North Carolina Boater Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 6

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

Boating
North Carolina
132 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 20
After a boating accident, what must the operator do?
- Stop, help if safe, and give name, address and boat ID
- Wait for the other boat to call for help first
- Leave quickly so the area is clear for rescuers
- Only call a tow company to move the boats
Show answer
Answer: A. Stop, help if safe, and give name, address and boat ID
Federal law requires an operator involved in a casualty to give assistance as far as possible without serious danger, and to give their name, address and vessel identification.
Question 2 of 20
What is true about carbon monoxide (CO) from boat engines?
- It is safe outdoors on a boat
- It only comes from diesel engines
- It smells like gasoline, so it is easy to notice
- It has no color or smell and can kill quickly
Show answer
Answer: D. It has no color or smell and can kill quickly
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. It can build up around a boat, especially near the stern and swim platform, while engines or generators run.
Question 3 of 20
How many wearable life jackets must a recreational boat carry?
- One for every two people on board
- One approved life jacket for each person
- Two for the whole boat, of any size
- One for the operator only
Show answer
Answer: B. One approved life jacket for each person
Federal rules require one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard.
Question 4 of 20
Where should swimmers stay away from while a boat's engine or generator is running?
- The shoreline and shallow water nearby
- The bow, where the anchor is stored
- The swim platform and the back of the boat
- The anchor line at the front of the boat
Show answer
Answer: C. The swim platform and the back of the boat
Exhaust gases with carbon monoxide collect near the stern and swim platform. Do not swim or sit there while engines or generators run.
Question 5 of 20
Where does the state validation decal go?
- On the stern, right next to the motor
- Within 6 inches of the registration number
- Inside the glove box, with the papers
- On the boat trailer's left fender
Show answer
Answer: B. Within 6 inches of the registration number
The validation decal goes within 6 inches of the registration number, with no other numbers or letters nearby.
Question 6 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.
Question 7 of 20
Is it legal to tie your boat to a navigation buoy?
- No, it is dangerous and illegal
- Yes, if you stay less than an hour
- Yes, if the buoy is green
- Yes, but only in daylight
Show answer
Answer: A. No, it is dangerous and illegal
Do not tie up to aids to navigation. It is dangerous and illegal, and it can hide the aid from other boaters.
Question 8 of 20
How can you tell that you are on a collision course with another boat?
- Its compass bearing stays about the same as it gets closer
- It is moving slower than you
- Its bearing changes quickly as it approaches
- It is showing only a white light
Show answer
Answer: A. Its compass bearing stays about the same as it gets closer
If an approaching vessel's bearing does not change much while the distance closes, a risk of collision exists.
Question 9 of 20
Where can you legally throw plastic overboard?
- More than 12 miles from shore
- Nowhere
- More than 3 miles from shore
- Only in rivers
Show answer
Answer: B. Nowhere
Discharging plastic into the water is prohibited everywhere.
Question 10 of 20
You are the stand-on vessel, but the give-way vessel is not taking action and a collision is near. What must you do?
- Turn off your engine and drift
- Sound one prolonged blast and keep going
- Take action to avoid the collision
- Hold course and speed no matter what
Show answer
Answer: C. 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 11 of 20
During the day, a sailboat using its engine with its sails up should display what?
- A black cone with its point down
- An orange flag on the mast
- A red pennant at the stern
- A black ball in the rigging
Show answer
Answer: A. A black cone with its point down
A sailing vessel under power displays a cone, apex down, by day. It is not required for vessels under 12 meters on inland waters.
Question 12 of 20
Which vessels are exempt from carrying day visual distress signals?
- Any boat that has a working VHF radio
- Boats with inboard gasoline engines
- Manually propelled boats, such as canoes
- All boats over 26 feet with a cabin
Show answer
Answer: C. Manually propelled boats, such as canoes
Manually propelled boats, boats under 16 feet, open sailboats under 26 feet without propulsion, and boats in organized events are exempt from day signals.
Question 13 of 20
A 22-foot outboard boat has a closed compartment where a portable fuel tank is stored. How many 5-B extinguishers does it need?
- Two
- Three
- None
- One
Show answer
Answer: D. One
Boats under 26 feet that need an extinguisher must carry one 5-B extinguisher (or none if a fixed system is installed in the machinery space).
Question 14 of 20
How long should you run the blower before starting a gasoline inboard engine?
- At least 20 minutes
- Only while the engine is cranking
- About 10 seconds
- At least 4 minutes
Show answer
Answer: D. At least 4 minutes
Boats with powered blowers carry a warning label: run the blower at least four minutes and check the bilge for gasoline vapors before starting.
Question 15 of 20
A large ship can only operate safely inside a narrow channel. What must a small recreational boat do?
- Hold course because small boats have right of way
- Not get in its way
- Stop in the channel and wait
- Cross in front of it to show its position
Show answer
Answer: B. Not get in its way
Vessels under 20 meters (65.6 feet) and sailing vessels must not impede a vessel that can navigate safely only within a narrow channel.
Question 16 of 20
Which feature means a boat must carry a fire extinguisher?
- Permanently installed fuel tanks
- A swim ladder at the stern
- A locker for the anchor and line
- A canvas bimini top for shade
Show answer
Answer: A. Permanently installed fuel tanks
Extinguishers are required on boats with features such as closed compartments where fuel tanks may be stored, permanently installed fuel tanks or closed living spaces.
Question 17 of 20
What colors are used on regulatory and information markers?
- Red and white vertical stripes
- Green with a wide red band in the middle
- Black with one or more yellow bands
- White with orange bands at top and bottom
Show answer
Answer: D. White with orange bands at top and bottom
Regulatory and information markers are white with an orange band near the top and bottom. The orange shape shows the meaning.
Question 18 of 20
You are leaving a harbor and heading out to sea. Where should red buoys like this be?
- On your port (left) side
- In the middle of your path
- It does not matter
- On your starboard (right) side
Show answer
Answer: A. On your port (left) side
Red is kept on the right when returning, so when heading out to sea the red markers are on your left.
Question 19 of 20
What sound-producing device must a boat under 12 meters (39.4 feet) carry?
- A bell and a gong mounted on deck
- A siren, like those used on police boats
- Nothing; shouting loudly is enough
- An efficient sound device, such as a horn or whistle
Show answer
Answer: D. An efficient sound device, such as a horn or whistle
Boats under 12 meters must carry an efficient sound-producing device, such as a hand-held air horn or a whistle. A human voice is not acceptable.
Question 20 of 20
What kind of numbers do green can buoys like this carry?
- Numbers ending in zero
- Odd numbers
- Letters only
- Even numbers
Show answer
Answer: B. Odd numbers
Green lateral markers carry odd numbers. Red markers carry even numbers.

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