How to file a float plan
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?
rainy weather
weather with winds up to 76 knots
weather with winds up to 154 knots
good weather
You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in the plan?
your boat’s horsepower rating
onboard location of food and cooking utensils
names and addresses of your passengers
chart showing planing speed vs. fuel use
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.
Where should portable gasoline fuel tanks be filled?
in the boat’s cabin
in the boat’s cockpit
on the dock
on the gunwale
Which fueling practice is safe?
fueling your boat at night when it is cooler
filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
turning on the boat’s ventilation system while fueling
opening all windows, ports, doors, and other openings before fueling
What factor determines a boat’s required equipment?
storage capacity
rate of speed
fuel tank weight
length of boat
What is the problem with using your boat’s engine to drive it onto a trailer?
You may break the winch cable.
You may damage the engine.
The boat’s forward motion can disconnect the trailer lights.
The propeller’s wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?
Leave a little empty space in the tank.
Fill the tank all the way up.
Tip the PWC to top off the fuel tank.
Overfill slightly to avoid any air pocket.
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.
Which side of a boat has a green light at night?
gunwale
starboard (right)
stern
keel
Which vessel should display yellow lights when towing?
PWC
sailboat
ski boat
commercial vessel
You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible to boats approaching from which direction(s)?
head-on only
port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind
You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another boat. What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
A sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel.
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
Two powerboats are about to cross paths. What should the boat on the starboard (right) do?
Speed up to cross in front of the other boat.
Speed up and turn toward the other boat.
Maintain course and speed, but stay alert.
Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn or whistle.
A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?
sailboat
PWC
neither
both
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
You are out on the water in foggy conditions. You hear one prolonged blast every two minutes. What does this sound signal mean?
I am a power-driven vessel at anchor.
I am a power-driven vessel underway.
I am an inflatable raft at anchor.
I am an inflatable raft adrift in the water.
Which of these anchors is a good choice for most recreational boats?
fluke-style
clamp-style
galvanized chain
concrete block
What is the best way to avoid being run over by your own PWC or motorboat?
wear a USCG-approved life jacket
use the PWC’s self-circling feature
swim away from the boat or PWC if you fall overboard
wear an ignition safety switch lanyard
Which class of boats has priority when using river locks?
paddleboats
personal watercraft
commercial boats
private fishing boats
You are traveling upstream on a river. You see a green square daymark. What should you do?
Slow down to no-wake speed.
Keep the marker on your port (left) side.
Wave a skier-down flag.
Go around the marker on either side.
You see a white marker with red vertical stripes. What type of marker is this?
polluted water marker
safe water marker
low bridge marker
information marker
Which symbol on a regulatory marker indicates hazards such as rocks or stumps?
green square
yellow crossed diamond
aqua circle
orange diamond
You see a white marker with an orange crossed diamond and black lettering. What does this marker tell you?
mooring area
keep out
PWCs only
good fishing area
What is needed for steering control on a PWC?
an outboard motor
an adjustable propeller
a passenger in front of the operator
power to the jet drive
Which part of a PWC is dangerous to your hands, feet, and hair?
drive shaft
ignition safety switch
pump intake area
rudder control
If you are involved in a boating accident, what is the FIRST thing you must do?
go for a law enforcement officer or other help
stop and make a thorough assessment of all property damage
stop and assist anyone injured or in danger from the accident
set off flares or other visual distress signals
Which vessel requires that the operator be at least 14 years of age to operate on Washington waters?
sailboat
personal watercraft (PWC)
boat powered by a motor of 10 hp or less
canoe
Under Washington law, what blood or breath alcohol concentration, present in a vessel operator, is considered to be boat operation under the influence (BUI)?
0.10%
0.08%
0.06%
0.04%
When is a vessel operator required to use navigation lights?
at all times
when moored at a dock or pier
when away from the dock during the day
during periods of restricted visibility
By law, what age children must wear a USCG-approved life jacket when underway on the open deck of a vessel less than 19 feet in length?
12 years old and younger
12 years old and older
7 years old and younger
7 years old and older
What must be on board and available for inspection by enforcement officers whenever a vessel is operated?
float plan
Bill of Sale
trailer license
registration information
According to Washington law, during what hours is it legal to operate a personal watercraft?
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
sunrise to sunset
after dark
6 a.m. to noon
When a vessel is towing a skier, what are the legal requirements for observing that skier?
A capable observer must be on board and report the skier’s progress to the operator.
A capable observer must watch from shore or a nearby vessel.
A capable observer must be on board only if the skier is not wearing a life jacket.
A capable observer must be on board only if the operator and/or skier are under the age of 18.
A boat operator is involved in an accident in which a person is injured and requires hospitalization. How quickly must the operator file a boating accident report?
within 48 minutes
within 48 hours
within 48 days
before the vessel registration expires
In Washington, how old must a person be to legally operate a personal watercraft?
at least 4 years of age
at least 9 years of age
at least 14 years of age
at least 19 years of age
If convicted for boat operation under the influence (BUI), how long can you be imprisoned?
364 days
180 days
90 days
30 days
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
In addition to the required wearable PFD(s), what other equipment must you have on board if your vessel is 16 feet or longer?
Red Cross-approved first-aid kit
Type IV USCG-approved throwable PFD
kitchen facilities
flashing blue light
Which of these vessels must be registered to operate on Washington’s waters?
18-ft. sailboat
14-ft. rowboat
canoe
kayak
Which action would be legal for personal watercraft?
chase birds that are on or near the water
jump the wake of another vessel unreasonably close to that vessel
attach the lanyard of an ignition switch to the operator’s PFD
allow a person 9 years of age to operate the PWC
What minimum distance must be maintained from a U.S. Navy boat?
100 yards
500 yards
2,000 yards
5,000 yards
A passenger on your boat has irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. These are early symptoms of what injury?
hyperventilation
shock
carbon monoxide poisoning
head, neck, or spinal injury
What is the first stage of cold water immersion?
swim failure
cold shock
hyperventilation
collapse
What should you do after your boat runs aground and you determine that there are no leaks?
Put the engine in reverse, and gun it.
Shift the weight to the back of the boat, and rock it.
Try to shove off with a paddle or boathook.
Make a MAYDAY call with a megaphone.
Someone falls into the water from a dock. What is the proper sequence of actions to help this person?
reach, row, throw, go
reach, throw, row, go
throw, row, reach, rest
throw, reach, rest, row
What type of fire can be put out safely with water?
oil
engine
gasoline
paper
For most people, how many alcoholic drinks does it take before judgment and physical reaction time are impaired?
one
five
ten
fifteen
What is the cause of most boating accidents?
equipment failure
other boats
human error
bad weather
What is the best way to check the buoyancy of your PFD?
Wear it in an emergency and hope for the best.
Check whether the PFD floats throughout a washing machine cycle.
Squeeze the PFD against your body.
Wear the PFD in shallow water or a swimming pool.
Which statement about life jackets is true?
Life jackets do not float well in shallow water.
Life jackets are difficult to put on in the water.
Life jackets are easy to put on in the water.
Children’s life jackets should fit loosely.
You are caught in severe weather while boating. What should you do?
Throw all unnecessary gear overboard.
Head for the closest low-head dam or rapids.
Turn your navigation lights off to save the battery.
Slow down but maintain headway and steering.
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
What safety precaution should you take when hunting from a boat?
Always remain seated while shooting.
Have your dog stand on the bow for faster retrieval.
Lower the anchor slowly from the side of the boat.
Wear two layers of warm clothing over your PFD.
Which action shows responsibility toward the aquatic environment?
tossing used fishing line in the water
tossing plastic six-pack holders in the water
operating a powerboat in shallow water
using phosphate-free products to clean a boat
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.
