North Carolina Boater Exam Practice Test 2026: Oefenexamen 3

1. Vraag 1 van 25

   What does this white marker with an orange diamond and a cross inside mean?

   • ASwimmers may not enter
   • BBoats keep out of the area
   • CSlow down to 5 mph
   • DInformation about a nearby marina
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

2. Vraag 2 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.

3. Vraag 3 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.

4. Vraag 4 van 25

   Your flares expired last year. Do they count toward the requirement?

   • AYes, for up to 5 years after expiry
   • BYes, if they are kept dry
   • CNo, expired pyrotechnics do not count
   • DYes, but only at night
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. No, expired pyrotechnics do not count

   Pyrotechnic signals must be in date. Expired signals do not meet the requirement.

5. Vraag 5 van 25

   A vessel flies this blue and white flag (code flag A). What does it mean?

   • AIt is towing a skier and needs extra room
   • BIt is for sale and you may come alongside
   • CIt has divers down and cannot easily maneuver
   • DIt is anchored for the night with no one aboard
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

6. Vraag 6 van 25

   In this diagram, what color is the port sidelight (light 1)?

   • AYellow
   • BWhite
   • CGreen
   • DRed
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D. Red

   The port sidelight is red and the starboard sidelight is green.

7. Vraag 7 van 25

   What must a boat 12 meters (39.4 feet) or longer carry for sound signals?

   • AA referee whistle for the operator
   • BA small hand bell kept at the helm
   • CA whistle audible for 1/2 nautical mile
   • DNothing beyond a working VHF radio
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

8. Vraag 8 van 25

   Which boats are covered by the federal engine cut-off switch law?

   • AOnly sailboats that have an outboard motor
   • BOnly commercial fishing boats of any size
   • CRecreational boats under 26 feet, about 3 hp or more
   • DAll recreational boats over 40 feet long
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

9. Vraag 9 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.

10. Vraag 10 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.

11. Vraag 11 van 25

    On inland waters, what signal does a power-driven vessel sound when it leaves a dock or berth?

    • AOne short blast
    • BTwo prolonged blasts
    • COne prolonged blast
    • DFive short blasts
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. One prolonged blast

    A power-driven vessel leaving a dock or berth sounds one prolonged blast.

12. Vraag 12 van 25

    One 20-B fire extinguisher can replace how many required 5-B extinguishers?

    • ATwo
    • BFour
    • CThree
    • DOne
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. Two

    One 20-B extinguisher may be carried in place of two required 5-B extinguishers.

13. Vraag 13 van 25

    How old can a disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguisher be and still count?

    • AThere is no age limit if it is full
    • BNo more than 20 years from purchase
    • CNo more than 5 years from manufacture
    • DNo more than 12 years from manufacture
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

14. Vraag 14 van 25

    You are in a No Discharge Zone. What must you do with your marine sanitation device?

    • ADischarge only sewage that has been treated
    • BRemove the toilet from the boat completely
    • CSecure it so it cannot discharge, such as with a padlock
    • DDischarge only at night when no one is swimming
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

15. Vraag 15 van 25

    On a Coast Guard documented vessel, how tall must the name and hailing port be?

    • AAny size that can be read
    • BAt least 12 inches
    • CAt least 1 inch
    • DAt least 4 inches
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D. At least 4 inches

    Documented vessels show their name and hailing port together on the hull in letters at least 4 inches high.

16. Vraag 16 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.

17. Vraag 17 van 25

    Why is a personal watercraft operator's lanyard attached to their body or life jacket?

    • ASo the PWC can be anchored
    • BSo the engine stops if the rider falls off
    • CSo the lights turn on automatically
    • DSo the rider can tow a tube
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

18. Vraag 18 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.

19. Vraag 19 van 25

    On inland waters, you want to overtake a power-driven vessel and pass on its starboard side. What signal do you give?

    • ATwo short blasts
    • BOne short blast
    • COne prolonged blast
    • DThree short blasts
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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".

20. Vraag 20 van 25

    A person goes missing from your boat. Who must you notify right away?

    • AThe nearest state boating authority
    • BThe company that built your boat
    • CNobody until the written report is due
    • DYour insurance company only
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

21. Vraag 21 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.

22. Vraag 22 van 25

    Boat B is crossing from boat A's starboard (right) side. Which boat is the give-way vessel?

    • ABoat A
    • BWhichever boat is faster
    • CBoat B
    • DNeither; both must stop
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

23. Vraag 23 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.

24. Vraag 24 van 25

    Which boating accident must be reported to the state?

    • AOne where someone needs more than first aid
    • BA scratch to the hull that costs $100 to fix
    • CAny time a fishing line breaks on a snag
    • DAny time a boat runs out of fuel on the water
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

25. Vraag 25 van 25

    This white buoy with a blue band is a mooring buoy. What is it for?

    • AWarning of a hidden rock
    • BMarking the right side of a channel
    • CMarking a no-wake zone
    • DTying up or securing a boat
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

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