California Boater Card Questions and Answers (Graded A)
Question: Under which condition is a person at greatest risk
of developing hypothermia?
Correct answer: Being immersed in cold water
Question: How will a boat perform if it is loaded beyond its
capacity?
Correct answer: It will be difficult to control
Question: A life jacket on your vessel should be sized for
which person on board?
Correct answer: Its intended wearer
Question: On a 15ft boat, which object is required to be on-
board?
Correct answer: One Coast Guard approved life jacket for
each person
Question: When is it good advice for adults to wear Coast
Guard approved life jackets?
Correct answer: When in bad weather
Question: What should be done with a badly discolored Coast
Guard approved life jacket with a torn strap?
Correct answer: Discard and replace it
Question: When operating a boat near other boats or when
entering a congested area, why should you watch your wake?
Correct answer: It may cause personal injury or damage
Question: Which of the following is recommended as part of
the annual maintenance program for a gasoline powered boat?
Correct answer: Examination of thru-hull fittings for sign of
leakage or corrosion
Question: Who has the primary responsibility for the safety of
all persons aboard a recreational boat?
Correct answer: Boat operator
Question: In what part of the boat are gasoline fumes most
likely to accumulate?
Correct answer: Bilge
Question: How does alcohol use affect boat operators or
passengers?
Correct answer: Physical reactions become slower
Question: Under the influence of alcohol, what happens to a
person's reasoning ability?
Correct answer: It becomes weaker
Question: How does drinking alcohol while boating affect
other conditions related to being out on the water?
Correct answer: Increases feeling of fatigue
Question: What should you do first if a passenger falls
overboard while your boat is at anchor?
Correct answer: Throw a type IV Coast Guard approved life
jacket to the passenger
Question: Which is the most important factor in determining a
safe vessel speed on any given day?
Correct answer: Traffic density
Question: According to the navigation rules, what factor
should be considered in determining a safe speed?
Correct answer: The state of visibility
Question: When a power-driven vessel is being overtaken by
a sailboat, which is the stand-on vessel?
Correct answer: The power-driven vessel
Question: What immediate action should you take when
operating a boat if you hear the fog signal of another boat you cannot see?