in Survival Craft PSC Practice Exam

Coast Guard Lifeboatman / Proficiency in Survival Craft (PSC) Practice Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

1. The primary purpose of a lifeboat’s painter line is to:

• Steer the lifeboat
• Secure the lifeboat to the ship
• Bail water from the lifeboat
• Anchor the lifeboat at sea

Rationale: The painter line is used to keep the lifeboat attached to

the ship or dock, ensuring safe lowering and launching.

2. When launching a lifeboat with gravity davits, the first step is to:

• Release the painter
• Check that all personnel are seated and secured 1 / 4

• Start the engine
• Lower the lifeboat halfway

Rationale: Ensuring personnel are safely seated and secured prevents

injury during the rapid lowering of the lifeboat.

• The main advantage of a SOLAS-approved inflatable liferaft over a

traditional rigid lifeboat is:

• Faster engine speed
• Compact storage and rapid inflation
• Higher passenger capacity
• Less maintenance

Rationale: Inflatable liferafts are designed to be compact and deploy

quickly in an emergency.

• Which of the following signals indicates a man overboard?
• Three short blasts on the ship’s horn
• Continuous ringing of the ship’s bell
• Throwing a lifebuoy and shouting “Man overboard!”
• Flashing red light at night

Rationale: Immediate visual and verbal signaling is essential for

alerting nearby personnel and initiating a rescue.

5. The first step in conducting a lifeboat drill is to:

• Launch the lifeboat immediately
• Start the engine
• Brief the crew on roles and procedures 2 / 4

• Lower the lifeboat into the water

Rationale: Crew briefing ensures everyone knows their

responsibilities before the drill begins.

• What is the recommended action if a lifeboat becomes swamped?
• Paddle to shore immediately
• Bail out water and right the lifeboat if possible
• Cut the painter line
• Abandon the lifeboat immediately

Rationale: Swamped lifeboats can often be righted and cleared of

water to restore buoyancy.

7. Lifeboat canopies are primarily used to:

• Improve speed
• Protect occupants from exposure
• Increase storage space
• Anchor the lifeboat

Rationale: Canopies shield personnel from sun, wind, rain, and cold,

helping prevent hypothermia.

8. The term “freeboard” refers to:

• Lifeboat’s engine power
• Distance between waterline and the deck of the lifeboat
• Lifeboat’s weight capacity
• Vertical distance from waterline to the upper deck level 3 / 4

Rationale: Freeboard ensures sufficient height above water to

prevent swamping and improve stability.

9. In cold water survival, the most critical factor affecting survival time is:

• Availability of food
• Hypothermia
• Distance to shore
• Sea state

Rationale: Cold water rapidly lowers body temperature, which can

quickly lead to incapacitation or death.

• Which device is used to control the speed of a lifeboat when

lowering from a ship?

• Painter line
• Lifeline
• Fall brake on the davit
• Tiller rope

Rationale: Fall brakes regulate the descent speed of a lifeboat,

preventing accidents.

• What is the primary purpose of lifejackets on a ship?
• Speed up swimming
• Provide buoyancy to keep a person afloat
• Keep clothes dry
• Signal distress
• / 4