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PCOC Boating Test overview

PCOC Boating Test Mock Exam 1

Same format as the real test. Answers stay hidden until you submit. The official time limit is not published; the timer is a practice setting.

  • 36 questions
  • untimed
  • Pass mark 27/36
0/36
Mock exam 1 · Question 10 answered

Who delivers the boating safety tests that lead to a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

All 36 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. Who delivers the boating safety tests that lead to a Pleasure Craft Operator Card?

    1. Provincial and territorial driver licensing offices
    2. Course providers accredited by Transport Canada
    3. Canadian Coast Guard stations
    4. Local police marine units

  2. An emergency develops on board. What should everyone on board do right away?

    1. Jump into the water
    2. Put on their lifejackets
    3. Bail with their hands
    4. Phone their families

  3. What is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft in Canada?

    1. 12
    2. 14
    3. 18
    4. 16

  4. How long is a 'short blast' on a horn or whistle?

    1. About 3 seconds
    2. About 10 seconds
    3. About 1 second
    4. 4 to 6 seconds

  5. What does a keep out buoy tell you?

    1. Swimmers may be present
    2. Slow to 10 km/h in the area
    3. Anchoring is allowed there
    4. Your vessel may not enter the area

  6. Who does not need a lifejacket or PFD of appropriate size on board?

    1. Children under 5 and adults over 65
    2. Infants under 9 kg and chests over 140 cm
    3. Passengers on boats under 6 m
    4. Strong swimmers and certified divers

  7. Where must the pleasure craft licence number be displayed on the boat?

    1. Both sides of the bow, above the waterline
    2. On the transom, just below the boat's name
    3. On one side of the hull only
    4. On the stern, near the motor

  8. What happens during the roughly 10 minutes of cold incapacitation?

    1. You lose use of arms and legs
    2. Your breathing stops
    3. You lose consciousness
    4. Your body warms back up

  9. What shape does a boat at anchor display by day?

    1. A black cylinder
    2. A black ball
    3. A black diamond
    4. A black cone

  10. You are operating a personal watercraft. Which flotation device is not allowed?

    1. A foam PFD vest
    2. An inflatable PFD
    3. A small vessel lifejacket
    4. A standard lifejacket

  11. You are going out for only an hour or two. Should you file a sail plan?

    1. Yes, even for a short trip
    2. Only if you have no radio
    3. No, only for trips offshore
    4. No, only for trips over a day

  12. What is the maximum speed for entering a lock?

    1. 10 km/h
    2. 20 km/h
    3. The posted lake limit
    4. 5 knots

  13. You are approaching a blind bend in a narrow channel. What signal should you sound?

    1. Two short blasts
    2. One prolonged blast
    3. Five short blasts
    4. Three prolonged blasts

  14. Under the pollution regulations, what must a boat with a toilet have?

    1. A chemical deodorizer only
    2. Nothing if it is under 8 m
    3. A holding tank, sanitation device or storage
    4. A through-hull valve to discharge waste overboard

  15. Why is firing off expired flares on a calm summer evening a bad way to dispose of them?

    1. It is allowed only on holidays
    2. It is a criminal offence
    3. They will not ignite after expiry
    4. It voids your boat insurance

  16. How does a Mayday call on VHF begin?

    1. 'Help' three times, then your phone number
    2. 'Pan-Pan' twice, then 'Mayday' once
    3. Your location, then 'Mayday' once
    4. 'Mayday' three times, then the boat name three times

  17. What is the purpose of an information buoy?

    1. To mark rocks, shoals and other hazards
    2. To show a locality, marina or campsite
    3. To ban all vessels
    4. To limit boat speed

  18. Your canoe carries three people but has only one PFD. What fine could you face?

    1. $100 in total
    2. $500 and a one-season boating ban
    3. $200 plus $100 per missing PFD
    4. A flat $250 fine

  19. Who implements local boating restrictions under the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations?

    1. The Canadian Coast Guard
    2. Marina owners
    3. Local authorities
    4. Boating clubs

  20. How are cardinal buoys identified?

    1. By letters, not numbers
    2. By odd numbers
    3. By even numbers
    4. By compass degrees

  21. Everyone on your stand-up paddleboard outing is wearing a properly sized PFD. What else must each board carry in daylight?

    1. Three flares
    2. A bailer
    3. A 15 m buoyant heaving line
    4. A sound-signalling device

  22. From your boat you notice people acting suspiciously near a hydro dam. What should you do?

    1. Approach and question them
    2. Ignore it; it's not your concern
    3. Film them up close
    4. Report it to police without approaching

  23. A sailboat may show two all-round lights in a vertical line at the top of the mast. What colours are they?

    1. White over red
    2. Red over green
    3. Red over white
    4. Green over red

  24. You see a distress flare from another boat. What does the law require of you?

    1. Only tell your marina later
    2. Help if you can do so safely
    3. Help only if you have a radio licence
    4. Nothing, unless you are closest

  25. What is the fine for altering or removing a boat's hull serial number?

    1. $200
    2. $100
    3. $350
    4. $1,000

  26. What is the minimum height of the characters in a licence number on the bow?

    1. 15 cm (6 in)
    2. 5 cm (2 in)
    3. 7.5 cm (3 in)
    4. 10 cm (4 in)

  27. A strong wind warning is in effect for your area. What wind speed is expected?

    1. 34 to 47 knots
    2. 48 to 63 knots
    3. 20 to 33 knots
    4. 10 to 19 knots

  28. Which pleasure craft must carry a hull serial number?

    1. Only boats built after 2010
    2. Those made or imported after April 29, 1981
    3. Only boats longer than 6 m
    4. Only boats with motors over 10 hp

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

    1. At least 1 minute
    2. At least 4 minutes
    3. At least 15 minutes
    4. At least 30 seconds

  30. Where should you clean invasive species off your boat and trailer?

    1. In the lake before leaving
    2. On dry land, away from drains and water
    3. At a local car wash with a pressure washer
    4. At the edge of the boat ramp

  31. What kind of danger does a cautionary buoy warn you about?

    1. A spot to tie up your boat
    2. The outer edge of a beach
    3. Firing ranges or seaplane bases
    4. Safe water at a channel entrance

  32. What colour and shape is a typical starboard hand buoy?

    1. White with orange bands
    2. Red and conical
    3. Yellow and spherical
    4. Green and can-shaped

  33. What does a swimming buoy mark?

    1. Deep water for diving
    2. A good place to anchor
    3. The outer limits of a swimming area
    4. A safe channel for small, slow boats

  34. What colour light do special buoys such as swimming or control buoys show?

    1. Green
    2. Red
    3. White
    4. Yellow

  35. Which person-overboard manoeuvre is fastest and best in calm water with good visibility?

    1. Reversing straight back
    2. A figure-eight at full speed
    3. The Anderson (single) turn
    4. The Williamson turn

  36. The compliance notice on your 5 m boat shows recommended safe limits. When do those limits apply?

    1. Only on inland lakes
    2. In good sea and weather conditions
    3. Only when the boat is at anchor
    4. In any weather, day or night

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