MISSOURI BOATING LICENSE EXAM STUDY
GUIDE – COMPLETE SAFETY & REGULATION
REVIEW
1. What is the most important factor in determining safe vessel speed?
A) The boat's maximum horsepower
B) The time of day
C) The boat's proximity to a marina
D) Current weather, water conditions, and vessel traffic
Answer: D
2. According to Missouri law, when is a person legally required to wear a USCG-approved
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)?
A) Only when swimming from the boat
B) At all times when on a vessel under 16 feet
C) While water skiing or being towed
D) Only during hours of darkness
Answer: C
3. What is the primary cause of boating fatalities?
A) Collisions with other boats
B) Carbon monoxide poisoning
C) Capsizing or falling overboard, leading to drowning
D) Fires and explosions
Answer: C
4. Which vessel has the right-of-way in a head-on situation?
A) The faster vessel
B) The smaller vessel
C) Both vessels should alter course to starboard (right)
D) The vessel to the left
Answer: C
5. A sailboat under sail alone has the right-of-way over which of the following?
A) A vessel not under command
B) A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
C) A power-driven vessel
,D) A fishing vessel engaged in fishing
Answer: C
6. What does a single, short blast from a horn indicate?
A) "I am turning left."
B) "I am turning right."
C) "I am operating in reverse."
D) "Danger warning."
Answer: B
7. What is indicated by five or more short, rapid blasts from another vessel's horn?
A) A salute to another boater
B) The signal for a ski drop
C) The danger or doubt signal
D) The signal for a party cove
Answer: C
8. Which light configuration indicates a sailing vessel under sail?
A) Red and green sidelights only
B) Red, green, and white stern light only
C) A white light visible from all directions
D) Red and green sidelights and a white stern light
Answer: D
9. A white light visible from all directions indicates what?
A) A sailboat at anchor
B) A vessel under 65.6 feet in length at anchor
C) A vessel being overtaken
D) A vessel towing swimmers
Answer: B
10. What does a red flag with a white diagonal stripe signify?
A) A dive flag, indicating divers in the water
B) A race in progress
C) A medical emergency on board
D) A fish cleaning station
Answer: A
11. In Missouri, who is legally responsible for ensuring that a vessel meets state and federal
safety requirements?
A) The owner of the vessel
,B) The operator of the vessel
C) The person who rented the vessel
D) All persons on board the vessel
Answer: B
12. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for operating a vessel in
Missouri?
A) 0.10%
B) 0.08%
C) 0.05%
D) 0.02%
Answer: B
13. Which of the following is a legal requirement for operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC) in
Missouri?
A) Having a fire extinguisher on board
B) Wearing an ignition safety switch lanyard (kill switch)
C) Having a VHF radio on board
D) Operating only during daylight hours
Answer: B
14. What is the minimum age to legally operate a PWC in Missouri without supervision?
A) 14 years old
B) 16 years old
C) 18 years old
D) 12 years old
Answer: A
15. Missouri law requires which of the following when towing a person on water skis or
similar device?
A) A wide-angle rearview mirror
B) A waterproof communication system
C) An observer in addition to the operator
D) A special towing endorsement on your license
Answer: C
16. What is the "circle of death" maneuver associated with?
A) Sailing vessels in irons
B) PWCs with a missing kill switch lanyard
C) Canoes and kayaks in rapids
, D) Large ships in narrow channels
Answer: B
17. When two power-driven vessels are crossing, which vessel is the "give-way" vessel?
A) The vessel with the other on its starboard (right) side
B) The vessel with the other on its port (left) side
C) The faster vessel
D) The smaller vessel
Answer: A
18. A vessel "privileged" to maintain its course and speed is also known as what?
A) The give-way vessel
B) The burdened vessel
C) The stand-on vessel
D) The overtaking vessel
Answer: C
19. What must a vessel operator do when encountering a "diver down" flag?
A) Slow to idle speed
B) Stop and offer assistance
C) Stay at least 100 feet away in rivers and 150 feet in lakes
D) Make a sharp turn to avoid the area
Answer: C
20. Which of the following is a leading contributor to boating accidents?
A) Lack of navigation lights
B) Operator inattention
C) Faulty bilge pumps
D) Overloading the vessel
Answer: B
21. What is the best way to avoid propeller strike injuries?
A) Install a propeller guard
B) Never operate in reverse
C) Always wear a helmet on deck
D) Ensure all passengers are seated before starting the engine
Answer: D
22. Carbon monoxide (CO) is dangerous because it is:
A) Flammable
B) Heavier than air and collects in enclosed spaces
GUIDE – COMPLETE SAFETY & REGULATION
REVIEW
1. What is the most important factor in determining safe vessel speed?
A) The boat's maximum horsepower
B) The time of day
C) The boat's proximity to a marina
D) Current weather, water conditions, and vessel traffic
Answer: D
2. According to Missouri law, when is a person legally required to wear a USCG-approved
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)?
A) Only when swimming from the boat
B) At all times when on a vessel under 16 feet
C) While water skiing or being towed
D) Only during hours of darkness
Answer: C
3. What is the primary cause of boating fatalities?
A) Collisions with other boats
B) Carbon monoxide poisoning
C) Capsizing or falling overboard, leading to drowning
D) Fires and explosions
Answer: C
4. Which vessel has the right-of-way in a head-on situation?
A) The faster vessel
B) The smaller vessel
C) Both vessels should alter course to starboard (right)
D) The vessel to the left
Answer: C
5. A sailboat under sail alone has the right-of-way over which of the following?
A) A vessel not under command
B) A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
C) A power-driven vessel
,D) A fishing vessel engaged in fishing
Answer: C
6. What does a single, short blast from a horn indicate?
A) "I am turning left."
B) "I am turning right."
C) "I am operating in reverse."
D) "Danger warning."
Answer: B
7. What is indicated by five or more short, rapid blasts from another vessel's horn?
A) A salute to another boater
B) The signal for a ski drop
C) The danger or doubt signal
D) The signal for a party cove
Answer: C
8. Which light configuration indicates a sailing vessel under sail?
A) Red and green sidelights only
B) Red, green, and white stern light only
C) A white light visible from all directions
D) Red and green sidelights and a white stern light
Answer: D
9. A white light visible from all directions indicates what?
A) A sailboat at anchor
B) A vessel under 65.6 feet in length at anchor
C) A vessel being overtaken
D) A vessel towing swimmers
Answer: B
10. What does a red flag with a white diagonal stripe signify?
A) A dive flag, indicating divers in the water
B) A race in progress
C) A medical emergency on board
D) A fish cleaning station
Answer: A
11. In Missouri, who is legally responsible for ensuring that a vessel meets state and federal
safety requirements?
A) The owner of the vessel
,B) The operator of the vessel
C) The person who rented the vessel
D) All persons on board the vessel
Answer: B
12. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for operating a vessel in
Missouri?
A) 0.10%
B) 0.08%
C) 0.05%
D) 0.02%
Answer: B
13. Which of the following is a legal requirement for operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC) in
Missouri?
A) Having a fire extinguisher on board
B) Wearing an ignition safety switch lanyard (kill switch)
C) Having a VHF radio on board
D) Operating only during daylight hours
Answer: B
14. What is the minimum age to legally operate a PWC in Missouri without supervision?
A) 14 years old
B) 16 years old
C) 18 years old
D) 12 years old
Answer: A
15. Missouri law requires which of the following when towing a person on water skis or
similar device?
A) A wide-angle rearview mirror
B) A waterproof communication system
C) An observer in addition to the operator
D) A special towing endorsement on your license
Answer: C
16. What is the "circle of death" maneuver associated with?
A) Sailing vessels in irons
B) PWCs with a missing kill switch lanyard
C) Canoes and kayaks in rapids
, D) Large ships in narrow channels
Answer: B
17. When two power-driven vessels are crossing, which vessel is the "give-way" vessel?
A) The vessel with the other on its starboard (right) side
B) The vessel with the other on its port (left) side
C) The faster vessel
D) The smaller vessel
Answer: A
18. A vessel "privileged" to maintain its course and speed is also known as what?
A) The give-way vessel
B) The burdened vessel
C) The stand-on vessel
D) The overtaking vessel
Answer: C
19. What must a vessel operator do when encountering a "diver down" flag?
A) Slow to idle speed
B) Stop and offer assistance
C) Stay at least 100 feet away in rivers and 150 feet in lakes
D) Make a sharp turn to avoid the area
Answer: C
20. Which of the following is a leading contributor to boating accidents?
A) Lack of navigation lights
B) Operator inattention
C) Faulty bilge pumps
D) Overloading the vessel
Answer: B
21. What is the best way to avoid propeller strike injuries?
A) Install a propeller guard
B) Never operate in reverse
C) Always wear a helmet on deck
D) Ensure all passengers are seated before starting the engine
Answer: D
22. Carbon monoxide (CO) is dangerous because it is:
A) Flammable
B) Heavier than air and collects in enclosed spaces
