New York Boater Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 6

Practice test 6 of 6 for the New York Boater Exam Practice Test: 20 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
New York
133 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 20
Who may use an inflatable life jacket to meet the carriage requirement?
- Anyone of any age
- Only people who cannot swim
- People 16 years of age and older
- Children under 13
Show answer
Answer: C. People 16 years of age and older
Inflatable life jackets are approved only for people 16 and older.
Question 2 of 20
A friend lifts your life jacket at the shoulders and it stays below your chin. What does this show?
- It fits properly
- It is the wrong color
- It is too loose
- It needs to be inflated
Show answer
Answer: A. It fits properly
A properly fitted life jacket stays in place when lifted at the shoulders. If it rides up over your chin or ears, it is too loose.
Question 3 of 20
On inland waters, what signal does a power-driven vessel sound when it leaves a dock or berth?
- One short blast
- Two prolonged blasts
- One prolonged blast
- Five short blasts
Show answer
Answer: C. One prolonged blast
A power-driven vessel leaving a dock or berth sounds one prolonged blast.
Question 4 of 20
A 30-foot boat with an engine room must post which placard?
- An oil discharge placard, at least 5 by 8 inches
- A speed limit sign for the nearest marina
- A placard listing the names of the crew
- A no-smoking sign, at least 2 by 3 inches
Show answer
Answer: A. An oil discharge placard, at least 5 by 8 inches
Boats 26 feet or longer with a machinery space must post an oil discharge placard at least 5 by 8 inches in the machinery space or at the bilge pump station.
Question 5 of 20
What does this buoy with red and white vertical stripes mark?
- Safe water, such as the middle of a channel
- A place where boats may not go
- A swimming area
- A wreck or rock to stay away from
Show answer
Answer: A. Safe water, such as the middle of a channel
Safe water markers have red and white vertical stripes. They mark safe water all around, often a fairway or mid-channel.
Question 6 of 20
Which non-pyrotechnic signal counts for nighttime use only?
- A red pennant
- An orange smoke signal
- An electric distress light
- An orange distress flag
Show answer
Answer: C. An electric distress light
An electric distress light meets the night requirement. An orange flag only counts during the day.
Question 7 of 20
Boat A is overtaking boat B from behind. Which boat must keep clear?
- The smaller of the two boats
- Boat B, the boat being passed
- Boat A, the overtaking boat
- Whichever boat is closer to shore
Show answer
Answer: C. Boat A, the overtaking boat
In an overtaking situation, the overtaking vessel is the give-way vessel and must keep clear until it is past.
Question 8 of 20
Your boat is 70 feet long and has a toilet. Which marine sanitation device types may it use?
- No device is required
- Type I only
- Type I, II or III
- Type II or Type III
Show answer
Answer: D. Type II or Type III
Vessels 65 feet and under may use a Type I, II or III device. Vessels over 65 feet must use Type II or III.
Question 9 of 20
A collision causes $3,000 in damage but no injuries. How soon must it be reported?
- Within 10 days
- It does not need to be reported
- Within 2 hours
- Within 48 hours
Show answer
Answer: A. Within 10 days
Accidents with damage only (of $2,000 or more) must be reported within 10 days.
Question 10 of 20
How tall must the letters and numbers of the registration number be?
- At least 12 inches, in any color
- At least 6 inches, in script letters
- At least 3 inches, in block characters
- At least 1 inch, in any style
Show answer
Answer: C. At least 3 inches, in block characters
The registration number must be in plain block characters at least 3 inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull.
Question 11 of 20
What is a "safe speed"?
- A speed that lets you stop or turn in time
- The speed posted at the nearest launch ramp
- Any speed under 10 mph, in all conditions
- The highest speed your boat can safely reach
Show answer
Answer: A. A speed that lets you stop or turn in time
Safe speed depends on visibility, traffic, wind, waves and your boat. You must be able to avoid a collision and stop in time.
Question 12 of 20
Your powerboat is approaching a vessel engaged in fishing with nets. What must you do?
- Keep out of its way
- Sound five short blasts and continue
- Hold your course; it must move for you
- Pass close to look at its gear
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep out of its way
A power-driven vessel underway must keep out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing, which has nets or gear that limit its movement.
Question 13 of 20
Which kind of life jacket is the right choice for riding a personal watercraft?
- A non-inflatable life jacket rated for PWC use
- A throwable cushion held on your lap
- No life jacket is needed on a PWC
- An inflatable belt pack
Show answer
Answer: A. A non-inflatable life jacket rated for PWC use
Most inflatable life jackets are not approved for PWC use. Wear a properly sized, inherently buoyant life jacket meant for PWC riding.
Question 14 of 20
If you use pyrotechnic signals to meet the requirement, how many must you carry?
- Six signals for night use only
- Three for day use and three for night use
- Ten signals of any type, day or night
- One for day use and one for night use
Show answer
Answer: B. Three for day use and three for night use
Carry at least three day and three night signals. Combination day/night flares can count toward both.
Question 15 of 20
You approach a river bend where you cannot see around the corner. What signal should you sound on inland waters?
- Five short blasts
- Two short blasts
- One prolonged blast
- Three short blasts
Show answer
Answer: C. One prolonged blast
A vessel nearing a bend or obstructed area sounds one prolonged blast. Any vessel around the bend that hears it answers with a prolonged blast.
Question 16 of 20
When must recreational boats show navigation lights?
- Only when other boats are close by
- From sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility
- Only on nights when there is no moon
- Only on the ocean, not on lakes or rivers
Show answer
Answer: B. From sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility
Navigation lights are required between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility.
Question 17 of 20
What does this black buoy with a red band and two black balls on top mean?
- The center of a safe channel or fairway
- An isolated danger with safe water around it
- A mooring area where boats may tie up
- The start of a no-wake zone near shore
Show answer
Answer: B. An isolated danger with safe water around it
Isolated danger marks are placed on or near a danger, such as a rock, that has navigable water around it. Do not pass close.
Question 18 of 20
This white buoy with a blue band is a mooring buoy. What is it for?
- Warning of a hidden rock
- Marking the right side of a channel
- Marking a no-wake zone
- Tying up or securing a boat
Show answer
Answer: D. Tying up or securing a boat
Mooring buoys are white with a horizontal blue band. They are made for boats to tie up to.
Question 19 of 20
What does this white marker with an orange circle mean?
- A controlled area; here, no wake
- Danger from rocks right below
- Boats must keep out of the area
- Directions to a nearby marina
Show answer
Answer: A. A controlled area; here, no wake
An orange circle marks a controlled area, such as a no-wake or speed-limit zone. The rule is written inside the circle.
Question 20 of 20
At night you see another boat's red sidelight on your starboard side. What should you do?
- Hold course, since you are the stand-on boat
- Speed up to cross in front of it quickly
- Give way, because it is crossing from your right
- Turn off your lights so you do not confuse it
Show answer
Answer: C. Give way, because it is crossing from your right
A red light on your right means a boat is crossing from your starboard side. You are the give-way vessel.

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