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PCOC Boating Test: Sharing the water and local hazards

Large ships and their blind spots, tugs and tows, diver flags, seaplanes, low-head dams, power lines, historic canal rules, passing through a lock and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

  • 19 questions
  • Topic drill
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Sharing the water and local hazards · Question 1Score 0/0

What must you do with your engine while in a lock chamber?

Study reference: Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026), Ch. On the water — Large vessels, tugs, divers, seaplanes, dams, power lines, canals and locks, pp. 37–41

All 19 questions in this test

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

  1. What must you do with your engine while in a lock chamber?

    1. Keep it in gear to hold position
    2. Rev it to charge the battery
    3. Switch it off until staff say restart
    4. Keep it idling in neutral

  2. Which boats are not allowed through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks?

    1. Boats with inboard engines
    2. Boats carrying children
    3. Boats under 6 m long
    4. Boats over 12 m long

  3. What is the danger of passing between a tug and the barge it is towing?

    1. The tug will sound five blasts
    2. The tow line may be just under the surface
    3. The barge has the right to ram you
    4. Barges never make a wake

  4. Why is boating near overhead power lines especially risky at night?

    1. Power is shut off at night
    2. Lines are higher at night
    3. Lines sag into the water
    4. The lines are harder to see

  5. When you can, how far should you stay from a diver-down flag?

    1. At least 100 m
    2. At least 10 m
    3. At least 30 m
    4. At least 500 m

  6. The lock has drop cables along its wall. How should you use your lines?

    1. Leave them once they are tied
    2. Use only the stern line
    3. Loop them around the cables, not tie them
    4. Tie them tightly to the cables with a cleat hitch

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. At a lock station, what does the blue line on the mooring wharf show?

    1. Where swimming is allowed near the lock
    2. Where to wait for the next lockage
    3. The maximum water depth
    4. Where fuel is sold

  10. How close to a lock structure may you tow a water-skier in a historic canal?

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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. In a historic canal, how close to a lock may you fish?

    1. No closer than 40 m
    2. No closer than 10 m
    3. Anywhere but the chamber
    4. No closer than 100 m

  14. What are you not allowed to do in a historic canal between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.?

    1. Travel through the locks
    2. Use navigation lights
    3. Make excessive noise
    4. Tie up at a wharf

  15. You see someone trapped in the backwash below a low-head dam. What should you do?

    1. Drive your boat in to pull them out
    2. Swim out to reach them
    3. Wait for them to swim free
    4. Call 911 and throw a line from a safe spot

  16. A seaplane is landing near your boat. Why must you be the one to act?

    1. It must stop for you on the water
    2. It will sound a horn and turn away
    3. It must land next to boats
    4. It can't change course while landing

  17. Why are low-head dams so dangerous?

    1. The water above them flows too fast to paddle
    2. They are always clearly marked
    3. The water drops more than 10 m
    4. Circulating currents trap people at the base

  18. 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

  19. 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

Sharing the water and local hazards: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Give other boats plenty of space

  • Keep constant watch; large vessels have trouble seeing you, travel faster than you think and take longer to stop; they have a blind spot ahead.
  • Stay out of shipping lanes; be ready to stop, slow down and yield; never block or cross in front of large vessels or go between a tug and its tow; radar reflector at least 4 m above water when possible.

Tugs and towing vessels

  • Tow lines are often just below the surface and nearly invisible; never pass between a tug and its tow - a small boat hitting the line can capsize and be run down. Give tugs and tows space in all directions.

Divers below the surface

  • Dive boats display the blue and white Code Flag Alpha; a red flag with a white diagonal stripe on a buoy may mark a diving area; divers may stray from marked areas.
  • Reduce speed and keep at least 100 m (328') from the flag. If the waterway is too small: slow as much as possible, proceed with caution, keep clear of the vessel and site.
  • When diving from your boat, display the flags and stay within 100 m of your flag.

Seaplanes

  • Collision Regulations apply to seaplanes on the water. Rule 5 lookout; Rule 7 risk of collision; Rule 8 early action even if you have the right of way.
  • Landing and taking off, seaplanes can't alter course or keep out of the way; you must change course and reduce speed. Avoid aerodromes shown on charts.

Dams and weirs

  • Never boat, swim or fish near a dam or weir. Low-head dams create circulating currents that pull people under and trap them against the dam; the water often looks calm.
  • Find out about dams in advance; signs or barriers may be missing; portage or turn around well before the dam.
  • If someone is in trouble: don't enter the area, call 911, toss a rope or bag from a safe distance or shore.

Power lines

  • Contact with a line or its invisible electric arc zone can kill. Know your boat's height (including mast gear) and chart clearances; lines are harder to see at night; lower the mast when trailering.

Historic canals and locks

  • Carry enough mooring lines and fenders.
  • Canal rules: no excessive noise 11 pm-6 am; no fishing within 10 m (32'10") of a lock, from an approach wharf or from a bridge over the channel; no diving, jumping or swimming in a navigation channel or within 40 m (131') of a lock gate or dam; no waterskiing or towing in a navigation channel or within 100 m (328'1") of a lock structure; no mooring to a navigation aid.
  • Locks: blue line on the wharf = where to wait; green light = go ahead (at many stations); enter at no more than 10 km/h with people at bow and stern with lines; loop lines around drop cables, not to them; never leave lines unattended; switch off engines and generator, no flames or smoking, bilge blower on; restart only when staff say so; exit slowly in order.
  • St. Lawrence Seaway locks: not allowed for boats under 6 m (20'), under 900 kg (1 ton), or sailboats under sail; larger pleasure craft pay tolls and expect delays.

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