Virginia Boater Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 6

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

Boating
Virginia
131 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 20
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 2 of 20
What should the stand-on vessel do in a crossing situation?
- Keep its course and speed
- Speed up to get clear faster
- Stop its engine right away
- Turn toward the other boat
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep its course and speed
The stand-on vessel holds its course and speed so the give-way vessel can predict its path.
Question 3 of 20
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 4 of 20
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 5 of 20
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 6 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 7 of 20
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 8 of 20
What do three short blasts mean?
- "I am operating astern propulsion"
- "I am turning to starboard now"
- "Please pass me on either side"
- "I need fuel or other help"
Show answer
Answer: A. "I am operating astern propulsion"
Three short blasts mean the vessel is operating astern propulsion, such as backing its engines.
Question 9 of 20
Your boat meets the rules of the state where it is registered. Does it automatically meet the rules of every other state?
- No. Another state may have different requirements
- Yes, as long as it has federal equipment
- Yes, all states have identical rules
- Only if the boat is under 16 feet
Show answer
Answer: A. No. Another state may have different requirements
Federal rules are the minimum. A boat that meets its home state's rules may not meet the rules of another state where it is used.
Question 10 of 20
How should the registration number be separated into groups?
- It must be written as one long group
- With a slash between letters and numbers
- With a hyphen or a space the width of one letter
- With periods between each character
Show answer
Answer: C. With a hyphen or a space the width of one letter
Spaces or hyphens equal to the width of a letter (other than I) or number (other than 1) separate the groups.
Question 11 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 12 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 13 of 20
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 14 of 20
Under federal law, at what blood alcohol concentration is a recreational boat operator considered intoxicated?
- 0.12 or higher
- 0.02 or higher
- 0.08 or higher
- 0.15 or higher
Show answer
Answer: C. 0.08 or higher
Operating a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is a federal violation. States also have their own BUI laws.
Question 15 of 20
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 20
This marker shows a diamond with a cross and the words "SWIM AREA". What must boaters do?
- Keep it on your right when returning
- Keep out of the marked swimming area
- Anchor there to swim
- Slow down and pass through it
Show answer
Answer: B. Keep out of the marked swimming area
A diamond with a cross means boats keep out. Here it protects a swimming area.
Question 17 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 18 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 19 of 20
For which activities does the Coast Guard recommend wearing a life jacket, and many states require it?
- Only fishing from a dock or a pier
- Only when the boat is anchored offshore
- Only boating after dark on large lakes
- Water skiing, PWC riding, whitewater and sailboarding
Show answer
Answer: D. Water skiing, PWC riding, whitewater and sailboarding
The Coast Guard recommends wearing a life jacket for high-risk activities like water skiing, PWC riding, whitewater and sailboarding, and many states require it.
Question 20 of 20
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.

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