Swiss Boat Licence Theory Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 2 for the Swiss Boat Licence Theory Practice Test: 35 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
Switzerland
60 questions
Checked October 11, 2026

Question 1 of 35
You already hold a Swiss category D licence and want category A. Must you retake the theory exam?
- Yes, theory only
- No, only the practical exam for the new category
- No exam at all
- Yes, both theory and practical
Show answer
Answer: B. No, only the practical exam for the new category
The same theory exam is used for all categories, so you do not repeat it.
Question 2 of 35
How old may your eyesight test be when you apply for a category A licence?
- No older than 10 years
- No older than 24 months
- No older than 1 week
- Any age
Show answer
Answer: B. No older than 24 months
The eyesight test must be done by a Swiss optician or doctor within 24 months, unless you already hold a road or boat licence.
Question 3 of 35
Which document is required from applicants over 75?
- A swimming certificate
- A letter from a neighbour
- A traffic medical examination no older than 2 years
- Nothing extra
Show answer
Answer: C. A traffic medical examination no older than 2 years
Applicants over 75 need a valid traffic medical examination that is no older than two years.
Question 4 of 35
In which languages is the boat theory exam offered in canton Zurich?
- English only
- Any language you choose
- German only
- German, French and Italian
Show answer
Answer: D. German, French and Italian
Zurich lists German, French and Italian for the boat theory exam.
Question 5 of 35
What is the official vks textbook for the boat licence called?
- Erste Hilfe kompakt
- Der Weg zum Führerausweis
- Jagen in der Schweiz
- Gute Fahrt auf schweizerischen Gewässern
Show answer
Answer: D. Gute Fahrt auf schweizerischen Gewässern
The vks (association of cantonal navigation offices) textbook also gives access to its learning app.
Question 6 of 35
What rescue equipment must be on board most motor and sailing boats?
- One life jacket with a collar (at least 75 N) or one lifebuoy per person
- Nothing if the weather is good
- One life jacket for the whole boat
- Swimming goggles for each person
Show answer
Answer: A. One life jacket with a collar (at least 75 N) or one lifebuoy per person
Each person on board needs a collared life jacket of at least 75 newtons or a lifebuoy.
Question 7 of 35
What must children under 12 have on board?
- A collared life jacket that fits them
- An adult-size life jacket
- Nothing extra
- Arm floats only
Show answer
Answer: A. A collared life jacket that fits them
Children under 12 need a life jacket with a collar in their size.
Question 8 of 35
On Lake Constance, what buoyancy must life jackets have for people of 40 kg or more?
- At least 100 N
- At least 25 N
- At least 300 N
- At least 50 N
Show answer
Answer: A. At least 100 N
Lake Constance requires at least 100 newtons of buoyancy for people from 40 kg.
Question 9 of 35
What extra rescue item must a motor boat over 30 kW carry?
- A throwable rescue device with a floating line of 10 m
- A radar
- A second engine
- A diving suit
Show answer
Answer: A. A throwable rescue device with a floating line of 10 m
Boats over 30 kW, and sailing boats over 15 m², need a throw device of at least 75 N with a 10 m line.
Question 10 of 35
How large must the emergency flag on a motor boat be?
- At least 10 × 10 cm
- There is no size rule
- At least 60 × 60 cm
- At least 2 × 2 m
Show answer
Answer: C. At least 60 × 60 cm
The required emergency flag is at least 60 by 60 centimetres.
Question 11 of 35
How long must the anchor line on a motor boat be?
- 1 m
- 100 m
- One boat length
- Three boat lengths or at least 20 m
Show answer
Answer: D. Three boat lengths or at least 20 m
The anchor needs a line or chain of three boat lengths or at least 20 metres.
Question 12 of 35
When may a rowing boat on a lake go without life jackets on board?
- When it stays inside the shore zones
- Only in a storm
- At night
- Never
Show answer
Answer: A. When it stays inside the shore zones
Rowing boats on lakes are exempt from the life jacket rule within the inner and outer shore zones.
Question 13 of 35
What must a stand-up paddler carry beyond 300 m from the shore or on a river?
- A flare gun
- A life jacket or buoyancy aid of at least 50 N
- A mobile phone only
- Nothing
Show answer
Answer: B. A life jacket or buoyancy aid of at least 50 N
Beyond the outer shore zone or on rivers, SUP users need a life jacket or a buoyancy aid of at least 50 newtons.
Question 14 of 35
What must a stand-up paddle board show at night or in poor visibility?
- A red flag
- A clearly visible white all-round light
- Nothing
- A green light only
Show answer
Answer: B. A clearly visible white all-round light
At night and in poor visibility, SUPs must show a white all-round light.
Question 15 of 35
What must be written on a stand-up paddle board?
- Nothing
- The owner's name and address
- A registration number from the canton
- The board's top speed
Show answer
Answer: B. The owner's name and address
SUPs are not registered, but the owner's or keeper's name and address must be clearly visible.
Question 16 of 35
May you fit a small motor to a stand-up paddle board?
- Yes, on rivers only
- Yes, with a category A licence
- No, SUPs may only be paddled
- Yes, up to 6 kW
Show answer
Answer: C. No, SUPs may only be paddled
Motors or motor assistance on SUPs are not allowed.
Question 17 of 35
Where may an inflatable boat shorter than 2.5 m go?
- Only at night
- Only on rivers
- Only in the inner shore zone or within 150 m of an accompanying boat
- Anywhere on the lake
Show answer
Answer: C. Only in the inner shore zone or within 150 m of an accompanying boat
Small inflatables and beach boats must stay close to shore or close to an escort boat.
Question 18 of 35
How far from the shore does the inner shore zone reach?
- 150 m
- 50 m
- 1 km
- 300 m
Show answer
Answer: A. 150 m
The inner shore zone is the water up to 150 metres from the shore.
Question 19 of 35
Where is the outer shore zone?
- Within 50 m of the shore
- In the middle of the lake
- Between 300 m and 600 m
- Between 150 m and 300 m from the shore
Show answer
Answer: D. Between 150 m and 300 m from the shore
The outer shore zone runs from 150 to 300 metres from the shore or from reed and plant beds.
Question 20 of 35
What is the speed limit in the shore zones of Lake Zurich?
- 5 km/h
- 30 km/h
- 60 km/h
- 10 km/h
Show answer
Answer: D. 10 km/h
On Lake Zurich, boats may go at most 10 km/h in the shore zones.
Question 21 of 35
An orange storm warning light flashes about 40 times a minute. What does it mean?
- Fog warning
- Strong wind warning
- Storm warning
- All clear
Show answer
Answer: B. Strong wind warning
About 40 flashes a minute warns of strong wind gusts of about 25 to 33 knots.
Question 22 of 35
An orange storm warning light flashes about 90 times a minute. What does it mean?
- Strong wind warning
- Storm warning
- Ferry arriving
- Swimming area
Show answer
Answer: B. Storm warning
About 90 flashes a minute warns of gusts above 33 knots (about 61 km/h).
Question 23 of 35
Which storm warning information is binding for a skipper?
- The lake's website
- A friend's message
- A weather app
- The warning lights you can see on the lake
Show answer
Answer: D. The warning lights you can see on the lake
Only the warning lights visible on the lake are binding. Websites are for information.
Question 24 of 35
How should you behave near a scheduled passenger ship (Kursschiff)?
- Follow it closely
- Cross close in front of it
- Expect it to give way to you
- Keep well clear, especially ahead of it, because it has priority
Show answer
Answer: D. Keep well clear, especially ahead of it, because it has priority
Passenger ships on scheduled routes have priority and are hard to manoeuvre.
Question 25 of 35
How far from landing stages should swimmers stay?
- At least 5 m
- There is no rule
- At least 100 m
- At least 1 km
Show answer
Answer: C. At least 100 m
Swimmers should keep at least 100 metres from landing points for ships.
Question 26 of 35
What should divers put up before diving from a boat?
- No sign is needed
- A red and white striped flag
- The white and blue diving flag (board)
- A yellow flag
Show answer
Answer: C. The white and blue diving flag (board)
Before a dive, show the white-and-blue diving board so boats keep clear.
Question 27 of 35
When must you switch on your boat's lights?
- At night and in poor visibility
- Only on rivers
- Only in winter
- Never on lakes
Show answer
Answer: A. At night and in poor visibility
Make yourself visible: lights are needed at night and when visibility is poor.
Question 28 of 35
At what blood alcohol level is a boat licence withdrawn?
- 0.3 per mille
- 0.8 per mille or more
- 2.0 per mille
- 0.1 per mille
Show answer
Answer: B. 0.8 per mille or more
From 0.8 per mille, a qualified level, the boat licence is withdrawn. Limits are the same as on the road.
Question 29 of 35
When do the boating alcohol limits NOT apply?
- When the boat is anchored in open water
- When the boat is moored in a harbour, at the shore or at a permitted buoy
- When the skipper feels fine
- When the engine is off but the boat is drifting
Show answer
Answer: B. When the boat is moored in a harbour, at the shore or at a permitted buoy
Moored boats are exempt, but a boat anchored in open water is covered.
Question 30 of 35
Since 1 April 2025, what must you do in canton Zurich before moving a registered boat to a different lake?
- Paint the hull
- Only let it dry for a day
- Nothing
- Report it and have it cleaned at an approved station
Show answer
Answer: D. Report it and have it cleaned at an approved station
The reporting and cleaning duty helps stop invasive quagga mussels. Drying alone is not enough.
Question 31 of 35
A visitor wants to drive a Swiss motor boat over 6 kW. What licence can they use?
- Their national licence or an international certificate under UN ECE Resolution 40 for that category
- A fishing permit
- No licence is needed for visitors
- Only a car driving licence
Show answer
Answer: A. Their national licence or an international certificate under UN ECE Resolution 40 for that category
Temporary visitors may drive Swiss boats if their national licence or international certificate covers the category.
Question 32 of 35
Which body brings together the cantonal navigation offices that run boat exams?
- The vks (Vereinigung der Schifffahrtsämter)
- The Swiss Army
- The Swiss Red Cross
- The Federal Roads Office
Show answer
Answer: A. The vks (Vereinigung der Schifffahrtsämter)
Boat licences are issued by cantonal navigation offices, which work together in the vks.
Question 33 of 35
Swimmers are near your motor boat. What is the safest action?
- Pass between them
- Sound the horn and keep going
- Speed past quickly
- Slow down, keep well away and stop the propeller if they are close
Show answer
Answer: D. Slow down, keep well away and stop the propeller if they are close
A turning propeller can cause serious injury. Keep a wide distance and stop the engine near people in the water.
Question 34 of 35
Under Swiss rules, who counts as the skipper (Schiffsführer) of a boat?
- The person who actually has command on board
- The youngest person on board
- The owner, even if they are on shore
- Whoever paid for the fuel
Show answer
Answer: A. The person who actually has command on board
The skipper is whoever really holds command of the boat, and that person needs the right licence.
Question 35 of 35
Before going out on a Swiss lake, what should a skipper check?
- Only the music system
- Nothing if the lake is small
- The weather and the storm warning lights
- Only the fuel price
Show answer
Answer: C. The weather and the storm warning lights
Weather on Swiss lakes can change quickly. Check forecasts and the warning lights before and during the trip.

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