NSW Boat Licence Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 3 for the NSW Boat Licence Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
New South Wales
90 questions
Checked October 11, 2026

Question 1 of 25
Someone falls overboard. What should you do first?
- Turn sharply towards them at full speed
- Call the person's family
- Drop the anchor
- Shout 'man overboard', keep pointing at the person and keep them in sight
Show answer
Answer: D. Shout 'man overboard', keep pointing at the person and keep them in sight
Raise the alarm and keep one person watching and pointing at the person in the water while you turn the boat carefully to return.
Question 2 of 25
What shape does a vessel at anchor show in the daytime?
- A red flag
- Two black cones pointing up
- A black diamond
- One black ball in the forward part of the vessel
Show answer
Answer: D. One black ball in the forward part of the vessel
By day, a vessel at anchor shows a black ball where it can best be seen in the fore part.
Question 3 of 25
How can you tell there is a risk of collision with an approaching vessel?
- It is a sailing vessel
- It shows a white light
- Its compass bearing stays about the same while the distance gets smaller
- It is moving faster than you
Show answer
Answer: C. Its compass bearing stays about the same while the distance gets smaller
If the bearing of an approaching vessel does not change much while it gets closer, you are on a collision course.
Question 4 of 25
A large ship can only move safely inside a narrow channel. What must a small recreational boat do?
- Keep out of its way and not impede its passage
- Hold course, because small boats always have right of way
- Anchor in the channel until it passes
- Cross close ahead of it to show your intentions
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep out of its way and not impede its passage
Vessels under 20 metres and sailing vessels must not impede a vessel that can only navigate safely within a narrow channel.
Question 5 of 25
What colour light may a port-hand lateral mark show at night in Australia?
- White
- Green
- Yellow
- Red
Show answer
Answer: D. Red
Under IALA A, port-hand marks are red and, if lit, show a red light.
Question 6 of 25
Where should you drive a small boat in a narrow channel?
- In the middle of the channel
- Anywhere, as long as you sound your horn
- As near to the starboard (right) side of the channel as is safe
- On the port (left) side of the channel
Show answer
Answer: C. As near to the starboard (right) side of the channel as is safe
Collision rule 9 says to keep near the outer limit of a narrow channel on your starboard side, as far as is safe.
Question 7 of 25
A trawler is fishing with nets. You are in a power boat. What must you do?
- Keep out of its way
- Expect it to move out of your way
- Pass close astern over its nets
- Sound five short blasts and hold course
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep out of its way
Power-driven and sailing vessels must keep out of the way of vessels engaged in fishing with nets, lines or trawls that restrict their movement.
Question 8 of 25
Which radio call should you use when a person or vessel is in grave and immediate danger?
- MAYDAY
- ROGER
- PAN-PAN
- SECURITE
Show answer
Answer: A. MAYDAY
MAYDAY is the distress call, used only when life or the vessel is in grave and immediate danger.
Question 9 of 25
You are boating in fog. What should you do?
- Follow close behind the boat ahead
- Turn off your navigation lights to save the battery
- Speed up to get out of the fog quickly
- Slow to a safe speed, keep a sharp lookout and make the correct sound signals
Show answer
Answer: D. Slow to a safe speed, keep a sharp lookout and make the correct sound signals
In restricted visibility, every vessel must go at a safe speed for the conditions and make the sound signals in the collision rules.
Question 10 of 25
Two sailing vessels have the wind on the same side. Which one gives way?
- The faster vessel
- The windward vessel (the one further upwind)
- The one closer to the shore
- The leeward vessel (the one further downwind)
Show answer
Answer: B. The windward vessel (the one further upwind)
When both have the wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps out of the way of the leeward vessel.
Question 11 of 25
Where is the safest water when you see this mark?
- To the east of the mark
- To the south of the mark
- Between the mark and the shore
- To the west of the mark
Show answer
Answer: D. To the west of the mark
This is a west cardinal mark: the cones point towards each other, yellow with a black band. Pass to the west.
Question 12 of 25
A power boat and a sailing vessel under sail alone are on courses that could collide. Normally, who gives way?
- Whichever is smaller
- The sailing vessel
- The power boat
- Whichever is on the other's starboard side
Show answer
Answer: C. The power boat
A power-driven vessel must keep out of the way of a sailing vessel, unless the sailing vessel is overtaking it.
Question 13 of 25
What does two short blasts on the horn mean?
- I am altering my course to starboard
- I am at anchor
- I intend to overtake you
- I am altering my course to port
Show answer
Answer: D. I am altering my course to port
Two short blasts mean 'I am altering my course to port'.
Question 14 of 25
Which lights does a sailing vessel under sail show at night?
- Only an all-round white light
- Sidelights and a sternlight, but no masthead light
- One all-round red light
- A masthead light, sidelights and a sternlight
Show answer
Answer: B. Sidelights and a sternlight, but no masthead light
A sailing vessel under sail alone shows sidelights and a sternlight. A masthead light would mean it is using its engine.
Question 15 of 25
Another vessel gives at least five short, rapid blasts. What does it mean?
- It doubts that you are taking enough action to avoid a collision
- It is a fishing vessel hauling nets
- It is altering course to port
- It is about to anchor
Show answer
Answer: A. It doubts that you are taking enough action to avoid a collision
Five or more short, rapid blasts is the doubt or warning signal. Check the situation and act to avoid a collision.
Question 16 of 25
When should you use a PAN-PAN radio call?
- To check your radio works
- When someone is drowning
- For an urgent problem that is not yet life-threatening, such as engine failure
- To report the weather
Show answer
Answer: C. For an urgent problem that is not yet life-threatening, such as engine failure
PAN-PAN is the urgency call. Use it for an urgent situation where there is no immediate danger to life.
Question 17 of 25
Two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on. What should each skipper do?
- The bigger vessel keeps going and the smaller one stops
- Both alter course to starboard (right)
- Both alter course to port (left)
- Both keep course and speed
Show answer
Answer: B. Both alter course to starboard (right)
In a head-on situation, each power-driven vessel turns to starboard so they pass port side to port side.
Question 18 of 25
What is the Australian Builders Plate on a recreational boat for?
- It shows the skipper's licence number
- It shows the boat's safe limits, such as the maximum number of people and load
- It proves the boat is registered
- It lists the boat's last service date
Show answer
Answer: B. It shows the boat's safe limits, such as the maximum number of people and load
Recreational boats of a prescribed class supplied after 1 July 2012 must carry an Australian Builders Plate. It shows the maximum number of people, load and engine power.
Question 19 of 25
You are heading into a harbour, in the direction of buoyage. Which side of your boat should this mark be on?
- Directly ahead of you
- On your starboard (right) side
- It does not matter
- On your port (left) side
Show answer
Answer: D. On your port (left) side
This is a red port-hand mark. Under IALA A, keep red marks on your port side when entering a harbour or going upstream.
Question 20 of 25
Two sailing vessels meet, with the wind on different sides. Which one gives way?
- The one that is further upwind
- The one with the wind on its port side
- The larger yacht
- The one with the wind on its starboard side
Show answer
Answer: B. The one with the wind on its port side
When the wind is on different sides, the vessel on port tack (wind on its port side) keeps out of the way.
Question 21 of 25
You are overtaking a slower boat. Who must keep clear?
- You, the overtaking vessel, until you are well past
- Whichever boat is larger
- Whichever boat is under sail
- The slower boat you are passing
Show answer
Answer: A. You, the overtaking vessel, until you are well past
Any vessel overtaking another must keep out of its way until it is past and clear. This applies to every type of vessel.
Question 22 of 25
What does this red and white striped mark tell you?
- You must stop and wait
- There is safe, navigable water all around it
- It marks the edge of a marine park
- There is a danger directly under it
Show answer
Answer: B. There is safe, navigable water all around it
A safe water mark has red and white vertical stripes and may have a single red ball on top. It often marks the middle of a channel or the approach from sea.
Question 23 of 25
What does this mark tell you?
- There is a small, isolated danger with safe water all around it
- The water is safe all around; it often marks a channel centre
- Keep the mark on your port side when entering
- A swimming area is ahead
Show answer
Answer: A. There is a small, isolated danger with safe water all around it
An isolated danger mark is black with red bands and has two black balls on top. It sits on or above a danger such as a rock. Do not pass too close.
Question 24 of 25
Where is the safest water when you see this mark?
- All around the mark
- To the south of the mark
- To the north of the mark
- Only on its east side
Show answer
Answer: C. To the north of the mark
This is a north cardinal mark: two black cones pointing up, black above yellow. Safe water is to the north.
Question 25 of 25
At night you see a white masthead light and a red sidelight on your starboard bow. The bearing is not changing. What should you do?
- Hold your course and speed
- Give way: slow down or turn to starboard and pass behind it
- Turn to port and cross ahead of it
- Flash your lights and keep going
Show answer
Answer: B. Give way: slow down or turn to starboard and pass behind it
Seeing its red (port) light means the vessel is crossing from your right. You are the give-way vessel and should pass behind it.

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