NJ Boating Certificate Practice Exam
(Latest Version 2023 – 2024) A+ Rated
1) A capacity plate shows the: – Maximum horsepower and weight allowed
2) What is the minimum height of the state registration numbers that are displayed on a boat? – 3″
3) If a boat transfers ownership, is destroyed, lost, stolen or recovered, the owner must notify the
agency which issued the certificate within this many days: – 15
4) On a federally documented boat, it must have this number permanently affixed in block type,
Arabic numerals not lees than 3″ in height, on a clearly visible internal structural part of the boat. –
Official number
5) This legal proof of state registration is required to be on the boat whenever it is underway: –
Certificate of number
6) Motorized boats must be – registered in the state of principal use
7) A Backfire Flame Arrestor is attached to the air intake of an inboard gasoline engine and is
designed to: – Suppress flames
8) Which one of the following boats is required to have a fire extinguisher on board: – Personal
watercraft
9) Which of the following boats is required to have a Type IV (throwable) Personal Floatation
Device on board under USCG regulations? – 16″ bass boat
10) Which of the following is a U.S. Coast Guard approved type of visual distress signaling device: –
electric distress signal light
11) All boats less than 39.4 feet in length, must legally carry this item in order to communicate with
other boats… – an efficient means of producing a sound signal
12) A U.S. Coast Guard approved installed fire extinguishing system replaces this many portable B-I
fire extinguishers? – 1
13) With whom should you leave your float plan? – Friend, neighbor, or relative
14) To prevent structural damage, always do this prior to backing your boat into the water. – raise
the lower unit (outdrive) or outboard engine
15) When fueling, you should always make certain this item makes contact with the fuel tank
opening to prevent static spark. – Fuel nozzle
16) A type IV (throwable) PFD must be kept: – Immediately available
17) This required piece of safety equipment is attached to the carburetor of inboard gasoline
engines to suppress flames: – backfire flame arrestors
18) After fueling, and before starting the engine, this item should be turned on for at least 4
minutes. – engine exhaust blower
19) On boats required to carry visual distress signals, the minimum amount is: – 3 day/night
combination flares
20) Passengers should all wear this item each time the boat gets underway. – life jacket
21) An inflatable Type III PFD may be worn by this boater: – 16 year-old operating a ski boat
22) When trailering a boat, which type maneuver requires the widest turning radius? – right hand
turn
NJ Boating Test Questions and Answers
(100% Correct)
How should a boat’s registration number and validation decal be displayed?
on both sides of the bow
What are the most important factors in choosing a PFD?
weight and chest size
Information on the capacity plate – number of people, max weight, sometimes max horsepower
Best way to find out about local hazards – nautical chart
Minimum age to operate a PWC – 16 years old
Type of PFD that turns most people face up – off-shore PFD (type 1)
Who is responsible for making sure passengers know all safety information?
the operator
Best place to store a fire extinguisher – in an easily accessible place
When should a life jacket be discarded and replaced?
when it is torn
What effect does alcohol have on operating a vessel?
increases the likelihood of an accident
In federally controlled waters, what equipment is required on an 18-foot boat?
USCG approved visual distress signal, PFD, throwable device
sound producing device required on an 18 ft boat in NJ waters – horn or whistle
What factors provide warning of dangerous weather?
dark clouds and shifting winds
part of a regular engine maintenance program – check the oil
With respect to the wind or current, how should you approach the dock?
into the wind
What should you do before fueling?
stop the engine, close all doors/windows/hatches
Where should the trailer be located when loading gear?
well away from the dock
how to avoid propeller strikes when boarding – turn of engine
What is a reason why boat operators would be directed to shore?
not enough PFDs on board
What is the best way of minimizing the risk of drowning?
wearing a life jacket
how to avoid transporting nuisance species – clean hull, clear bilge, clear off zebra mussels
NJ Boating Exam (Latest 2023 – 2024) Verified
Answers By Expert
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? – 12 or younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? – 13 years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? – 16 years old
True or False: Anyone age 13 or older can operate a powerboat that is operated by a trolling motor
or one horsepower or less or if the boat is longer than 12 feet it must have less than ten horsepower
- True
When should your navigation lights be on? – Sunset to Sunrise or during the day if visibility is
restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? – Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? – Sunrise to Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? – Yes, you have to go at slow speed no wake
Where is the best place to transfer gear from your vehicle to your boat before launching? – Away
from the boat ramp. Preparation should be done away from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? – Yes, but you must go at a slow rate
no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? – Slow speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area? (Diamond with a cross) –
NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? – 500 yards away
If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be going? – Slow, no wake speed
If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel, what should you do? – Be stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock? – 200
feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or dock how fast should you go?
- No wake speed, slow
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? – Nautical Chart
What is a Nautical Chart? – Contains information such as water depths and the locations of channels,
sand bars, rocks and vegetation. Prevents from running aground.
What can prevent you from running aground? – Nautical Chart
Who is responsible for avoiding collision? – EVERYONE
When two boats are approaching head on what should they do? – Each boat must give way to the
right to pass
Another boat is approaching your boat from your starboard side, what do you do? – You must stop,
slow down, change direction (you are the give-way vessel)
NJ Boaters Licence Test (2023 – 2024)
With Complete Solution
Left side of the boat – Port
Right side of the boat – Starboard
Front of boat – Bow
Back of boat – Stern
Body of boat – Hull
Upper edge of a boat’s side – Gunwale
Maximum width of a vessel – Beam
Distance from water to lowest point of boat where water could come on board – Free board
Depth of water needed to float a vessel – Draft
Main center line (backboard) of a vessel, or the extension of hull that increases stability in
the water – Keel
Steering device near the back of the boat / also in sailboats – Rudder
Screen that covers the intake in most PWC – Intake grate
A kind of hull that…
1- moves through the water by pushing water aside and is designed to cut through water
with little propulsion
2- go generally slower because they have round bottomed-hull shapes
3- more common on large cruisers and sailboats
4- provide a smoother ride – Displacement hull
The boats __ is the amount of water that moves out of the way of the boat when
in motion. This weight equals the weight of the boat. – Displacement
A kind of hull that…
1- Rise up and glide on top of the water
2- have a flat / v shaped bottom
3- faster
4- common on PWC and slower power driven vehicles
5- Drive in 3 different modes – Planing hull
The 3 different modes of a planing hull are… – Displacement, Plowing, Planing
The length of the boats hull excluding all attachments and tip of the bow in a straight line to
the stern determine the overall boat _ – Length Class A length class boats are less than feet – 16
Class 1 length class boats are between 17 and _ feet – 25 Class 2 length class boats are between 26 and _ feet – 39
Class 3 length class boats are between 40 and _ feet – 60 Outboard and inboard are two different types of _ – Engines
____ Engines…
1- Are portable
2- Older engines are 2 stroke new engines are 4
3- Steering wheel controlled – Outboard
Another word for steering wheel – Tiller
_ Engines…..
1- All 4-stroke for marine use
2- Mounted inside midsection or transom
3- Steering is controlled by a rudder behind the propeller – Inboard
Stern and jet are two different types of – Drives
_________…..
1- More quiet and fuel efficient
2- Combine features from both types of engines – Stern Drives
______….
1- Use engine to power strong water pump by forcing jet of water out the back
2- Most common in PWC
3- Designed for shallow water – Jet drives
If steering in a PWC is turned right, the jet of water is pushing water to the _ causing
the PWC to turn right – left
Included lines found in a sailboat – Rigging
NEW JERSEY Official Boating Safety Course (Latest
Update 2023 – 2024) Complete Solution
The port side of the vessel is the side. – Left
The starboard side of the vessel is the side. – Right
Basic types of vessel hulls can be described as . – Displacement & Planing Three basic hull shapes: – I. Round bottom II. Flat bottom III. Vee bottom Four length classes of vessels – I: >16 II: 16 to >26 III: 26 to >40 IV: 40 to >65 Four basic types of engines – Inboard, Outboard, Stern drive, Jet drive Stern drive and inboard engines are _. – Automotive engines adapted for marine use.
The U.S. Coast Guard considers personal watercraft to be __. – Inboard vessels
True or False: Personal watercraft are not subject to the laws and requirements of other
vessels. – False
An _ is a device used to pump and force water under pressure through a steering
nozzle at the rear of the vessel. – Impeller
CHAPTER TWO – BEFORE YOU GET UNDERWAY
What information is displayed on the capacity plate of an outboard powerboat? – I. Capacity
(# of pounds or people)
II. Recommended maximum horse power
Three things that should be included on your float plan before you embark on an extended
outing. – I. Description of vessel (give number, size, make, etc.)
II. List of passengers (name, number, address)
III. Trip plan (starting point, destination)
Three things you should do while filling the fuel tank of your vessel. – I. Keep the nozzle in
contact with the fuel opening
II. Fill tank slowly & avoid spilling
III. Never fill to the brim
A rule of thumb to prevent running out of fuel on a PWC is _ in out _ in reserve. – 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 If the combined weight of the vessel and its engine is more than of the recommended
load capacity of the trailer, you should get the next larger trailer. – 90%
“Tongue weight” is the amount of the loaded trailer’s weight that ______. – presses
down on the towing hitch
Two strong safety chains should be to support the trailers coupler in case it becomes
disconnected from the towing vehicle. – crisscrossed
Where should you prepare your vessel before launching it from the trailer? – Well away
from the boat ramp.
Three engine maintenance tips. – I. Keep well tuned/grease & lubricate
II. Check oil levels/change oil
III. Check batteries/check for anything loose
CHAPTER THREE – OPERATING YOUR BOAT…. SAFELY
If the wind or current direction is toward the dock, you should cast off the first when
leaving the dock. – stern line
The is required to take early & substantial action to avoid collision by stopping,
slowing down, or changing course. – give-way vessel
The stand on vessel must ___________ unless _______________________. –
maintain its course and speed…… it becomes apparent the give-way vessel is not taking
appropriate action
If you are driving a power boat or PWC and meet another power boat head-on, you should
keep to the . – right
True or False: If you are overtaking another vessel, you are the stand on vessel. – False
True or False: If you see a red and a white light ahead when boating at night you should
maintain course and speed. – False
If you see only a green light while boating at night, you may be approaching a and you
must . – sailing vessel….. give way
NJ Boaters License Exam May 2021
Bow – Front of a vessel
Cleat – Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
Gunwale – Upper edge of vessel’s side
Hull – Body of a vessel
Port – Left side of a vessel
Propeller – Rotates and powers a boat forward or backward
Starboard – Right side of a vessel
Stern – Rear of a vessel
Beam – Maximum width of a vessel
Draft – Depth of water needed to float a vessel
Freeboard – Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water could come on
board
Keel – Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull that increases stability
in the water
Displacement and planning – two basic types of boat hulls are…
Displacement – Boats with ________ hulls move through the water by pushing the
water aside and are designed to cut through the water with very little propulsion.
Slower speeds – Boats with displacement hulls are limited to
Round-bottomed hull – A _______________________ shape acts as a displacement hull.
Most large cruisers and most sailboats have displacement hulls, allowing them to travel
more smoothly through the water.
planning hulls – Boats with ____________ are designed to rise up and glide on top of
the water when enough power is supplied
True – T or F: boats may operate like displacement hulls when at rest or at slow speeds but
climb toward the surface of the water as they move faster
High speed – Boats with planing hulls can skim along at _________, riding almost on
top of the water rather than pushing it aside
Flat-Bottomed and Vee-Bottomed Hull – ________ and _________ shapes
act as planing hulls
Personal watercraft (PWC) – A small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary
source of propulsion and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting,
standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel
Displacement Mode – A planing hull, when operated at very slow speeds, will cut through
the water like a displacement hull.
plowing mode – As speed increases, a planing hull will have a raised bow, reducing the
operator’s vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid maintaining a speed that puts your
boat in ______
planning mode – Your boat is in _______________ when enough power is applied so
that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach __________ at
different speeds.
Flat-Bottomed Hull – Advantage: Has a shallow draft, which is good for fishing in small
lakes and rivers. Disadvantage: Rides roughly in choppy waters
Deep-Vee Hull – Advantage: Gives a smoother ride than a flat-bottomed hull in rough water.
Disadvantage: Takes more power to move at the same speed as flat-bottomed hulls. May
roll or bank in sharp turns.
Round-Bottomed Hull – Advantage: Moves easily through the water even at slow speeds.
Disadvantage: Has a tendency to roll unless it has a deep keel or stabilizers.
Multi-Hull – Advantage: Has greater stability because of its wide beam. Disadvantage: Needs
a large area when turning.
Length overall – dictates the equipment the vessel must have to comply with federal and
state laws; is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel.
NO – are bowsprits; rudders; outboard motors and motor brackets; handles; and other
fittings, attachments, and extensions included in the measurement
rudder – Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of
the boat