Canada Boating Licence (PCOC) Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

Practice test 4 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
On a summer afternoon, the sky darkens quickly and the wind picks up. What should you do?
- Anchor in open water and wait
- Turn off your navigation lights
- Head for shore
- Speed up to get past the storm
Show answer
Answer: C. Head for shore
Summer thunderstorms can arrive quickly. If the sky darkens and conditions change fast, head for shore.
Question 2 of 25
Boat B is crossing from boat A's starboard (right) side. Which boat must keep out of the way?
- Neither; both keep going
- Boat B, because it is the one turning
- Boat A, because B is on its starboard side
- The faster boat, whichever it is
Show answer
Answer: C. Boat A, because B is on its starboard side
When two power-driven vessels cross, the one that has the other on its own starboard side gives way. Boat A slows or turns to pass behind B.
Question 3 of 25
In a crossing situation, what should the stand-on boat do?
- Stop its engine immediately
- Keep its course and speed
- Speed up to get past quickly
- Turn toward the other boat
Show answer
Answer: B. Keep its course and speed
The stand-on vessel keeps its course and speed so the give-way vessel can predict its path.
Question 4 of 25
How should the give-way boat act to avoid a collision?
- Keep its speed and sound one long blast
- Take early and obvious action to keep well clear
- Wait until the last moment, then swerve
- Make many small course changes
Show answer
Answer: B. Take early and obvious action to keep well clear
The give-way vessel must act early and make its action large enough to be easily seen by the other boat.
Question 5 of 25
Two power-driven boats meet head-on. What should each do?
- Turn to port so they pass starboard to starboard
- Turn to starboard so they pass port side to port side
- Both stop and wait
- The larger boat keeps going and the smaller turns
Show answer
Answer: B. Turn to starboard so they pass port side to port side
When meeting head-on, each vessel alters course to starboard so they pass port to port.
Question 6 of 25
Boat A is coming up behind boat B to pass it. Which boat must keep out of the way?
- Whichever boat is smaller
- Boat B, the boat being passed
- Boat A, the overtaking boat
- Whichever boat is a sailboat
Show answer
Answer: C. Boat A, the overtaking boat
An overtaking vessel must keep out of the way of the vessel it is passing, even if it is a sailboat overtaking a powerboat.
Question 7 of 25
You are being overtaken by another boat. What should you do?
- Stop suddenly
- Turn across its path
- Keep your course and speed
- Speed up so it cannot pass
Show answer
Answer: C. Keep your course and speed
The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel. It keeps its course and speed while the other boat passes clear.
Question 8 of 25
A powerboat (B) and a sailboat under sail (A) are on crossing courses. Which must give way?
- Whichever boat is larger
- The powerboat, B
- The sailboat, A
- Whichever boat is on the left
Show answer
Answer: B. The powerboat, B
A power-driven vessel underway must keep out of the way of a sailing vessel. The powerboat turns and passes behind the sailboat.
Question 9 of 25
Under the Collision Regulations, which vessel must a sailboat keep out of the way of?
- Any powerboat under 20 m
- A powerboat towing a water-skier
- A personal watercraft
- A vessel engaged in fishing
Show answer
Answer: D. A vessel engaged in fishing
Sailboats must keep clear of vessels not under command, vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, and vessels engaged in fishing.
Question 10 of 25
Which vessels must a power-driven vessel keep out of the way of?
- Only ferries, cruise ships and tugboats
- Only vessels that have sounded a horn signal
- Vessels not under command, restricted, fishing or sailing
- Only vessels that are larger than it is
Show answer
Answer: C. Vessels not under command, restricted, fishing or sailing
Rule 18 lists the vessels a power-driven vessel must keep clear of: not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, engaged in fishing, and sailing.
Question 11 of 25
A ship can only navigate safely inside a narrow channel. What must a pleasure craft under 20 m do?
- Not block or delay the ship
- Cross in front of the ship quickly
- Hold its course, because it has right of way
- Anchor in the middle of the channel
Show answer
Answer: A. Not block or delay the ship
Vessels under 20 m and sailboats must not impede a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel.
Question 12 of 25
When travelling in a narrow channel, which side should you keep to?
- The port (left) side of the channel
- The starboard (right) side of the channel
- Whichever side is deeper
- The middle of the channel
Show answer
Answer: B. The starboard (right) side of the channel
In a narrow channel, keep as near as is safe to the outer edge of the channel on your starboard side.
Question 13 of 25
Why should small boats stay well away from large commercial vessels?
- Large ships must always give way to smaller boats
- They are hard to see from, faster than they look, and slow to stop
- Large ships must slow down whenever pleasure craft are near
- Large ships can stop within one boat length if needed
Show answer
Answer: B. They are hard to see from, faster than they look, and slow to stop
Large vessels have blind spots, travel faster than they appear and need much more distance to stop or turn.
Question 14 of 25
Why must you never pass between a tug and the barge it is towing?
- The tow line may be just under the surface and can capsize you
- The barge often drifts backwards toward the tug
- Passing there is only illegal after sunset
- The tug is allowed to turn sharply into small boats
Show answer
Answer: A. The tow line may be just under the surface and can capsize you
Tow lines are often just below the surface and nearly invisible. Hitting one can capsize a small boat.
Question 15 of 25
At night, a power-driven vessel towing from its stern shows which extra light above its stern light?
- A flashing blue light
- A red masthead light
- A yellow towing light
- A green all-round light
Show answer
Answer: C. A yellow towing light
A vessel towing astern shows sidelights, a sternlight and a yellow towing light above the sternlight.
Question 16 of 25
How can you tell that a risk of collision exists with an approaching boat?
- It is moving slower than you
- It shows only a white light
- Its bearing changes quickly as it gets closer
- Its compass bearing stays about the same as it gets closer
Show answer
Answer: D. Its compass bearing stays about the same as it gets closer
If the bearing of an approaching vessel does not change much as the distance shrinks, a risk of collision exists.
Question 17 of 25
What does "safe speed" mean under the Collision Regulations?
- The highest speed posted on the nearest sign
- A speed that lets you stop or avoid a collision in time
- Any speed under 10 knots, in all conditions
- The speed that gives you the best fuel economy
Show answer
Answer: B. A speed that lets you stop or avoid a collision in time
Safe speed depends on visibility, traffic, wind, waves and your boat. You must be able to stop or turn in time to avoid a collision.
Question 18 of 25
Two sailboats meet. One has the wind on its port side, the other on its starboard side. Which must keep clear?
- The boat with the wind on its port side
- The boat that is downwind
- The faster sailboat
- The boat with the wind on its starboard side
Show answer
Answer: A. The boat with the wind on its port side
When two sailing vessels have the wind on different sides, the one with the wind on its port side keeps out of the way.
Question 19 of 25
A sailboat is moving with its engine running and its sails down. How is it treated under the rules?
- As a vessel at anchor
- As a sailing vessel
- As a vessel not under command
- As a power-driven vessel
Show answer
Answer: D. As a power-driven vessel
A sailboat using its engine is a power-driven vessel and follows the rules for power-driven vessels.
Question 20 of 25
You are the stand-on boat, but the give-way boat is not changing course and a collision is close. What must you do?
- Sound one short blast and keep going
- Turn off your engine and wait
- Hold course and speed no matter what
- Take action to avoid the collision
Show answer
Answer: D. Take action to avoid the collision
The stand-on vessel must take the best action to avoid collision when the give-way vessel alone can no longer prevent it.
Question 21 of 25
A large ship gives 1 short blast. What does it mean?
- It is changing course to port
- It is changing course to starboard
- You are in danger
- It is going in reverse
Show answer
Answer: B. It is changing course to starboard
One short blast means "I am altering my course to starboard".
Question 22 of 25
A large ship gives 2 short blasts. What does it mean?
- It is leaving the dock
- It is changing course to port
- It is anchored
- It is changing course to starboard
Show answer
Answer: B. It is changing course to port
Two short blasts mean "I am altering my course to port".
Question 23 of 25
A vessel gives 3 short blasts. What does it mean?
- It needs immediate assistance
- It is about to overtake you
- It is turning to starboard
- It is operating astern propulsion
Show answer
Answer: D. It is operating astern propulsion
Three short blasts mean "I am operating astern propulsion".
Question 24 of 25
A ship sounds 5 or more short, rapid blasts at you. What does it mean?
- It is turning to port to let you pass
- It is about to anchor in the channel
- Danger: it doubts your intentions; act now
- Welcome: you may pass it on either side
Show answer
Answer: C. Danger: it doubts your intentions; act now
Five or more short, rapid blasts is the danger or doubt signal. It warns you to take action now.
Question 25 of 25
About how long is a "prolonged" blast?
- About 1 second
- 4 to 6 seconds
- At least 1 minute
- 10 to 15 seconds
Show answer
Answer: B. 4 to 6 seconds
A short blast lasts about 1 second. A prolonged blast lasts 4 to 6 seconds.

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