California Boater Card Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Tanong 1 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 2 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: D. 135 degrees, toward the back

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

3. Tanong 3 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 4 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 5 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 6 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 7 ng 25

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

   • ADiesel engines only
   • BGasoline inboard engines
   • CElectric trolling motors
   • DAll outboard motors
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: B. Gasoline inboard engines

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

8. Tanong 8 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: 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. Tanong 9 ng 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
   Ipakita ang sagot

   Sagot: C. People 16 years of age and older

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

10. Tanong 10 ng 25

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

    • AOdd numbers
    • BEven numbers
    • CLetters only
    • DNo numbers
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: B. Even numbers

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

11. Tanong 11 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 12 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 13 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 14 ng 25

    Where can you legally throw plastic overboard?

    • AMore than 12 miles from shore
    • BNowhere
    • CMore than 3 miles from shore
    • DOnly in rivers
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: B. Nowhere

    Discharging plastic into the water is prohibited everywhere.

15. Tanong 15 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: C. An electric distress light

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

16. Tanong 16 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 17 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 18 ng 25

    How often should you inspect your fire extinguishers?

    • AEvery 5 years
    • BMonthly
    • CNever, if the seal is intact
    • DOnly after a fire
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: B. Monthly

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

19. Tanong 19 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 20 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 21 ng 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"
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 22 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 23 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 24 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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. Tanong 25 ng 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
    Ipakita ang sagot

    Sagot: 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.

Keyboard: 1–4 para sumagot, Enter para sa susunod na tanong.