PCOC Boating Test Practice Test 3

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. A narrow river means you cannot stay 100 m from a dive flag. What should you do?

   1. Sound five blasts and continue
   2. Slow right down and pass with caution
   3. Anchor until the divers surface
   4. Pass at speed to get by quickly

2. You just bought a licensed boat from its previous owner. How long do you have to transfer the licence into your name?

   1. 7 days
   2. 60 days
   3. 30 days
   4. 90 days

3. When does an inflatable PFD count as the approved flotation device for a person on board?

   1. Only when inflated in storage
   2. Whenever it is within reach
   3. Only when stored in its pouch
   4. Only when it is being worn

4. How should you load gear and passengers in a small boat?

   1. Put all the weight at the bow
   2. Seat everyone on one side
   3. Spread weight evenly and keep it low
   4. Stack gear high to keep it dry

5. How do you measure your boat's length to work out what safety equipment it needs?

   1. Bow to the tip of the outboard motor
   2. Bow to transom, not counting the outboard
   3. Waterline length with people aboard
   4. The widest point across the beam

6. Your 9 m boat is anchored overnight in a bay. What light must it show?

   1. Red over green all-round lights
   2. A flashing yellow light
   3. One all-round white light
   4. Sidelights and a sternlight

7. What certificate must you hold to operate a marine VHF radio?

   1. Pleasure craft licence
   2. Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime)
   3. Amateur Radio Operator Certificate (Basic)
   4. Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC)

8. What must you carry along with an electronic visual distress signal device used in place of flares?

   1. A second flashlight
   2. Six spare batteries
   3. An approved smoke signal
   4. A rocket parachute flare

9. At night, what colour light does a lighted port hand buoy show?

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

10. You are overtaking a slower boat. Who must keep clear?

    1. The boat being overtaken
    2. Whichever boat is smaller
    3. You, the overtaking boat
    4. Whichever boat is under sail

11. 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

12. What does an isolated danger buoy mark?

    1. A channel junction
    2. A small danger you can pass on any side
    3. A safe anchorage
    4. The outer edge of a supervised swimming area

13. 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

14. Before refuelling a boat that uses a portable fuel tank, what should you do with the tank?

    1. Cover it with a wet towel
    2. Remove it from the boat
    3. Leave it in place and open it
    4. Fill it while the engine runs

15. Going upstream, on which side do you keep a green can buoy?

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. What is a white buoy with orange covering its top third?

    1. A swimming buoy
    2. A keep out buoy
    3. A cautionary buoy
    4. A mooring buoy

20. Environment Canada has issued a storm warning for the lake. What wind speed is expected?

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

21. How long are pyrotechnic distress flares good for?

    1. 10 years from manufacture
    2. 2 years from the date of purchase
    3. 4 years from the date of manufacture
    4. Until the package is opened

22. A parent lets their 14-year-old drive the family PWC. What can happen?

    1. Only the teen can be fined
    2. The parent can be fined $250
    3. Just a warning for a first offence
    4. No fine if a PFD is worn

23. A power-driven vessel in sight of you gives two short blasts. What does it mean?

    1. I am altering my course to port
    2. I am at anchor
    3. I am altering my course to starboard
    4. I am operating astern propulsion

24. How long is a pleasure craft licence valid if you keep your information up to date?

    1. For life
    2. 1 year
    3. 5 years
    4. 10 years

25. Below what length may a boat's red and green sidelights be combined in one lantern?

    1. Under 12 m
    2. Under 6 m
    3. Under 50 m
    4. Under 20 m

26. 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

27. A 17-year-old has a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. What horsepower limit applies to her?

    1. No horsepower limit
    2. Up to 75 hp unsupervised
    3. Up to 40 hp (30 kW)
    4. Up to 10 hp (7.5 kW)

28. Why throw something that floats to a person who has fallen overboard?

    1. It helps them float and marks the spot
    2. It slows the boat down
    3. It keeps the boat from drifting
    4. It shows rescuers the current

29. How does a PFD compare with a lifejacket?

    1. Approved only for children under 40 kg
    2. Required on all SOLAS vessels
    3. More comfortable, but less able to turn you face-up
    4. More flotation, and it turns you face-up much faster

30. What is an ODAS buoy used for?

    1. Mooring large ships
    2. Marking a dive site
    3. Collecting weather and scientific data
    4. Marking a channel junction in open water

31. Which waters are exempt from the 10 km/h shoreline rule?

    1. Rivers under 100 m wide and canals
    2. Any water deeper than 5 m
    3. Bays over 1 km from a town
    4. Lakes larger than 10 km²

32. You smell gasoline fumes in your PWC's engine compartment. What should you do?

    1. Don't start it; have it checked
    2. Open the seat and ride on
    3. Ride slowly to air it out
    4. Start it to burn off the fumes

33. Why should you wear your lifejacket instead of planning to grab it if you fall in?

    1. It inflates only when worn
    2. Cold water makes it very hard to put on
    3. It only works when dry
    4. Wearing it is always the law on every boat

34. 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

35. What is the MMSI programmed into a DSC marine radio?

    1. Your pleasure craft licence number
    2. A 4-digit radio password
    3. A 9-digit number that identifies your vessel
    4. Your operator card number

36. You are towing two tubers. How many empty seats must your boat have for them?

    1. None
    2. One
    3. Two
    4. Three