Boater Education Card Exam (NASBLA-approved boating safety course)
Safe boat operation: practice questions
Our Boater Education Card (U.S.) bank has 37 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
Who is responsible for the wake your boat creates?
- The other boat's operator
- The operator, for any damage or injury it causes
- Nobody, wakes are natural
- The marina owner
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B. The operator, for any damage or injury it causes — NASBLA technical report (5.6.1): each operator is responsible for the boat's wake and can be held liable for damage or injuries it causes.
Question 2
Which statement about boating under the influence (BUI) is true?
- Prescription drugs are always exempt
- It applies only to boats over 26 feet in length
- It applies to legal drugs as well as alcohol
- It is only a state offense
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C. It applies to legal drugs as well as alcohol — The guide: never operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs, legal or otherwise; the legality of a substance does not change the penalties.
Question 3
How much anchor line (scope) does the Coast Guard generally recommend?
- Twice the boat's length
- Exactly 50 feet in all conditions
- 5 to 7 times the depth plus the height of the bow above the water
- Equal to the water depth
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C. 5 to 7 times the depth plus the height of the bow above the water — The guide: let out five to seven times the depth of water plus the distance from the surface to where the line attaches at the bow.
Question 4
An accident causes only $3,000 of property damage and no injuries. The report is due within:
- 48 hours
- 10 days
- 60 days
- 24 hours
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B. 10 days — 33 CFR 173.55(b)(3): within 10 days if an earlier report is not required.
Question 5
At night, which can make it harder to choose a safe speed?
- Shore lights behind other boats' navigation lights
- An empty waterway
- A clear sky
- A calm sea
Show the answer
A. Shore lights behind other boats' navigation lights — Rule 6(a)(iv): at night, the presence of background light such as shore lights must be considered.