Germany Boat Licence Practice Test (SBF See) 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   Where is overtaking forbidden under the SeeSchStrO?

   • AAnywhere outside a harbour
   • BOn any open sea area
   • CIn narrow places and in bends with poor visibility
   • DWhenever the wind is from the west
   Show answer

   Answer: C. In narrow places and in bends with poor visibility

   § 23 forbids overtaking at narrow points, in blind bends, near ferries under way and before and in locks.

2. Question 2 of 25

   May you anchor in a fairway?

   • AYes, if you show a light
   • BYes, but only at night
   • CYes, at any time
   • DNo, anchoring in the fairway is forbidden except in designated roadsteads
   Show answer

   Answer: D. No, anchoring in the fairway is forbidden except in designated roadsteads

   § 32 SeeSchStrO bans anchoring in the fairway, apart from roadsteads (Reeden).

3. Question 3 of 25

   How close to cables, pipelines and wrecks may you anchor outside the fairway?

   • ANot within 10 metres
   • BNot within 300 metres
   • CThere is no rule
   • DNot within 50 metres
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Not within 300 metres

   § 32 SeeSchStrO forbids anchoring within 300 m of cables, pipelines, wrecks and other hazards.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Outside the fairway, near a beach where people are swimming, what is the maximum speed within 500 m of the shore?

   • A35 km/h
   • B8 km/h (about 4.3 knots) through the water
   • CThere is no limit outside the fairway
   • D20 km/h
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 8 km/h (about 4.3 knots) through the water

   § 26 SeeSchStrO sets 8 km/h within 500 m of the shore where people are visibly bathing, outside the fairway.

5. Question 5 of 25

   You pass a moored boat in a narrow channel. What should you do?

   • ASound five short blasts
   • BSlow down so your wash and suction do not harm it
   • CSteer straight at the bank
   • DSpeed up to pass quickly
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Slow down so your wash and suction do not harm it

   Wash and suction can damage moored boats. The rules require reducing speed in time.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Two power-driven boats are on a crossing course with risk of collision. Who gives way?

   • AThe larger boat
   • BNeither; both keep going
   • CThe boat that has the other on its own starboard (right) side
   • DThe boat that has the other on its port side
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The boat that has the other on its own starboard (right) side

   KVR Rule 15: the vessel with the other on her starboard side keeps out of the way.

7. Question 7 of 25

   When is a boat 'overtaking' under the collision rules?

   • AWhen it comes up from more than 22.5° abaft the beam of the other
   • BOnly when it is directly behind
   • CWhen it is within 10 metres
   • DWhenever it is faster
   Show answer

   Answer: A. When it comes up from more than 22.5° abaft the beam of the other

   KVR Rule 13: approaching from more than 22.5° abaft the beam, so at night only the stern light can be seen.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Who must keep clear in an overtaking situation?

   • AThe overtaking vessel, whatever its type
   • BAlways the smaller vessel
   • CThe vessel being overtaken
   • DAlways the sailing vessel
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The overtaking vessel, whatever its type

   KVR Rule 13: any vessel overtaking another keeps out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.

9. Question 9 of 25

   A motorboat and a sailing boat under sail only are on collision courses in open water. Who gives way?

   • AWhichever is faster
   • BThe sailing boat
   • CWhichever is on the left
   • DThe motorboat
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The motorboat

   KVR Rule 18: a power-driven vessel keeps out of the way of a sailing vessel (unless it is overtaking).

10. Question 10 of 25

    A sailing boat is also using its engine. How is it treated under the rules?

    • AAs a sailing vessel
    • BAs a vessel not under command
    • CAs a power-driven vessel
    • DAs a fishing vessel
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As a power-driven vessel

    Any vessel using an engine counts as power-driven, even with sails up, and must show power-driven lights.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Two sailing boats have the wind on the same side. Which one gives way?

    • AThe leeward boat
    • BThe windward boat (the one nearer the wind)
    • CThe one on starboard tack
    • DThe faster boat
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The windward boat (the one nearer the wind)

    KVR Rule 12: when both have the wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps out of the way.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Two sailing boats have the wind on different sides. Which one gives way?

    • AThe boat with the wind on its starboard side
    • BThe boat with the wind on its port side
    • CNeither
    • DThe bigger boat
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The boat with the wind on its port side

    KVR Rule 12: the vessel with the wind on the port side keeps out of the way.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Which vessel must a sailing boat give way to?

    • AA vessel engaged in fishing
    • BA water-ski boat
    • CA small motorboat crossing from port
    • DA motorboat overtaking it
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A vessel engaged in fishing

    KVR Rule 18: sailing vessels keep clear of vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, and engaged in fishing.

14. Question 14 of 25

    How should a give-way vessel act?

    • ABy waiting for the other vessel to move
    • BBy keeping course and sounding the horn
    • CEarly, clearly and with a large enough change of course or speed
    • DAt the last moment, with a small change
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Early, clearly and with a large enough change of course or speed

    The give-way vessel must take early and substantial action that the other can see clearly.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What should the stand-on vessel do at first?

    • ASpeed up to cross first
    • BKeep its course and speed and watch the other vessel closely
    • CTurn away at once
    • DStop its engine
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Keep its course and speed and watch the other vessel closely

    The stand-on vessel holds course and speed, but must act itself if the give-way vessel can no longer avoid a collision alone.

16. Question 16 of 25

    How can you tell there is a risk of collision with another boat?

    • AYou can hear its engine
    • BThe distance is shrinking and the compass bearing to it hardly changes
    • CThe bearing changes quickly
    • DThe other boat is a different colour
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The distance is shrinking and the compass bearing to it hardly changes

    A steady bearing with decreasing distance means you are on a collision course.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Between what times must navigation lights be shown?

    • AOnly in winter
    • BOnly in harbours
    • CFrom sunset to sunrise, and also in poor visibility by day
    • DOnly after midnight
    Show answer

    Answer: C. From sunset to sunrise, and also in poor visibility by day

    Lights are required from sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What colour is the sidelight on the starboard (right) side of a boat?

    • AYellow
    • BWhite
    • CGreen
    • DRed
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Green

    KVR Rule 21: green on starboard, red on port, each shining 112.5° from ahead.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Over what arc does a stern light shine?

    • A135°, white, towards the back
    • B360°, red
    • C225°, green, towards the front
    • D90°, yellow, to the side
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 135°, white, towards the back

    KVR Rule 21: the stern light is white and covers 135° astern.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A sailing vessel under 20 m long may show which light instead of separate sidelights and a stern light?

    • AA tricolour lantern at or near the top of the mast
    • BA single red all-round light
    • CA flashing blue light
    • DTwo white masthead lights
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A tricolour lantern at or near the top of the mast

    Sailing vessels under 20 m may combine sidelights and stern light in one tricolour lantern at the masthead.

21. Question 21 of 25

    You see two red all-round lights, one above the other, and no other lights. What is it?

    • AA sailing boat at anchor
    • BA pilot boat
    • CA fishing boat trawling
    • DA vessel not under command that is not making way
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A vessel not under command that is not making way

    Two red all-round lights in a vertical line mean a vessel not under command; with no sidelights it has no way on.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What light does a vessel under 50 m show at anchor?

    • AOne white all-round light
    • BOne red all-round light
    • CGreen over red
    • DNo lights at all
    Show answer

    Answer: A. One white all-round light

    An anchored vessel under 50 m shows a single white all-round light where it can best be seen.

23. Question 23 of 25

    How long is a 'short blast' on the horn?

    • AHalf a minute
    • BAbout 10 seconds
    • CAbout 4 to 6 seconds
    • DAbout 1 second
    Show answer

    Answer: D. About 1 second

    KVR Rule 32: a short blast lasts about one second; a prolonged blast 4 to 6 seconds.

24. Question 24 of 25

    A power-driven vessel in sight of you gives one short blast. What does it mean?

    • AI am altering my course to starboard
    • BI am in distress
    • CI am altering my course to port
    • DI am operating astern propulsion
    Show answer

    Answer: A. I am altering my course to starboard

    KVR Rule 34: one short blast means altering course to starboard.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What do three short blasts mean?

    • AI am operating astern propulsion
    • BMan overboard
    • CI am at anchor
    • DI am altering course to port
    Show answer

    Answer: A. I am operating astern propulsion

    KVR Rule 34: three short blasts mean the engines are going astern.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: At least 5 of 7 basic and 18 of 23 sea-specific multiple-choice questions, plus at least 7 of 9 on the navigation task. Each part is marked separately.