Questions and Answers
What does the capacity plate indicate on a boat?
Maximum weight and/or the number of people that the boat can carry safely.
What do you do before beginning to put fuel in your boat?
Turn off the engine, fan, or electrical equipment and close all windows, ports, doors, and other openings to prevent fumes from entering the boat.
When preparing to launch your vessel, how should your trailer be positioned?
The trailer should be well away from the boat ramp so that you don't block ramp traffic.
For engine maintenance, what should you always check?
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What do you do before docking your boat?
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What is the responsibility of every boat or PWC operator?
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What is the most common cause for collisions?
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What does safe speed ensure?
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When should a driver drive slowly?
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What should happen when two boats are meeting head-on?
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If you are operating during restricted visibility, when must you reduce speed?
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What are you if you are overtaking another vessel?
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Who is the vessel you're overtaking?
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When should navigation lights be displayed during periods of restricted visibility, such as fog?
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What is the worker that has an orange cross?
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Where should you anchor your boat?
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What do nautical charts contain?
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What will happen if you let the throttle control on a PWC go?
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What is an ignition safety switch for most powerboats and PWCs for?
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How can you avoid propeller strike injuries?
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Where should the vessel's registration number and validation decal be displayed?
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When and how old do you have to be to operate a PWC legally?
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Define failure to regulate speed.
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How do you maintain distance when you are operating at greater than 'slow, no wake speed'?
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By operating a vessel on Michigan waters, what are you considered to be tested for?
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What is sizing of PFDs based on?
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What do you do if you see a U.S. Naval vessel?
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What is the age in Michigan where law requires children to wear a USCG-approved Type I or II PFD when riding on the open deck on any vessel?
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What PFDs will turn most unconscious people face up in the water?
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Where should a fire extinguisher be located?
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What are vessels on federally controlled waters, such as the Great Lakes, equipped with?
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What should all vessels carry, regardless of length or type?
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What is required on board if you are on Michigan waters and your vessel is 16 feet up to 26 feet long and under engine power?
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If a PWC is crossing within 150 feet behind another vessel, how must they drive?
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Do you need an observer in addition to the driver for towing someone behind your boat?
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Is it legal to tow a person on water skis from one hour before and one hour after sunset?
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How many feet behind another vessel do you have to drive at slow, no-wake speed?
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Who has to be on the boat in addition to the driver when towing someone behind the boat?
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When is it legal to tow a person on skis?
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How do you prevent the spread of nuisance species, like zebra mussels?
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What do you do if you witness or are involved in an accident?
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What is the damage amount that causes you to file an accident report with DNR?
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Does alcohol have a greater effect on land or boating?
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While operating a boat, what causes the likelihood of accidents?
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How could you minimize the risk of drowning?
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When should a life jacket be discarded and replaced?
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What do you do when you fall overboard into cold water?
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What should you do if someone falls overboard?
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How do you prevent falling overboard?
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How could you prevent a collision?
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What do you do if a fire erupts?
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Where does hypothermia happen faster?
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Why is carbon monoxide gas dangerous?
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Study Notes
Boater Safety Key Facts
- Capacity plates indicate the maximum weight and number of passengers a boat can safely carry.
- Before fueling, turn off engines and close all openings to prevent fume accumulation.
- Keep trailers away from ramps during launch to avoid obstructing traffic.
- Regular engine maintenance requires checking oil and fluid levels at each outing.
- Determine wind/current directions before docking, approaching into the stronger force.
- Operators must take action to avoid collisions, a critical responsibility.
- The most common cause of collisions is a lack of awareness or failure to keep a sharp lookout.
- Safe speed allows for ample reaction time to avoid collisions.
- Reduce speed at night or during restricted visibility conditions.
- When two boats meet head-on, both should turn right.
Navigational Awareness
- Reduce speed in restricted visibility upon hearing fog signals or detecting vessels via radar.
- When overtaking another vessel, the overtaking vessel is the give-way vessel.
- The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.
- Display navigation lights from sunset to sunrise during limited visibility conditions.
- Workers with an orange cross signify areas such as dams or hazards.
Vessel Anchoring and Charts
- Anchor your boat at the stern when necessary.
- Nautical charts provide vital information on water depths, hazards, and navigation routes.
Personal Watercraft (PWC) Safety
- Letting go of the throttle control on a PWC results in loss of steering; the craft continues in the current direction.
- Ignition safety switches are designed to stop engines if the operator falls overboard.
Safety Equipment Requirements
- Fire extinguishers must be accessible and not stored near engines.
- All federally controlled vessels must carry U.S. Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals.
- Vessels must carry day signals and night signals when operating at night.
- Vessels between 16 and 26 feet under engine power must have a whistle or horn audible from half a mile.
PFD Requirements and Safety
- Life jackets are required for children 6 years or younger in Michigan when on open decks.
- Type I PFDs are designed to turn most unconscious individuals face up in water.
- PFD sizing is based on the individual's body weight and chest size.
Navigational Conduct
- Maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from docks and marked areas when operating above slow, no wake speed.
- Tow events require an observer in addition to the driver for safety.
- Towing activities are legal one hour before and after sunset.
Environmental and Accident Protocols
- Remove visible plants and animals from equipment to prevent the spread of nuisance species.
- After witnessing or being involved in an accident, assist those injured unless it jeopardizes your safety.
- File an accident report with the DNR if damage exceeds $2,000.
Alcohol and Safety
- Alcohol impairs boating more significantly than land activities, increasing accident likelihood.
- To mitigate drowning risks, ensure everyone wears a life jacket.
Emergency Response and Hypothermia
- Discard life jackets that show wear, discoloration, or unreadable labels.
- If falling overboard in cold water, remain with the boat to increase survival chances.
- In case of fire, shut off the fuel supply and use a fire extinguisher to manage the situation.
- Hypothermia develops more quickly in cold water than in cold air.
- Carbon monoxide gas is lethal, being invisible, odorless, and tasteless.
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Description
Test your knowledge about boat safety with this quiz. Learn about essential safety measures, equipment, and regulations that every boater should follow. This quiz will help reinforce good practices for safe boating.