Oregon Boater Education Card Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 6 for the Oregon Boater Education Card Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
Oregon
132 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
At night you see a red and a green light straight ahead. What is happening?
- A vessel is heading straight toward you
- A vessel is moving away from you
- A vessel is anchored
- A buoy marks a channel
Show answer
Answer: A. A vessel is heading straight toward you
Seeing both sidelights means the vessel is pointed at you. Treat it as a head-on meeting and turn to starboard.
Question 2 of 25
What does NASBLA stand for?
- North American Society of Boat Licensing Authorities
- National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
- National Alliance of Sailing and Boating Leagues
- National Agency for Safe Boating and Lifesaving Activities
Show answer
Answer: B. National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
NASBLA is the national association of state boating law administrators. Most state boater education courses are NASBLA-approved.
Question 3 of 25
What must every operator do at all times to avoid collisions?
- Rely on other boats to see you
- Watch the radar only
- Look out only at night
- Keep a proper lookout by sight and hearing
Show answer
Answer: D. Keep a proper lookout by sight and hearing
Every vessel must keep a proper lookout by sight and hearing, and by all available means, at all times.
Question 4 of 25
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 5 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 6 of 25
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 7 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 8 of 25
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 9 of 25
Two powerboats meet head-on. What should each operator do?
- The larger boat holds course and the smaller turns
- Turn to port and pass starboard to starboard
- Both stop and wait for the other to move
- Turn to starboard and pass port side to port side
Show answer
Answer: D. Turn to starboard and pass port side to port side
In a head-on meeting, each vessel alters course to starboard so they pass port to port.
Question 10 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 11 of 25
You are returning from sea. On which side should you keep this red buoy?
- On your port (left) side
- On either side
- Only on your left at night
- On your starboard (right) side
Show answer
Answer: D. On your starboard (right) side
Remember "red, right, returning": keep red markers on your starboard side when returning from sea.
Question 12 of 25
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 13 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 14 of 25
A 32-foot boat built in 2020 needs fire extinguishers. Which choice meets the requirement (with no fixed system)?
- One 5-B extinguisher
- One household 1-A unit
- Three 20-B extinguishers
- Two 5-B, or one 20-B
Show answer
Answer: D. Two 5-B, or one 20-B
Boats 26 feet to under 40 feet need two 5-B extinguishers. Because one 20-B can replace two 5-B extinguishers, one 20-B also meets the rule.
Question 15 of 25
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 16 of 25
During the day, what shape does a vessel at anchor display?
- Two red balls on the mast
- An orange flag at the stern
- A black ball near the bow
- A black cone, point down
Show answer
Answer: C. A black ball near the bow
An anchored vessel shows a black ball forward by day and an all-round white light at night. Vessels under 7 meters away from channels and anchorages are generally exempt.
Question 17 of 25
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 18 of 25
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 19 of 25
Why is sudden immersion in cold water so dangerous in the first minutes?
- Your body freezes solid within seconds
- Cold water is much harder to float in
- Life jackets stop working in cold water
- Cold shock makes you gasp and breathe in water
Show answer
Answer: D. Cold shock makes you gasp and breathe in water
Sudden immersion triggers a gasp reflex and fast breathing. Without a life jacket, you can inhale water and drown before hypothermia even starts.
Question 20 of 25
Which compartments need a powered exhaust blower?
- Only compartments used to store life jackets and lines
- Those with a gasoline engine that has a remote-start motor
- Every compartment on every boat, of any kind
- Only cabins that have a toilet or a sink
Show answer
Answer: B. Those with a gasoline engine that has a remote-start motor
A powered blower is required for compartments with a permanently installed gasoline engine that has a cranking motor for remote starting.
Question 21 of 25
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 22 of 25
You see this red flag with a white diagonal stripe. What does it mean?
- The beach ahead is private property
- Shallow water ahead; boats should turn back
- Divers are nearby; slow down and keep well away
- A water-ski course is set up in this area
Show answer
Answer: C. Divers are nearby; slow down and keep well away
The diver-down flag marks an area where people are diving. State laws set how far away boats must stay.
Question 23 of 25
A power-driven boat under 12 meters (39.4 feet) may show which lights instead of a masthead light and sternlight?
- One flashing yellow light at the bow
- Its sidelights only, with no white light
- Two red all-round lights, one above the other
- An all-round white light plus sidelights
Show answer
Answer: D. An all-round white light plus sidelights
A power-driven vessel under 12 meters may combine its masthead light and sternlight into one all-round white light, shown with sidelights.
Question 24 of 25
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 25 of 25
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.

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