but more comfort, meant for calm lakes
- The jacket is only for children
- The jacket is approved for Canada only
- More flotation and turning ability, for offshore use
Show the answer
D. More flotation and turning ability, for offshore use — Levels are measured in newtons. The guide explains lower levels suit near-shore calm water and higher levels give more flotation and turning for offshore, longer rescue times.
Question 2
A model-year-2020 motorboat 20 feet long with no fixed system needs at least:
- Two 5-B portable extinguishers
- No extinguisher
- One 5-B portable extinguisher
- One 20-B and one 5-B
Show the answer
C. One 5-B portable extinguisher — Table 1 to 33 CFR 175.320: 16 to under 26 feet with no fixed system: one 5-B.
Question 3
At what length must a vessel carry a bell in addition to a whistle?
- 8 meters or more
- 65 meters or more
- 12 meters or more
- 20 meters or more
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D. 20 meters or more — Rule 33(a): a vessel of 20 m or more must be provided with a bell in addition to a whistle.
Question 4
Hand-held red flares meet which requirement?
- Night only
- Day only
- Day and night
- Neither unless used with a flag
Show the answer
C. Day and night — Table 175.130: hand-held red flare distress signals (160.021) meet day and night requirements.
Question 5
What does the letter 'B' on a fire extinguisher rating mean?
- It is for burning metals
- It is for energized electrical equipment
- It is for ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper
- It is for flammable liquids such as gasoline and oil
Show the answer
D. It is for flammable liquids such as gasoline and oil — The guide: Class B is designed for flaming liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease; A is wood/paper; C is electrical.