NJ BOATING EXAM 2026||
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(GRADED A+)
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - ANSWER-12 or
younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - ANSWER-13
years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - ANSWER-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 the boat is
longer than 12 feet it must have less than ten horsepower - ANSWER-True
When should your navigation lights be on? - ANSWER-Sunset to Sunrise or
during the day if visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - ANSWER-
Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - ANSWER-Sunrise to
Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Away from the boat ramp. Preparation
should be done away from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - ANSWER-
Yes, but you must go at a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - ANSWER-Slow
speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area?
(diamond with a cross) - ANSWER-NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? -
ANSWER-500 yards away
, If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be
going? - ANSWER-Slow, no wake speed
If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? -
ANSWER-Be stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina,
pier, wharf, or dock? - ANSWER-200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or
dock how fast should you go? - ANSWER-No wake speed, slow
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - ANSWER-Nautical
Chart
What is a Nautical Chart? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Nautical Chart
Who is responsible for avoiding collision? - ANSWER-EVERYONE
When two boats are approaching head on what should they do? -
ANSWER-Each boat must give way to the right to pass
Another boat is approaching your boat from your starboard side, what do
you do? - ANSWER-You must stop, slow down, change direction (you are
the give-way vessel)
When you are underway and a sailboat is passing you, what must you do?
- ANSWER-Maintain course and speed as the sailboat must give-way
True or False: If you are overtaking another boat you must give way -
ANSWER-True
What is the primary factor that will affect boat speed? - ANSWER-Visibility
Caught in the fog, What do you do? - ANSWER-Slow down, turn on
navigation lights, be prepared to take action to avoid collision
Red buoys: Even or odd numbers? - ANSWER-Even
Green buoys: Even or odd numbers? - ANSWER-Odd
Purpose of Markers? - ANSWER-Identify edges of safe water, the potential
for running aground outside them is very high
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(GRADED A+)
What is the age that you MUST wear a PFD at all times? - ANSWER-12 or
younger
How old must you be to receive a NJ boat safety certificate? - ANSWER-13
years old
How old must you be to operate a Personal Water Craft
(PWC)? - ANSWER-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 the boat is
longer than 12 feet it must have less than ten horsepower - ANSWER-True
When should your navigation lights be on? - ANSWER-Sunset to Sunrise or
during the day if visibility is restricted
When is it legal to tow someone on a wakeboard or tube? - ANSWER-
Sunrise to Sunset
When is it legal to operate a personal watercraft? - ANSWER-Sunrise to
Sunset
Is it legal to operate your boat by the launch ramp? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Away from the boat ramp. Preparation
should be done away from the ramp
Can you legally pass an emergency vessel with their lights on? - ANSWER-
Yes, but you must go at a slow rate no wake speed
How fast should you go in a lagoon or narrow channel? - ANSWER-Slow
speed
Is it legal to operate at a slow speed inside of a marked exclusion area?
(diamond with a cross) - ANSWER-NEVER GO IN THIS AREA
What is the distance you should be from any military or service vessel? -
ANSWER-500 yards away
, If you are within 500 yards of a military vessel how fast should you be
going? - ANSWER-Slow, no wake speed
If you are within 100 yards of a military vessel what should you do? -
ANSWER-Be stopped
If you are operating at a fast speed how far must you be from a marina,
pier, wharf, or dock? - ANSWER-200 feet away
When you are closer than 200 feet away from a marina, pier, wharf, or
dock how fast should you go? - ANSWER-No wake speed, slow
Before you leave the dock what should you look at? - ANSWER-Nautical
Chart
What is a Nautical Chart? - ANSWER-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? - ANSWER-Nautical Chart
Who is responsible for avoiding collision? - ANSWER-EVERYONE
When two boats are approaching head on what should they do? -
ANSWER-Each boat must give way to the right to pass
Another boat is approaching your boat from your starboard side, what do
you do? - ANSWER-You must stop, slow down, change direction (you are
the give-way vessel)
When you are underway and a sailboat is passing you, what must you do?
- ANSWER-Maintain course and speed as the sailboat must give-way
True or False: If you are overtaking another boat you must give way -
ANSWER-True
What is the primary factor that will affect boat speed? - ANSWER-Visibility
Caught in the fog, What do you do? - ANSWER-Slow down, turn on
navigation lights, be prepared to take action to avoid collision
Red buoys: Even or odd numbers? - ANSWER-Even
Green buoys: Even or odd numbers? - ANSWER-Odd
Purpose of Markers? - ANSWER-Identify edges of safe water, the potential
for running aground outside them is very high
