North Carolina Boater Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

Practice test 3 of 6 for the North Carolina Boater Exam Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
North Carolina
132 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
What does this white marker with an orange diamond and a cross inside mean?
- Swimmers may not enter
- Boats keep out of the area
- Slow down to 5 mph
- Information about a nearby marina
Show answer
Answer: B. Boats keep out of the area
A diamond with a cross marks an exclusion area. Boats must keep out, for example near dams or swimming areas.
Question 2 of 25
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 3 of 25
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 4 of 25
Your flares expired last year. Do they count toward the requirement?
- Yes, for up to 5 years after expiry
- Yes, if they are kept dry
- No, expired pyrotechnics do not count
- Yes, but only at night
Show answer
Answer: C. No, expired pyrotechnics do not count
Pyrotechnic signals must be in date. Expired signals do not meet the requirement.
Question 5 of 25
A vessel flies this blue and white flag (code flag A). What does it mean?
- It is towing a skier and needs extra room
- It is for sale and you may come alongside
- It has divers down and cannot easily maneuver
- It is anchored for the night with no one aboard
Show answer
Answer: C. It has divers down and cannot easily maneuver
When a vessel engaged in diving cannot show the normal shapes, it displays a rigid replica of code flag "A" at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) high.
Question 6 of 25
In this diagram, what color is the port sidelight (light 1)?
- Yellow
- White
- Green
- Red
Show answer
Answer: D. Red
The port sidelight is red and the starboard sidelight is green.
Question 7 of 25
What must a boat 12 meters (39.4 feet) or longer carry for sound signals?
- A referee whistle for the operator
- A small hand bell kept at the helm
- A whistle audible for 1/2 nautical mile
- Nothing beyond a working VHF radio
Show answer
Answer: C. A whistle audible for 1/2 nautical mile
Vessels 12 meters or longer need a whistle (horn) audible for 1/2 nautical mile. Vessels 20 meters or longer also need a bell.
Question 8 of 25
Which boats are covered by the federal engine cut-off switch law?
- Only sailboats that have an outboard motor
- Only commercial fishing boats of any size
- Recreational boats under 26 feet, about 3 hp or more
- All recreational boats over 40 feet long
Show answer
Answer: C. Recreational boats under 26 feet, about 3 hp or more
The law covers recreational vessels under 26 feet with engines that make 115 pounds of static thrust (about 3 hp) or more.
Question 9 of 25
Light 4 in the diagram is the white sternlight. How wide is its arc?
- 225 degrees, toward the front
- 360 degrees, all around
- 112.5 degrees, on one side
- 135 degrees, toward the back
Show answer
Answer: D. 135 degrees, toward the back
The sternlight shines over 135 degrees behind the boat. The masthead light covers 225 degrees forward.
Question 10 of 25
You are towing a water-skier. What is the job of the observer on board?
- Steer the skier using only hand signals
- Keep other boats from coming close to watch
- Watch the skier and tell the operator what happens
- Drive the boat while the operator watches
Show answer
Answer: C. Watch the skier and tell the operator what happens
The operator must watch where the boat is going, so a second person keeps a continuous eye on the skier and reports falls and signals.
Question 11 of 25
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 12 of 25
One 20-B fire extinguisher can replace how many required 5-B extinguishers?
- Two
- Four
- Three
- One
Show answer
Answer: A. Two
One 20-B extinguisher may be carried in place of two required 5-B extinguishers.
Question 13 of 25
How old can a disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguisher be and still count?
- There is no age limit if it is full
- No more than 20 years from purchase
- No more than 5 years from manufacture
- No more than 12 years from manufacture
Show answer
Answer: D. No more than 12 years from manufacture
Disposable extinguishers must be removed from service 12 years after the date stamped on the bottle, on December 31 of the 12th year.
Question 14 of 25
You are in a No Discharge Zone. What must you do with your marine sanitation device?
- Discharge only sewage that has been treated
- Remove the toilet from the boat completely
- Secure it so it cannot discharge, such as with a padlock
- Discharge only at night when no one is swimming
Show answer
Answer: C. Secure it so it cannot discharge, such as with a padlock
In a No Discharge Zone, no sewage may be discharged, and the device must be secured, such as with a padlocked valve or locked door.
Question 15 of 25
On a Coast Guard documented vessel, how tall must the name and hailing port be?
- Any size that can be read
- At least 12 inches
- At least 1 inch
- At least 4 inches
Show answer
Answer: D. At least 4 inches
Documented vessels show their name and hailing port together on the hull in letters at least 4 inches high.
Question 16 of 25
What does an engine cut-off switch link do?
- Stops the engine if the operator is thrown from the helm
- Locks the steering wheel when you are not aboard
- Turns on the navigation lights automatically
- Starts the bilge blower before the engine starts
Show answer
Answer: A. Stops the engine if the operator is thrown from the helm
The lanyard links the operator to the switch. If the operator is thrown from the helm, the link pulls free and the engine shuts off.
Question 17 of 25
Why is a personal watercraft operator's lanyard attached to their body or life jacket?
- So the PWC can be anchored
- So the engine stops if the rider falls off
- So the lights turn on automatically
- So the rider can tow a tube
Show answer
Answer: B. So the engine stops if the rider falls off
If the rider falls off, the lanyard pulls the cut-off switch and the engine stops, so the PWC does not keep going without them.
Question 18 of 25
Where must recreational boats carry visual distress signals?
- Coastal waters, the Great Lakes and territorial seas
- Only on rivers that are wider than 1 mile
- Only on small inland lakes and ponds
- Only within 1 mile of any shoreline
Show answer
Answer: A. Coastal waters, the Great Lakes and territorial seas
Visual distress signals are required on U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and connected waters up to where they become less than 2 nautical miles wide.
Question 19 of 25
On inland waters, you want to overtake a power-driven vessel and pass on its starboard side. What signal do you give?
- Two short blasts
- One short blast
- One prolonged blast
- Three short blasts
Show answer
Answer: B. One short blast
Inland, one short blast means "I intend to overtake you on your starboard side". Two short blasts mean "on your port side".
Question 20 of 25
A person goes missing from your boat. Who must you notify right away?
- The nearest state boating authority
- The company that built your boat
- Nobody until the written report is due
- Your insurance company only
Show answer
Answer: A. The nearest state boating authority
For a death or a missing person, notify the nearest state boating authority immediately, then file the written report.
Question 21 of 25
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 22 of 25
Boat B is crossing from boat A's starboard (right) side. Which boat is the give-way vessel?
- Boat A
- Whichever boat is faster
- Boat B
- Neither; both must stop
Show answer
Answer: A. Boat A
When two power-driven vessels cross, the one that has the other on its starboard side must keep out of the way. Boat A slows or turns right to pass behind B.
Question 23 of 25
A vessel overtaking you on inland waters signals its plan, and you agree. What do you do?
- Turn toward the overtaking boat
- Sound five short blasts
- Do nothing; silence means yes
- Sound the same signal back
Show answer
Answer: D. Sound the same signal back
The vessel being overtaken answers with the same signal if it agrees. If it is unsure, it sounds the danger signal of at least five short blasts.
Question 24 of 25
Which boating accident must be reported to the state?
- One where someone needs more than first aid
- A scratch to the hull that costs $100 to fix
- Any time a fishing line breaks on a snag
- Any time a boat runs out of fuel on the water
Show answer
Answer: A. One where someone needs more than first aid
A report is required for a death, a disappearance, an injury needing more than first aid, damage of $2,000 or more, or the complete loss of a boat.
Question 25 of 25
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.

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