PCOC Boating Test Practice Test 1

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. What colour is the sidelight on a boat's port (left) side?

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

2. What fire extinguisher does a motorized 10 m cruiser need?

   1. A 5BC extinguisher
   2. A halon system
   3. No extinguisher
   4. A 10BC extinguisher

3. 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

4. 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

5. What does an orange diamond on a white buoy mark?

   1. A swimming area
   2. A mooring spot for visiting boats
   3. A hazard such as a rock or shoal
   4. A fuel dock

6. Your 7 m boat is under way in fog. Which sound signal rule applies to you?

   1. Ring a bell every minute
   2. Sound five blasts each minute
   3. No signal at all; boats under 12 m are exempt
   4. Some efficient signal at most every 2 minutes

7. What does the guide recommend to soak up oil and fuel in your bilge?

   1. Absorbent bilge cloths
   2. High-pressure hot water
   3. Bleach
   4. Biodegradable dish detergent

8. You plan to ride your PWC on water colder than 15°C. What extra protection is recommended?

   1. A longer tow rope
   2. A brighter helmet
   3. Thermal protection
   4. An inflatable PFD

9. You are the stand-on vessel and it becomes clear the give-way boat is not taking action. What may you do?

   1. Speed up to pass ahead of it
   2. Turn to port toward it
   3. Act on your own to avoid the collision
   4. Keep going; you have right of way

10. 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

11. What does a red flag with a white diagonal stripe on a buoy indicate?

    1. Diving is taking place in the area
    2. A water-skiing course
    3. A swimming area closed to the public
    4. A shipwreck below

12. You accidentally send a DSC distress alert. What should you do?

    1. Phone your marina about it
    2. Send a second alert to cancel
    3. Cancel it on channel 16 with name and MMSI
    4. Turn the radio off and say nothing

13. A white buoy has an orange square with the words 'MARINA' inside. What kind of buoy is it?

    1. A keep out buoy
    2. A control buoy
    3. An information buoy
    4. A hazard buoy

14. Your boat has an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine room. Do you still need portable extinguishers?

    1. Only when carrying passengers
    2. No, the automatic system replaces them
    3. Only if the boat is over 12 m or has a cabin
    4. Yes, the required portables are still needed

15. Which statement about carbon monoxide (CO) is true?

    1. It is visible as blue smoke
    2. Only diesel engines produce it
    3. You cannot see, smell or taste it
    4. It smells like rotten eggs

16. Why are bilge cleaners a poor fix for oily bilge water?

    1. They are illegal everywhere
    2. They only break oil into smaller drops
    3. They quickly damage the bilge pump seals
    4. They make oil float higher

17. You apply for a pleasure craft licence online. What lets you go boating while you wait for the licence?

    1. The application receipt, for 90 days
    2. A temporary licence valid for 30 days
    3. Your operator card instead
    4. Nothing; you must wait

18. How many flares must a pleasure craft between 9 m and 24 m carry, along with a watertight flashlight?

    1. 6, of which 2 may be smoke
    2. 24, of which 12 may be smoke
    3. 12, of which up to 6 may be smoke
    4. 3, of which 1 may be smoke

19. Which statement about a pleasure craft licence is true?

    1. It replaces the operator card
    2. It is not proof of ownership
    3. It is issued at Service Canada counters
    4. It must be renewed every year

20. In a historic canal, how close to a lock gate or dam may you swim?

    1. No closer than 10 m
    2. No closer than 100 m
    3. No closer than 40 m
    4. Anywhere outside the channel

21. When is a boater considered impaired, and what penalties apply?

    1. As set by provincial and territorial driving laws
    2. There are no limits on the water
    3. Each marina and harbour authority sets its own limits
    4. The Collision Regulations decide

22. How long does a hand flare burn, at a minimum?

    1. 1 minute
    2. 5 minutes
    3. 4 seconds
    4. 10 seconds

23. You are boating in late October with temperatures near freezing. Why might an inflatable PFD be a poor choice?

    1. It cannot be worn over a jacket
    2. It is only legal in summer
    3. Its CO2 cylinder may explode
    4. It inflates more slowly and floats less

24. In which part of Canada is proof of operator competency not required for a motorized pleasure craft?

    1. Prince Edward Island and Yukon
    2. Yukon and Nunavut
    3. Northwest Territories and Nunavut
    4. Newfoundland and Labrador

25. Which special buoys may carry a yellow 'X' topmark?

    1. Port and starboard hand buoys
    2. North and south cardinal buoys
    3. Cautionary, scientific and anchorage buoys
    4. Swimming, mooring and control buoys

26. What wind speed does a gale warning in a marine forecast mean?

    1. 48 to 63 knots
    2. 34 to 47 knots
    3. 64 knots or more
    4. 20 to 33 knots

27. What is the maximum Fisheries Act fine for getting too close to marine mammals?

    1. $100,000
    2. $5,000
    3. $500
    4. $25,000

28. Which of these must a vessel engaged in fishing keep out of the way of?

    1. A power-driven pleasure craft
    2. A vessel not under command
    3. A sailing vessel
    4. A boat towing a water-skier

29. Heading upstream, you see a port hand daybeacon on a post. Where do you keep it?

    1. On either side
    2. On your port (left) side
    3. On your starboard (right) side
    4. Directly ahead

30. A US visitor will operate a Canadian-licensed boat during a 60-day stay. What proof of competency works?

    1. The boat's licence
    2. An operator card or home-country proof
    3. None; visitors are exempt
    4. Only a valid US driver's licence and passport

31. You are taking a small aluminum boat with an electric trolling motor out fishing on a Manitoba lake. Do you need proof of competency on board?

    1. Yes, any motorized boat needs it
    2. No, electric motors are exempt
    3. Only if the boat is over 6 m long
    4. No, only boats over 10 hp need it

32. Within what distance of shore does the province-wide 10 km/h limit apply?

    1. 30 m
    2. 100 m
    3. 50 m
    4. 10 m

33. Besides the driver, who must be on board when you tow a water-skier?

    1. No one else is needed
    2. A spotter watching the skier
    3. A second licensed driver
    4. A first aid instructor

34. You are in cold water far from shore wearing a PFD, with no one to join. What should you do?

    1. Tread water vigorously
    2. Take off your boots and jacket
    3. Swim hard to stay warm
    4. Stay still in the H.E.L.P. position

35. On which side of the boat should you bring a person back aboard?

    1. The leeward side
    2. The windward side
    3. Over the bow only
    4. Over the motor

36. 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