California Boater Card Practice Test 2026: Oefenexamen 4

1. Vraag 1 van 25

   What does this white marker with an orange circle mean?

   • AA controlled area; here, no wake
   • BDanger from rocks right below
   • CBoats must keep out of the area
   • DDirections to a nearby marina
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

2. Vraag 2 van 25

   Light 4 in the diagram is the white sternlight. How wide is its arc?

   • A225 degrees, toward the front
   • B360 degrees, all around
   • C112.5 degrees, on one side
   • D135 degrees, toward the back
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. 135 degrees, toward the back

   The sternlight shines over 135 degrees behind the boat. The masthead light covers 225 degrees forward.

3. Vraag 3 van 25

   How long should you run the blower before starting a gasoline inboard engine?

   • AAt least 20 minutes
   • BOnly while the engine is cranking
   • CAbout 10 seconds
   • DAt least 4 minutes
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

4. Vraag 4 van 25

   Which kind of life jacket is the right choice for riding a personal watercraft?

   • AA non-inflatable life jacket rated for PWC use
   • BA throwable cushion held on your lap
   • CNo life jacket is needed on a PWC
   • DAn inflatable belt pack
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

5. Vraag 5 van 25

   Two vessels agree by VHF radio how they will pass each other. Do they still have to sound whistle signals?

   • ANo, and sounding them would be illegal
   • BNo, but they may
   • CYes, always, before and after passing
   • DYes, but only at night
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. No, but they may

   Vessels that reach agreement by radio do not have to sound the whistle signals. If they cannot agree, whistle signals must be exchanged and they prevail.

6. Vraag 6 van 25

   What does this black buoy with a red band and two black balls on top mean?

   • AThe center of a safe channel or fairway
   • BAn isolated danger with safe water around it
   • CA mooring area where boats may tie up
   • DThe start of a no-wake zone near shore
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

7. Vraag 7 van 25

   Which engines must have a Coast Guard-approved backfire flame arrester?

   • ADiesel engines only
   • BGasoline inboard engines
   • CElectric trolling motors
   • DAll outboard motors
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. Gasoline inboard engines

   Gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors, must have an approved backfire flame control device.

8. Vraag 8 van 25

   Your powerboat is approaching a vessel engaged in fishing with nets. What must you do?

   • AKeep out of its way
   • BSound five short blasts and continue
   • CHold your course; it must move for you
   • DPass close to look at its gear
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

9. Vraag 9 van 25

   Who may use an inflatable life jacket to meet the carriage requirement?

   • AAnyone of any age
   • BOnly people who cannot swim
   • CPeople 16 years of age and older
   • DChildren under 13
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. People 16 years of age and older

   Inflatable life jackets are approved only for people 16 and older.

10. Vraag 10 van 25

    What kind of numbers do red nun buoys like this carry?

    • AOdd numbers
    • BEven numbers
    • CLetters only
    • DNo numbers
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. Even numbers

    Red lateral markers carry even numbers, and the numbers increase as you head in from sea.

11. Vraag 11 van 25

    A vessel overtaking you on inland waters signals its plan, and you agree. What do you do?

    • ATurn toward the overtaking boat
    • BSound five short blasts
    • CDo nothing; silence means yes
    • DSound the same signal back
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

12. Vraag 12 van 25

    A 30-foot boat with an engine room must post which placard?

    • AAn oil discharge placard, at least 5 by 8 inches
    • BA speed limit sign for the nearest marina
    • CA placard listing the names of the crew
    • DA no-smoking sign, at least 2 by 3 inches
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

13. Vraag 13 van 25

    You are towing a water-skier. What is the job of the observer on board?

    • ASteer the skier using only hand signals
    • BKeep other boats from coming close to watch
    • CWatch the skier and tell the operator what happens
    • DDrive the boat while the operator watches
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

14. Vraag 14 van 25

    Where can you legally throw plastic overboard?

    • AMore than 12 miles from shore
    • BNowhere
    • CMore than 3 miles from shore
    • DOnly in rivers
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. Nowhere

    Discharging plastic into the water is prohibited everywhere.

15. Vraag 15 van 25

    Which non-pyrotechnic signal counts for nighttime use only?

    • AA red pennant
    • BAn orange smoke signal
    • CAn electric distress light
    • DAn orange distress flag
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. An electric distress light

    An electric distress light meets the night requirement. An orange flag only counts during the day.

16. Vraag 16 van 25

    How tall must the letters and numbers of the registration number be?

    • AAt least 12 inches, in any color
    • BAt least 6 inches, in script letters
    • CAt least 3 inches, in block characters
    • DAt least 1 inch, in any style
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

17. Vraag 17 van 25

    Your state has a different child life jacket age than the federal rule. Which rule applies on that state's waters?

    • AThe federal rule always
    • BThe state rule
    • CWhichever age is higher
    • DNeither; you may choose
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. The state rule

    Where a state sets its own child life jacket requirement, the state rule applies on waters under that state's jurisdiction.

18. Vraag 18 van 25

    How often should you inspect your fire extinguishers?

    • AEvery 5 years
    • BMonthly
    • CNever, if the seal is intact
    • DOnly after a fire
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. Monthly

    Inspect extinguishers monthly. If the label lists a minimum weight, weigh them once a year.

19. Vraag 19 van 25

    A friend lifts your life jacket at the shoulders and it stays below your chin. What does this show?

    • AIt fits properly
    • BIt is the wrong color
    • CIt is too loose
    • DIt needs to be inflated
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

20. Vraag 20 van 25

    You are leaving a harbor and heading out to sea. Where should red buoys like this be?

    • AOn your port (left) side
    • BIn the middle of your path
    • CIt does not matter
    • DOn your starboard (right) side
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

21. Vraag 21 van 25

    On inland waters, a power-driven vessel meeting you sounds one short blast. What does it mean?

    • A"I am operating astern propulsion"
    • B"I am in distress"
    • C"I intend to leave you on my port side"
    • D"I intend to leave you on my starboard side"
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. "I intend to leave you on my port side"

    Under Inland Rule 34, one short blast means "I intend to leave you on my port side". If you agree, answer with one short blast.

22. Vraag 22 van 25

    Where must recreational boats carry visual distress signals?

    • ACoastal waters, the Great Lakes and territorial seas
    • BOnly on rivers that are wider than 1 mile
    • COnly on small inland lakes and ponds
    • DOnly within 1 mile of any shoreline
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

23. Vraag 23 van 25

    What does an engine cut-off switch link do?

    • AStops the engine if the operator is thrown from the helm
    • BLocks the steering wheel when you are not aboard
    • CTurns on the navigation lights automatically
    • DStarts the bilge blower before the engine starts
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

24. Vraag 24 van 25

    How should the registration number be separated into groups?

    • AIt must be written as one long group
    • BWith a slash between letters and numbers
    • CWith a hyphen or a space the width of one letter
    • DWith periods between each character
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

25. Vraag 25 van 25

    You row a small rowboat after dark. What light do you need?

    • AA flashing blue light on the stern
    • BA white flashlight or lantern, ready to show
    • CNo light, because it has no motor
    • DA red light mounted on the bow
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: B. A white flashlight or lantern, ready to show

    Vessels under oars may show sailing vessel lights, or must have a white flashlight or lantern ready to show.

Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.