PCOC Boating Test Practice Test 8

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. Your wake swamps a canoe and damages a dock. Who is responsible?

   1. The canoeist, for being there
   2. You, the operator who made the wake
   3. No one; wakes are natural
   4. The dock owner

2. On which side should you normally keep a fairway buoy?

   1. On your port (left) side, either direction
   2. Always directly ahead
   3. Never pass it; go around
   4. On your starboard side going upstream

3. Which VHF channel is used for distress calls?

   1. Channel 70
   2. Channel 21B
   3. Channel 68
   4. Channel 16

4. Can you use a remote-controlled boat to tow a person on a kneeboard?

   1. No, never
   2. Yes, in daylight
   3. Yes, under 10 km/h
   4. Yes, with a spotter on shore

5. What kind of numbers does a green port hand buoy carry?

   1. Depth in metres
   2. Odd numbers
   3. Even numbers
   4. Letters only

6. What is the right way to set an anchor?

   1. Throw it as far as you can
   2. Lower it gently from the bow
   3. Drop it while moving at speed
   4. Drop it from the stern

7. Why are leaking propane and gasoline vapours so dangerous on a boat?

   1. They are lighter than air and disperse fast
   2. They are heavier than air and collect low
   3. They rise and escape quickly
   4. They can't burn when cold

8. You tow a water-skier without a spotter on board. What is the fine?

   1. $500
   2. $350
   3. $100
   4. $250

9. What is a pleasure craft courtesy check?

   1. A licence renewal inspection
   2. A police check that can lead to fines
   3. A paid inspection every 5 years
   4. A free, no-penalty check by trained volunteers

10. Above what total engine power must a pleasure craft be licensed, unless it is registered?

    1. 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more
    2. 25 hp (18.5 kW) or more
    3. 5 hp (3.7 kW) or more
    4. 40 hp (30 kW) or more

11. What should you do with your boat's drain plug before leaving the launch area?

    1. Seal it with tape
    2. Leave it in for the next lake
    3. Remove it and drain the bilge
    4. Tighten it to keep water in

12. Which factor must you consider when choosing a safe speed?

    1. The colour of your hull
    2. The time you are due home
    3. Visibility and nearby traffic
    4. Your engine's top speed

13. What does the 1-10-1 principle describe?

    1. Fuel planning
    2. Anchor line lengths for different depths
    3. Lifejacket size ranges
    4. The stages of cold-water immersion

14. What is the fine for operating a vessel carelessly, without due care and attention to others?

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

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

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

16. Where is carbon monoxide most dangerous for swimmers?

    1. Near the bow when anchored
    2. In open water, well away from the running boat
    3. In shallow water near shore
    4. Under swim platforms and between pontoons

17. 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

18. What does 'direct supervision' mean for a young boat operator?

    1. A parent is watching closely from the dock or shore
    2. An adult is in a nearby boat
    3. Someone 18+ is reachable by phone
    4. A competent person 16+ is in the boat supervising

19. How long is a 'prolonged blast'?

    1. 8 to 10 seconds
    2. 4 to 6 seconds
    3. About 1 second
    4. 2 to 3 seconds

20. On a Canadian lake, your 14 m power boat is leaving the dock. What signal must you give?

    1. Three short blasts
    2. No signal is required
    3. One prolonged blast
    4. Two short blasts

21. 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

22. At night you see a tug with a yellow towing light and three white masthead lights in a vertical line. What does this tell you?

    1. It is anchored across a narrow channel
    2. It is fishing with nets
    3. It is not under command
    4. It is towing a tow longer than 200 m

23. 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

24. 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

25. Your friend took a boating safety course in Ontario in 1996 and still has her course certificate. Which statement is correct?

    1. The certificate counts as proof of competency
    2. It counts only on Ontario waters
    3. The certificate expired after 10 years
    4. She must pass the PCOC test anyway

26. A boat is flying a blue and white flag (Code Flag Alpha). What does it mean?

    1. The boat is racing
    2. Divers are down nearby
    3. The boat is in distress
    4. The boat is fishing

27. Roughly how much does Canada spend each year managing zebra mussels?

    1. $2.5 billion
    2. $2.5 million
    3. $25 million
    4. $250 million

28. What is VHF channel 70 used for?

    1. Marina reservations
    2. Continuous marine weather and safety broadcasts
    3. Chat between pleasure boats
    4. Digital Selective Calling only, no voice

29. Will a diving buoy normally appear on your nautical chart?

    1. Only on Pacific charts
    2. Yes, always
    3. Yes, but only near busy harbours
    4. No, it is not normally charted

30. On a lake where the 'upstream' direction is hard to tell, which buoys may be the best way to mark a hazard?

    1. Cardinal buoys
    2. Starboard hand buoys
    3. Port hand buoys
    4. Mooring buoys

31. At night you see only a green light on another boat ahead of you. Which side of that boat are you looking at?

    1. Its stern
    2. Its port (left) side
    3. Its bow, head-on
    4. Its starboard (right) side

32. You will be boating on water colder than 15°C. What kind of PFD does the guide suggest?

    1. One with thermal protection
    2. One with a single chest belt
    3. Any PFD in a dark colour
    4. An inflatable pouch type

33. Why should you stay well clear of large commercial ships?

    1. They can stop within a boat length
    2. They are slower than they look
    3. They see you poorly and need far to stop
    4. They must always give way to you

34. Which flare rises to about 300 m and drifts down slowly under a parachute?

    1. Multi-star rocket flare
    2. Rocket parachute flare
    3. Smoke signal
    4. Hand flare

35. What is the minimum diameter of an approved lifebuoy?

    1. 610 mm (24 in)
    2. 760 mm (30 in)
    3. 500 mm (20 in)
    4. 450 mm (18 in)

36. In a Williamson turn, when do you put the rudder hard over to the opposite side?

    1. After turning 90° off course
    2. After turning 60° off course
    3. As soon as the person falls
    4. After turning 180°