Alabama Boaters Equipment Requirements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following boats is NOT required to carry visual distress signals on Alabama coastal waters?
- A sailboat over 26 feet used at night
- A manually propelled kayak used only during daylight (Correct answer)
- A motorboat 16 feet long used at sunset
- A pontoon boat used in open water
Correct answer: A manually propelled kayak used only during daylight
Manually propelled vessels such as kayaks and canoes used only during daylight hours are exempt from the visual distress signal requirement on coastal waters.
Question 2: What sound-producing device is required on boats under 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length?
- An electric horn only
- A whistle or horn audible for at least one-half mile (Correct answer)
- A bell mounted at the bow
- A foghorn with a 360-degree sound pattern
Correct answer: A whistle or horn audible for at least one-half mile
Boats under 39.4 feet must carry a sound-producing device such as a whistle or horn that is audible for at least one-half mile.
Question 3: Boats 39.4 feet (12 meters) or longer are required to carry which additional sound-signaling device beyond a horn?
- A radar reflector
- A bell (Correct answer)
- A foghorn
- A siren
Correct answer: A bell
Vessels 12 meters or longer must carry both a horn and a bell to meet federal sound-signaling equipment requirements.
Question 4: What is a 'navigation light' requirement for motorboats underway between sunset and sunrise?
- Only a white stern light is required
- Red and green sidelights plus a white stern light must be displayed (Correct answer)
- Any visible white light satisfies the requirement
- Navigation lights are optional for boats under 16 feet
Correct answer: Red and green sidelights plus a white stern light must be displayed
Motorboats underway at night must display red (port) and green (starboard) sidelights and a white stern light so other boaters can determine their direction of travel.
Question 5: What color is the sidelight on the starboard (right) side of a vessel?
- Red
- White
- Green (Correct answer)
- Yellow
Correct answer: Green
The starboard sidelight is green, while the port (left) sidelight is red — a common memory aid is 'green means go, red means stop.'
Question 6: Which of the following is an approved method for meeting the nighttime all-round white light requirement for an anchored boat under 23 feet?
- Shining a flashlight every 15 minutes
- Displaying an electric lantern or flashlight in sufficient time to prevent collision (Correct answer)
- Using red and green sidelights together
- Anchoring only in marked mooring areas that have dock lights
Correct answer: Displaying an electric lantern or flashlight in sufficient time to prevent collision
A vessel under 7 meters (23 feet) anchored in a special anchorage area may show a lantern or flashlight to prevent collision rather than a permanent all-round anchor light.
Question 7: Boats on Alabama waters must be equipped with which item to comply with federal pollution regulations?
- A gray water holding tank
- A properly placarded oil discharge placard (for boats over 26 feet) (Correct answer)
- A bilge pump rated for at least 500 gallons per hour
- An automatic fuel shutoff valve
Correct answer: A properly placarded oil discharge placard (for boats over 26 feet)
Boats over 26 feet must display an oil discharge placard informing operators and passengers that overboard oil discharge is illegal under federal law.
Alabama Boaters Equipment Requirements 4
Which of the following boats is NOT required to carry visual distress signals on Alabama coastal waters?