Canada Boating Licence (PCOC) Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 6 for the Canada Boating Licence (PCOC) Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
Canada
150 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
Where is the hull serial number usually marked on a pleasure craft?
- Under the operator's seat, inside the hull
- Lower port side of the bow, near the waterline
- Upper starboard corner of the transom, outside
- Stamped on the engine's cylinder block
Show answer
Answer: C. Upper starboard corner of the transom, outside
Pleasure craft built or imported after April 29, 1981 must have a hull serial number on the upper starboard corner of the transom, or as close to it as possible.
Question 2 of 25
How many characters are in a hull serial number?
- 8
- 6
- 12
- 17
Show answer
Answer: C. 12
The hull serial number has 12 characters, each at least 6 mm high and wide.
Question 3 of 25
Where must the compliance notice be attached?
- Inside the engine compartment, near the motor
- At the helm, where the operator can see it
- On the boat trailer, next to the hitch
- Inside the owner's manual kept on board
Show answer
Answer: B. At the helm, where the operator can see it
Pleasure craft under 24 m with a motor, or made for one, need a compliance notice attached in a visible place at the helm.
Question 4 of 25
On a boat up to 6 m long, what does the compliance notice tell you?
- The maximum motor size, number of people and weight it can carry
- The top speed and how far it can go on a full tank
- The licence number and its expiry date
- The year it was built and the first owner's name
Show answer
Answer: A. The maximum motor size, number of people and weight it can carry
For craft up to 6 m, the notice shows the recommended maximum outboard power, number of people and total weight. The boat is at capacity when it reaches the first of these limits.
Question 5 of 25
The compliance notice says your boat can carry 5 people. When should you carry fewer?
- In rough water or bad weather
- Never, because the notice gives a minimum
- Only when you use a smaller motor
- Only when you travel at night
Show answer
Answer: A. In rough water or bad weather
The limits assume good weather and an evenly loaded boat. Reduce the load in rougher conditions.
Question 6 of 25
How many lifejackets or PFDs must be on board?
- One per boat if it is under 6 m
- One for every two people on board
- One for the operator only
- One of the right size for each person on board
Show answer
Answer: D. One of the right size for each person on board
Every pleasure craft must carry a Canadian-approved lifejacket or PFD of appropriate size for each person on board.
Question 7 of 25
What is the minimum length of the buoyant heaving line on a pleasure craft?
- 10 m
- 15 m
- 30 m
- 5 m
Show answer
Answer: B. 15 m
The buoyant heaving line must be at least 15 m long.
Question 8 of 25
When does a small boat need a reboarding device, such as a ladder?
- Only when the boat is longer than 12 m overall
- When the climb back aboard from the water is over 0.5 m
- Only when the boat is used after sunset
- Only when the boat is a sailboat or a PWC
Show answer
Answer: B. When the climb back aboard from the water is over 0.5 m
A reboarding device is required if the vertical height you must climb to reboard from the water is more than 0.5 m.
Question 9 of 25
A 5 m powerboat does not carry paddles or oars. What can it carry instead?
- A spare outboard motor of any size or power
- A 5 m tow rope with a hook on the end
- An anchor with at least 15 m of rope, cable or chain
- A second fuel tank, full of gasoline
Show answer
Answer: C. An anchor with at least 15 m of rope, cable or chain
Boats up to 9 m need a manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 m of cable, rope or chain.
Question 10 of 25
A 10 m powerboat needs an anchor with at least how much cable, rope or chain?
- 15 m
- 50 m
- 30 m
- 100 m
Show answer
Answer: C. 30 m
Pleasure craft over 9 m and up to 12 m need an anchor with at least 30 m of cable, rope or chain.
Question 11 of 25
A powerboat up to 6 m long uses flares to meet the visual signal rules. How many flares must it carry?
- 12
- 1
- 6
- 3
Show answer
Answer: D. 3
Up to 6 m, the flare option is 3 flares, and only 1 of them may be a smoke signal.
Question 12 of 25
A 7 m powerboat uses flares to meet the visual signal rules. How many flares must it carry?
- 10
- 3
- 12
- 6
Show answer
Answer: D. 6
Over 6 m and up to 9 m, the flare option is 6 flares, and no more than 2 may be smoke signals.
Question 13 of 25
When are flares NOT required on a pleasure craft?
- Where you can never be more than 1 nautical mile from shore on a river, canal or lake
- Any time you are boating only in daylight hours
- When everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or PFD
- When you are boating with a second boat close by at all times
Show answer
Answer: A. Where you can never be more than 1 nautical mile from shore on a river, canal or lake
Flares are not required on a river, canal or lake where the boat can never be more than 1 nautical mile from shore.
Question 14 of 25
Which item on board lets you carry 50% fewer flares?
- A second anchor and line
- A 406 MHz EPIRB
- A larger fire extinguisher
- An extra lifejacket for each person
Show answer
Answer: B. A 406 MHz EPIRB
You may carry half the listed flares if you have a two-way communication device, a 406 MHz personal locator beacon worn by the operator, or a 406 MHz EPIRB.
Question 15 of 25
Which item must a powerboat carry to make sound signals?
- A sound-signalling device, such as a whistle or horn
- A VHF radio kept tuned to channel 16
- A brass bell of any size, mounted on deck
- A gong mounted near the bow of the boat
Show answer
Answer: A. A sound-signalling device, such as a whistle or horn
Power-driven pleasure craft of every size must carry a sound-signalling device. A whistle or a horn is the usual choice on small boats.
Question 16 of 25
A 5.5 m powerboat has a fixed fuel tank. What fire extinguisher must it carry?
- None, because it is under 6 m
- Two buckets of sand
- One Class 1A fire extinguisher
- One Class 5BC fire extinguisher
Show answer
Answer: D. One Class 5BC fire extinguisher
Boats up to 6 m need one 5BC extinguisher if they have an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance.
Question 17 of 25
A 10 m cabin cruiser has an engine. What is the minimum fire extinguisher it must carry?
- One Class 5BC fire extinguisher
- No extinguisher is required
- Two Class 1A fire extinguishers
- One Class 10BC fire extinguisher
Show answer
Answer: D. One Class 10BC fire extinguisher
Over 9 m and up to 12 m, one 10BC extinguisher is required if the boat has a motor, plus another 10BC if it has a fuel-burning appliance.
Question 18 of 25
Besides fire extinguishers, what firefighting gear must a 15 m pleasure craft carry?
- A fire blanket and a garden hose at the stern
- A fixed sprinkler system in the engine room
- An axe and two buckets that hold at least 10 L each
- A smoke alarm in each cabin and a fire hose
Show answer
Answer: C. An axe and two buckets that hold at least 10 L each
Pleasure craft over 12 m and up to 24 m need an axe and two buckets with a capacity of at least 10 L each.
Question 19 of 25
What kind of fire is a Class B fire extinguisher made for?
- Ordinary materials such as wood and paper
- Burning metals such as magnesium
- Electrical equipment only
- Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease
Show answer
Answer: D. Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease
Class A is for ordinary combustibles, Class B for flammable liquids, and Class C for electrical equipment.
Question 20 of 25
If possible, how high above the water should a radar reflector be installed?
- At least 1 m
- At least 10 m
- At water level
- At least 4 m
Show answer
Answer: D. At least 4 m
Large vessels may not see a small boat. A radar reflector at least 4 m above the water, if possible, helps their radar detect you.
Question 21 of 25
When must a boat show its navigation lights?
- Only when there is no moon
- From sunset to sunrise and in times of restricted visibility
- Only when other boats are in sight
- Only when the boat is moving faster than 10 km/h
Show answer
Answer: B. From sunset to sunrise and in times of restricted visibility
Under the Collision Regulations, navigation lights must be shown from sunset to sunrise and during restricted visibility, such as fog.
Question 22 of 25
Which colours do Canadian-approved lifejackets come in?
- Any colour, including blue and black
- Black or dark grey only
- Red, orange or yellow
- Green or brown only
Show answer
Answer: C. Red, orange or yellow
Lifejackets are red, orange or yellow so you can be seen easily in the water.
Question 23 of 25
Which type of Canadian-approved lifejacket turns a person onto their back the fastest?
- Small vessel lifejacket
- Inflatable PFD
- SOLAS lifejacket
- Standard lifejacket
Show answer
Answer: C. SOLAS lifejacket
From fastest to slowest at turning you face-up: SOLAS, Standard, then Small vessel lifejackets.
Question 24 of 25
How does a PFD compare with a lifejacket?
- A PFD is only approved for children
- A PFD must always be red, orange or yellow
- A PFD gives more protection and turns you over faster
- A PFD is more comfortable but may not turn you face-up
Show answer
Answer: D. A PFD is more comfortable but may not turn you face-up
PFDs are designed for comfort and specific activities, but they do not reliably roll you onto your back like a lifejacket does.
Question 25 of 25
Who may NOT use an inflatable PFD as their approved flotation device?
- A person who can swim
- A person on a sailboat
- A person under 16 years old
- A person over 65 years old
Show answer
Answer: C. A person under 16 years old
Inflatable PFDs are not approved for anyone under 16.

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