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Current USPS Safe Boating Test
(General)
Created: 16 August 2001
NSBT #2



Click the answers that you think are correct — see how your knowledge stacks up!
1. Carbon monoxide, a deadly gas, the effects of which mimic sea sickness and intoxication, is:
  a blue/grey gas that smells like rotten bananas.
often found lying on the surface of the water on warm days.
a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.
nothing to worry about if you are in open air.
2. A safety-conscious skipper never starts the engine on a gasoline- powered boat before:
  all passengers are comfortably seated on the foredeck, gunwale, or transom.
checking to see that there is enough alcohol and additives in the fuel.
checking the Sunday newspaper for a weather forecast.
sniffing for fuel vapors in the engine and fuel compartments.
3. Before fueling a boat with a built-in fuel tank, you should:
  close all portholes, doors, and hatches.
turn on the bilge blower, if so equipped.
open all portholes, doors, and hatches.
keep all smokers at least three feet away.
4. If you are caught on the water in bad weather, your first step should be to:
  listen for a weather forecast.
pour water into the bilge to increase stability.
stop all movement of your boat and drift until the storm is over.
see that all aboard are wearing life preservers.
5. When docking your boat it is desirable to plan the procedure in advance and:
  always operate your boat at cruising speed.
approach slowly against the wind or current for more control of your boat.
give instructions in a loud authoritative tone so that the crew will know who is in charge.
teach the crew how to keep the boat away from the pier using their arms and legs.
6. The correct anchor for your boat will depend not only on the size and type of your boat but on the:
  cost(always purchase the cheapest anchor available).
size and length of your anchor rode.
types of seabed and amount of wind and current you expect to encounter.
location(bow or stern)from which you anchor.
7. When participating in water sports such as water skiing, boardsailing, operating a personal watercraft, etc.it is important to:
  operate as close to swimmers,fishermen, sailors, divers, and boats at anchor so that your expertise and skills can be admired.
pick a day with good strong winds, currents, and waves.
never engage in watersports at night.
not hinder your activities by wearing a life preserver,(PFD).
8. To attract attention when you have an emergency in a small boat, blow your whistle or horn, or:
  swim slowly to shore, even if it is a long distance.
set afloat an ice chest or life jacket with a note asking for help.
just sit patiently until a marine patrol officer comes along.
slowly and repeatedly raise your arms outstretched from your sides.
9. You should have charts of the area where you are boating onboard to help you determine where you are and:
  provide you with up-to-date weather forecasts.
show you where the fish are, if you are a fisherman.
give you the location of near-by refreshment stands.
where you want to be to avoid busy shipping lanes and hazards.
10. The times and heights of tides are:
  influenced by the heat of the sun.
influenced by high-pressure weather systems.
predictable for any day at a given place.
uniform in all locations.
11. If a fire occurs when operating your PWC, stop the craft immediately and:
  make a MAYDAY call on your built-in VHF radio.
turn on your navigation lights to attract help.
leave the craft and swim as far away as possible.
open the engine compartment and put out the fire.
12. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
  PWCs do not disturb the ecology of the water bottom.
Wake from PWCs does not contribute to shoreline erosion.
Noise from PWCs will not disturb bird life.
Excessive noise and lack of respect for others create pressures to regulate personal watercraft activities.
13. Federal law prohibits:
  depositing garbage at a marina.
treating a holding tank with a chemical.
using an incinerating marine sanitation device.
the throwing, discharging, or depositing of oil, garbage, or sewage into U.S. waters.
14. Navigation Rules that apply to sailing vessels also apply to:
  water skiers.
sailboarders.
personal watercraft operators.
parasailers.
15. Federal regulations require that all recreational boats have:
  a USCG-approved wearable life preserver,(PFD), for each person onboard.
an anchor and rode to securely anchor the vessel under any conditions.
a compass, charts, dock lines, and fenders.
a radiotelephone.
16. A condition that could result in Coast Guard termination of the use of your boat is:
  the display of navigation lights in daylight.
running with your fenders hanging from the sides of your boat.
overloading beyond the manufacturer's recommended safe loading capacity.
failure to carry charts of your cruising area.
17. If involved in a boating accident,federal regulations require that the boat operator immediately file a report with the:
  proper marine law enforcement agency,providing that property damage exceeds $50.
local Motor Vehicle Department.
local Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla.
proper marine law enforcement agency,if there is serious injury to, death or disappearance of a person, complete loss of a vessel, or property damage to vessels or property totaling $2000 or more.
18. Navigation lights for both powerboats and sailing vessels under 65.6 feet include red and green sidelights and a white sternlight. However, powerboats of that length also are required to have a:
  yellow all-round light.
red strobe light.
white masthead light.
flashing blue light.
19. At night, off your starboard side, you see a boat with a white light over a red light. You take immediate precautions because you are meeting a:
  large vessel in a narrow channel.
vessel engaged in diving.
powerboat crossing in front of you from right to left.
law enforcement vessel.
20. The purpose of The Navigation Rules is to:
  prevent collisions.
complement nautical charts in navigation.
set standards for plotting courses.
set limits for the size and speed of vessels.

 

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