New York Boater Education Card Practice Exam

Want to test your boating knowledge before you take the New York Boater Education Course? Take our free practice test below.

Practice Test Question 1

1. Which boating restriction sign indicates that no power-driven vessels are permitted?

No power-driven vessels boating restriction sign. Illustration.

Engine power limit boating restriction sign. Illustration.

No vessels permitted boating restriction sign. Illustration.

No skiiing north of sign boating restriction sign. Illustration.

That's correct! A no power-driven vessels sign has an orange stripe through a propeller and that any power-driven vessel or even vessels powered by electric propulsion are prohibited. Sometimes, no power-driven vessel boating restriction signs will be shaped like an arrow, meaning that the restriction applies in the direction pointed by the arrow.

Sorry, that's incorrect!On certain waterways in The United States, power-driven vessels are prohibited for one reason or another. A boating restriction sign indicating that no power-driven vessels are allowed will have an orange stripe through a propeller. Sometimes, a no power-driven vessel boating restriction sign will be shaped like an arrow, meaning that the restriction applies in the direction pointed by the arrow.

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Practice Test Question 2

2. Which of the following images correctly identifies the Port side of a pleasure craft?

Bow of boat. Boating terminolgy illustration.

Stern of boat. Boating terminolgy illustration.

Starboard side of boat. Boating terminolgy illustration.

Port side of boat. Boating terminolgy illustration.

That's correct! The port side of the boat is on your left when you're looking forward (towards the bow).

Sorry, that's incorrect!A great way to remember which side of the boat is the port side, is to use this rule of thumb: The word 'port' has four letters. So does the word 'left'. This trick should help you remember that the port is the left side of the boat when you're looking forward.

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Practice Test Question 3

3. Which of the following is NOT approved for use on a Personal Watercraft (PWC)?

Red standard life jacket. Boating safety equipment illustration.

Yellow personal flotation device. Boating safety equipment illustration.

Orange inflatable personal floatation device. Boating safety equipment illustration.

Orange small vessel life jacket. Boating safety equipment illustration.

That's correct!
It's against the law to use an Inflatable PFD (Personal Flotation Device) on a PWC or while doing other high impact sports like water-skiing or tubing. It's for your own safety to wear a lifejacket or buoyant PFD like option B or D when you're operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC).

Sorry, that's incorrect!
You can (and should!) wear a lifejacket or buoyant PFD when operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC). Lifejackets are designed to turn an unconscious person face up in the water and offer a higher level of protection, which is especially important when participating in high impact water sports!

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Practice Test Question 4

4. Which of the following should you keep on your port side when heading upstream?

Green port-hand lateral system navigation buoys. Illustation.

Red starboard-hand lateral system navigation buoys. Illustration.

Starboard-hand day beacon. Boating markers illustration.

Starboard-junction day beacon. Boating markers illustration.

That's correct!
A green Port-Hand Buoy must always be kept on the left side of your boat when heading upstream. You should always know if you are traveling upstream or downstream so you know which side of a marker buoy you should pass on!

Sorry, that's incorrect!
When approaching a green Port-Hand Buoy, it must be kept on the left side of your boat when you're heading upstream.

Always remember that opposites attract when you're heading upstream! Your green sidelight will always match up with any red buoy that your boat approaches when you're heading upstream and your red sidelight will always pair up with any green buoy that your boat approaches when you're heading upstream.

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Practice Test Question 5

5. Which of the following is a Type A Parachute Flare?

Multi-star rocket flare. Boating distress signal illustration.

Parachute flare. Boating distress signal illustration.

Buoyant smoke flare. Boating distress signal illustration.

Hand-held flare. Boating distress signal illustration.

That's correct!
Unlike a Type D hand-held smoke flare; a parachute flare works best during the nighttime. When choosing your flares, make sure that you choose a type that will be most visible for the type of boating that you do. Don't forget that flares are only valid for four years from their date of manufacture.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
A parachute flare when launched provides a red light flare, which burns for at least 40 seconds and can be seen from a height of 300m. A parachute flare works best during the nighttime and can be seen from water, land and air.

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Practice Test Question 6

6. Which of the following is a Swimming Buoy?

Red and white diving flag on top of white buoy. Illustration.

White cylindrical swimming buoy. Illustration.

White and orange hazard buoys. Illustration.

That's correct!
A designated swimming area will be marked with white Swimming Buoys. You should stay well clear of Swimming Buoys.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
A Swimming Buoy is always white in colour and does not have any additional marks, unlike the Diving Buoy for example, which always carries a red flag with a white diagonal stripe.

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Practice Test Question 7

7. In which of the following images are you the Stand-On Craft?

Boat approaching port side. Nagivating at night illustration.

Boat approaching starboard side. Nagivating at night illustration.

Boat approaching head on. Nagivating at night illustration.

Approaching a non-powered craft. Navigating a boat at night illustration.

That's correct!
If you are the Stand-On Craft, you have the right-of-way and can maintain your speed and direction when approaching other power-driven boats. You should always be aware and remain alert in case the operators of the other boats are not following the navigation rules.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
A Stand-On Craft has the right-of-way when approaching other power-driven boats. A simple way to decipher powerboat navigation lights is to remember this:
If you see a green light you can 'go', it means another power-driven boat is approaching from your port (left) side.
If you see a red light you should 'stop', it means another power-driven boat is approaching from your starboard (right) side.

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Practice Test Question 8

8. A boat is approaching you head-on, what is your course of action?

Approaching a boat head on. Turning to port. Powerboat navigation and right-of-way illustration.

Approaching a boat head on. Turning to starboard. Powerboat navigation and right-of-way illustration.

Approaching a boat head on hazard. Powerboat navigation and right-of-way illustration.

Approaching a boat head on. Full stop. Powerboat navigation and right-of-way illustration.

That's correct!
Neither boat has right-of-way. Both boats must take early and substantial action to steer clear of the other boat by moving to their right.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
When power-driven boats are approaching each other head-on, neither boat has the right-of-way. Both boaters must alter their direction in this situation. Don't forget that the type of craft you're operating and the type of craft you're approaching also determines which boater has the right-of-way. For example, an emergency craft always has right-of-way and all boats must steer clear.

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Practice Test Question 9

9. Which of the following displays how passengers should be safely seated on board a small aluminum boat?

Two children wearing life jackets, sitting at stern, operating a motorboat. Illustration.

Two children wearing life jackets, sitting in separate seats, operating a motorboat. Illustration.

Two children wearing life jackets, properly dispersing weight, operating a motorboat. Illustration.

Two children wearing life jackets operating a motorboat. Girl standing up unsafely. Illustration.

That's correct!
Distributing passenger weight evenly allows for a smooth and safe ride.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
Passengers on a small power-driven boat (or human-powered craft) should be sitting evenly so the weight is distributed evenly throughout the boat. Having too much weight on one side can negatively affect the performance of the boat and ultimately your safety!

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Practice Test Question 10

10. Which image is a Starboard-Hand Buoy?

Black and red isolated danger buoys. Illustration.

That's correct!
A red Starboard-Hand Buoy is red in colour and must be kept on the right side of your boat when you're heading upstream.

Sorry, that's incorrect!
A Starboard-Hand Buoy is red in colour and must be kept to the right side of your boat when you're heading upstream.

Remember: Opposites attract when you're heading upstream! Your boat's green sidelight will always match up with any red buoy that your boat approaches when heading upstream and your red sidelight will always match up with any green buoy that your boat approaches when you're heading upstream.

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New York Boater Education Card Practice Exam

Practice Test Question 1

Practice Test Question 2

Practice Test Question 3

Practice Test Question 4

Practice Test Question 5

Practice Test Question 6

Practice Test Question 7

Practice Test Question 8

Practice Test Question 9

Practice Test Question 10

Congratulations! You've completed the practice quiz.

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