Washington Boater Education Card Practice Test 2026: Oefenexamen 5

1. Vraag 1 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.

2. Vraag 2 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.

3. Vraag 3 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.

4. Vraag 4 van 25

   Under federal law, at what blood alcohol concentration is a recreational boat operator considered intoxicated?

   • A0.12 or higher
   • B0.02 or higher
   • C0.08 or higher
   • D0.15 or higher
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

5. Vraag 5 van 25

   Under the federal rule, which children must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway?

   • AOnly children who cannot swim, of any age
   • BUnder 13, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin
   • CUnder 6, but only when the boat is out at night
   • DUnder 18, at all times when they are on board
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. Under 13, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin

   The federal rule requires children under 13 to wear an approved life jacket while underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

6. Vraag 6 van 25

   You see this marker with an orange circle and the number 10 inside. What does it tell you?

   • AA speed limit applies in the area
   • B10 boats may anchor here
   • CIt is buoy number 10 in the channel
   • DThe water is 10 feet deep
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A. A speed limit applies in the area

   A circle marks a controlled area. A number inside shows the speed limit that applies.

7. Vraag 7 van 25

   Older B-I and B-II extinguishers are still accepted on which boats?

   • AAll boats, of any model year
   • BOnly boats built in 2018 or later
   • CBoats built in model year 2017 or earlier
   • DOnly personal watercraft of any year
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C. Boats built in model year 2017 or earlier

   Coast Guard B-I and B-II extinguishers are acceptable only on vessels built in model year 2017 or earlier.

8. Vraag 8 van 25

   How many wearable life jackets must a recreational boat carry?

   • AOne for every two people on board
   • BOne approved life jacket for each person
   • CTwo for the whole boat, of any size
   • DOne for the operator only
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B. One approved life jacket for each person

   Federal rules require one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard.

9. Vraag 9 van 25

   A 32-foot boat built in 2020 needs fire extinguishers. Which choice meets the requirement (with no fixed system)?

   • AOne 5-B extinguisher
   • BOne household 1-A unit
   • CThree 20-B extinguishers
   • DTwo 5-B, or one 20-B
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: 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.

10. Vraag 10 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.

11. Vraag 11 van 25

    If you use pyrotechnic signals to meet the requirement, how many must you carry?

    • ASix signals for night use only
    • BThree for day use and three for night use
    • CTen signals of any type, day or night
    • DOne for day use and one for night use
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

12. Vraag 12 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.

13. Vraag 13 van 25

    Is it legal to tie your boat to a navigation buoy?

    • ANo, it is dangerous and illegal
    • BYes, if you stay less than an hour
    • CYes, if the buoy is green
    • DYes, but only in daylight
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

14. Vraag 14 van 25

    How can you tell that you are on a collision course with another boat?

    • AIts compass bearing stays about the same as it gets closer
    • BIt is moving slower than you
    • CIts bearing changes quickly as it approaches
    • DIt is showing only a white light
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

15. Vraag 15 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.

16. Vraag 16 van 25

    What must every operator do at all times to avoid collisions?

    • ARely on other boats to see you
    • BWatch the radar only
    • CLook out only at night
    • DKeep a proper lookout by sight and hearing
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

17. Vraag 17 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.

18. Vraag 18 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.

19. Vraag 19 van 25

    Boat A is overtaking boat B from behind. Which boat must keep clear?

    • AThe smaller of the two boats
    • BBoat B, the boat being passed
    • CBoat A, the overtaking boat
    • DWhichever boat is closer to shore
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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.

20. Vraag 20 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.

21. Vraag 21 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.

22. Vraag 22 van 25

    A sailboat is motoring with its engine and its sails are down. How is it treated under the Navigation Rules?

    • AAs a power-driven vessel
    • BAs a vessel not under command
    • CAs a sailing vessel
    • DAs a vessel at anchor
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. As a power-driven vessel

    A sailboat using its engine is a power-driven vessel and follows the power-driven rules.

23. Vraag 23 van 25

    What sound signal does a sailing vessel give in fog or other restricted visibility?

    • AOne prolonged and two short blasts, every 2 minutes or less
    • BContinuous blasts on the horn until the fog lifts
    • COne short blast, repeated once every minute
    • DTwo prolonged blasts, at least every 2 minutes
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: A. One prolonged and two short blasts, every 2 minutes or less

    A sailing vessel in restricted visibility sounds one prolonged and two short blasts at intervals of no more than 2 minutes.

24. Vraag 24 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.

25. Vraag 25 van 25

    When is an operator NOT required to use the engine cut-off switch link?

    • AWhen there are passengers on board
    • BWhen the water is calm
    • CWhen the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin
    • DWhen the boat is going faster than 20 mph
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C. When the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin

    The requirement does not apply when the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin. It is also not needed at slow speeds such as docking or trolling.

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