TENNESSEE BOATING TEST ACTUAL TEST
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ stern.
Answer: Rear of a vessel
⩥ starboard.
Answer: right side of a vessel
⩥ port.
Answer: Left side of a vessel
⩥ hull.
Answer: the frame or body of ship
⩥ gunwale.
Answer: the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship
⩥ cleat.
Answer: Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
,⩥ propeller.
Answer: Rotates and powers a boat forward or backward
⩥ beam.
Answer: Maximum width of a vessel
⩥ freeboard.
Answer: Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water
could come on board
⩥ draft.
Answer: Depth of water needed to float a vessel
⩥ keel.
Answer: Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull
that increases stability in the water
⩥ Displacement Hull.
Answer: Boats with these move through the water by pushing the water
aside and are designed to cut through the water with very little
propulsion.
,If you lower a boat into the water, some of the water moves out of the
way to adjust for the boat. If you could weigh that displaced water, you
would find it equals the weight of the boat. That weight is the boat's
displacement.
Boats with these are limited to slower speeds.
A round-bottomed hull shape acts like this. Most large cruisers and most
sailboats have these, allowing them to travel more smoothly through the
water.
⩥ Planing Hulls.
Answer: Boats are designed to rise up and glide on top of the water
when enough power is supplied. These 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.
Boats can skim along at high speed, riding almost on top of the water
rather than pushing it aside.
Flat-bottomed and vee-bottomed hull shapes. Most small power-driven
vessels, including personal watercraft (PWC), and some small sailboats
have planing hulls, allowing them to travel more rapidly across the
water.
⩥ personal watercraft.
Answer: 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
⩥ Planing Hull Speeds.
Answer: 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 plowing mode.
Planing Mode: Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is
applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach
planing mode at different speeds
⩥ Flat Bottom Hull.
Answer: Advantages: This planing hull has a shallow draft, which is
good for fishing in small lakes and rivers.
Disadvantages: Rides roughly in choppy waters.
⩥ Deep Vee Hull.
Answer: Advantages: This planing hull gives a smoother ride than a flat
bottom hull in rough water.
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ stern.
Answer: Rear of a vessel
⩥ starboard.
Answer: right side of a vessel
⩥ port.
Answer: Left side of a vessel
⩥ hull.
Answer: the frame or body of ship
⩥ gunwale.
Answer: the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship
⩥ cleat.
Answer: Metal fitting on which a rope can be fastened
,⩥ propeller.
Answer: Rotates and powers a boat forward or backward
⩥ beam.
Answer: Maximum width of a vessel
⩥ freeboard.
Answer: Distance from water to lowest point of the boat where water
could come on board
⩥ draft.
Answer: Depth of water needed to float a vessel
⩥ keel.
Answer: Main centerline (backbone) of a vessel or the extension of hull
that increases stability in the water
⩥ Displacement Hull.
Answer: Boats with these move through the water by pushing the water
aside and are designed to cut through the water with very little
propulsion.
,If you lower a boat into the water, some of the water moves out of the
way to adjust for the boat. If you could weigh that displaced water, you
would find it equals the weight of the boat. That weight is the boat's
displacement.
Boats with these are limited to slower speeds.
A round-bottomed hull shape acts like this. Most large cruisers and most
sailboats have these, allowing them to travel more smoothly through the
water.
⩥ Planing Hulls.
Answer: Boats are designed to rise up and glide on top of the water
when enough power is supplied. These 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.
Boats can skim along at high speed, riding almost on top of the water
rather than pushing it aside.
Flat-bottomed and vee-bottomed hull shapes. Most small power-driven
vessels, including personal watercraft (PWC), and some small sailboats
have planing hulls, allowing them to travel more rapidly across the
water.
⩥ personal watercraft.
Answer: 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
⩥ Planing Hull Speeds.
Answer: 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 plowing mode.
Planing Mode: Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is
applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach
planing mode at different speeds
⩥ Flat Bottom Hull.
Answer: Advantages: This planing hull has a shallow draft, which is
good for fishing in small lakes and rivers.
Disadvantages: Rides roughly in choppy waters.
⩥ Deep Vee Hull.
Answer: Advantages: This planing hull gives a smoother ride than a flat
bottom hull in rough water.
