Generally, the boat approaching from your right has the right-of-way. Keep in mind, however, that vessels restricted in maneuverability have the right-of-way over sailing vessels, and sailing vessels have the right-of-way over power vessels that are not restricted in maneuverability.
In order to avoid collisions, you must know the rules of the road whenever he or she is at the helm of a boat. Nobody is born knowing the rules and regulations, so the best time to learn them is before you go out on the water.
The following is a 25 question quiz on the rules of the road. These questions were taken from a Coast Guard Rules of the Road exam that a friend of mine took for their 100 Ton Masters license. The answers are high lighted in red. You should also have a copy of the "International and Inland Navigation Rules" to study and keep aboard your boat. Remember safe boating is alot more fun.
The following is a 25 question quiz on the rules of the road. These questions were taken from a Coast Guard Rules of the Road exam that a friend of mine took for their 100 Ton Masters license. The answers are high lighted in red. You should also have a copy of the "International and Inland Navigation Rules" to study and keep aboard your boat. Remember safe boating is alot more fun.
1. INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning narrow channels?
A. You should keep to that side of the channel which is on your port side.
B. You should avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.
C. A vessel having a following current will propose the manner of passage in any case where two vessels are meeting.
D. All of the above
2. INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the steering and sailing rules, you should?
B. You should avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.
C. A vessel having a following current will propose the manner of passage in any case where two vessels are meeting.
D. All of the above
2. INLAND ONLY Your vessel is meeting another vessel head-on. To comply with the steering and sailing rules, you should?
A. sound the danger signal
B. sound one prolonged and two
C. exchange two short blasts
D. exchange one short blast
3. INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Mississippi River, below the Huey P. Long Bridge, shall carry?
B. sound one prolonged and two
C. exchange two short blasts
D. exchange one short blast
3. INLAND ONLY A power-driven vessel pushing ahead or towing alongside on the Mississippi River, below the Huey P. Long Bridge, shall carry?
A. two masthead lights, sidelights and stern light
B. two masthead lights, sidelights and two towing lights
C. sidelights and two towing lights
D. one masthead light, sidelights and stern light
B. two masthead lights, sidelights and two towing lights
C. sidelights and two towing lights
D. one masthead light, sidelights and stern light
4. INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel. The other vessel will have to move to allow you to pass. You wish to overtake the other vessel and leave her on your starboard side. Your first whistle signal should be?
A. two prolong blast followed by one short blast
B. two prolong blast followed by two short blast
B. two prolong blast followed by two short blast
C. one short blast
D. two short blast
5. INLAND ONLY A partially submerged object towed by a vessel must show during the day?
5. INLAND ONLY A partially submerged object towed by a vessel must show during the day?
A. one diamond shape regardless of length of the tow
B. diamond shape only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length
C. black ball
D. black ball only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length
B. diamond shape only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length
C. black ball
D. black ball only when the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters in length
6. INTERNATIONAL ONLY A single vessel being towed alongside shall exhibit?
A. one all-round white light
B. sidelights, stern light and a special flashing light
B. sidelights, stern light and a special flashing light
C. only the outboard sidelight and a stern light
D. sidelights and a stern light
7. INLAND ONLY You are proceeding up a channel in Chesapeake Bay and are meeting an outbound vessel. There is no current. You MUST ?
D. sidelights and a stern light
7. INLAND ONLY You are proceeding up a channel in Chesapeake Bay and are meeting an outbound vessel. There is no current. You MUST ?
A. keep to that side of the channel which is on your vessel's port side
B. stop your vessel, letting the outbound vessel sound the signals for meeting and passing
C. propose or answer one- or two-blast whistle signals given by the other vessel if passing within 1/2 mile
D. give the outbound vessel the right-of-way
B. stop your vessel, letting the outbound vessel sound the signals for meeting and passing
C. propose or answer one- or two-blast whistle signals given by the other vessel if passing within 1/2 mile
D. give the outbound vessel the right-of-way
8. INLAND ONLY While underway and in sight of another vessel forward of your beam more than 0.5 mile away, you put your engines full speed astern. Which statement concerning whistle signals is TRUE?
A. You must sound three short blasts on the whistle.
B. You must sound one blast if backing to starboard.
C. You must sound whistle signals only if the vessels are meeting.
B. You must sound one blast if backing to starboard.
C. You must sound whistle signals only if the vessels are meeting.
D. You need not sound any whistle signals.
9. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel must proceed at a safe speed?
A. in restricted visibility
B. in congested waters
C. during darkness at all times
9. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel must proceed at a safe speed?
A. in restricted visibility
B. in congested waters
C. during darkness at all times
D. at all times
10. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may use any sound or light signals to attract the attention of another vessel as long as?
A. white lights are not used
B. red and green lights are not used
C. the vessel signals such intentions over the radiotelephone
A. white lights are not used
B. red and green lights are not used
C. the vessel signals such intentions over the radiotelephone
D. the signal cannot be mistaken for a signal authorized by the rules
11. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is underway in reduced visibility. You hear the fog signal of another vessel about 30° on your starboard bow. If danger of collision exists, you must?
11. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your vessel is underway in reduced visibility. You hear the fog signal of another vessel about 30° on your starboard bow. If danger of collision exists, you must?
A. alter course to starboard to pass around the other vessel's stern
B. slow your engines and let the other vessel pass ahead of you
C. reduce your speed to bare steerageway
D. alter course to port and pass the other vessel on its port side
C. reduce your speed to bare steerageway
D. alter course to port and pass the other vessel on its port side
12. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would show 3 day-shapes in a vertical line, the highest and lowest being balls and the middle shape being a diamond?
A. Vessel not under command
B. Vessel constrained by her draft
B. Vessel constrained by her draft
C. Vessel minesweeping
D. Vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
13. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that risk of collision shall be deemed to exist?
A. whenever two vessels approach from opposite directions
B. if the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change
C. whenever a vessel crosses ahead of the intended track of another vessel
D. if one vessel approaches another so as to be overtaking
B. if the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change
C. whenever a vessel crosses ahead of the intended track of another vessel
D. if one vessel approaches another so as to be overtaking
14. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A white masthead light shows through an arc of how many degrees?
A. 90°
B. 112.5°
B. 112.5°
C. 225°
D. 360°
15. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND During the day, a vessel with a tow over 200 meters in length will show?
A. a black ball
B. a diamond shape
C. two cones, apexes together
D. one cone, apex upward
B. a diamond shape
C. two cones, apexes together
D. one cone, apex upward
16. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You sight another power-driven vessel dead ahead showing both the red and green sidelights. The required action to take would be to ?
A. carefully watch his compass bearing
B. start a radar plot in order to ascertain his course
B. start a radar plot in order to ascertain his course
C. alter your course to port
D. alter your course to starboard
D. alter your course to starboard
17. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The stern light shall be positioned such that it will show from dead astern to how many degrees on each side of the stern of the vessel?
A. 22.5°
B. 67.5°
C. 112.5°
D. 135.0°
C. 112.5°
D. 135.0°
18. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A pilot vessel may continue to identity signal if she is?
A. aground
B. at anchor
C. not under command
C. not under command
D. being towed
19. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would exhibit sidelights when underway and not making way?
A. A vessel towing astern
A. A vessel towing astern
B. A vessel trawling
C. A vessel not under command
D. A vessel engaged in dredging operations
20. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum sound signaling equipment required aboard a vessel 10 meters in length?
20. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum sound signaling equipment required aboard a vessel 10 meters in length?
A. Any means of making an efficient sound signal
B. A bell only
C. A whistle only
D. A bell and a whistle
B. A bell only
C. A whistle only
D. A bell and a whistle
21. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may exhibit lights other than those prescribed by the Rules as long as the additional lights?
A. are not the same color as either side light
B. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
C. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
B. have a lesser range of visibility than the prescribed lights
C. do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of the prescribed lights
D. All of the above
22. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What determines if a vessel is "restricted in her ability to maneuver" ?
A. Whether or not all of the vessel's control equipment is in working order
B.The vessel's draft in relation to the available depth of water
A. Whether or not all of the vessel's control equipment is in working order
B.The vessel's draft in relation to the available depth of water
C. Whether the vessel is operating in a narrow channel
D. The nature of the vessel's work, limiting maneuverability required by the Rules
23. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does the word "breadth" mean in the Rules ?
A.Breadth on the uppermost continuous deck
D. The nature of the vessel's work, limiting maneuverability required by the Rules
23. BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What does the word "breadth" mean in the Rules ?
A.Breadth on the uppermost continuous deck
B. Molded breadth
C. Greatest breadth
D. Breadth at the load waterline
C. Greatest breadth
D. Breadth at the load waterline
24. INTERNATIONAL ONLY At night, a power-driven vessel underway of less than 7 meters in length where its maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may show, as a minimum?
A. sidelights and a stern light
B. the lights required for a vessel more than 7 meters in length
B. the lights required for a vessel more than 7 meters in length
C. sidelights only
D. one all-round white light
D. one all-round white light
25. The Rules of Good Seamanship say that ?
A. the stand-on vessel becomes the give-way vessel.
B. every action, including breaking all the rules, must be taken to avoid a collision.
C. in case of a collision, the stand-on vessel is responsible.
D. in case of a collision, the give-way vessel is responsible.
