Alabama Boaters Navigation Rules 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On Alabama waters, when two vessels are approaching head-on at night, a boater sees both a red and a green light ahead. This means:
- The other vessel is anchored
- The vessels are in a crossing situation
- The vessels are in a head-on situation (Correct answer)
- The other vessel is moving away
Correct answer: The vessels are in a head-on situation
Seeing both sidelights (red and green) of an approaching vessel means you are directly in front of it — a head-on meeting situation.
Question 2: Which factor does NOT affect a vessel operator's determination of safe speed?
- The color of the vessel's hull (Correct answer)
- The current state of visibility
- Traffic density in the area
- The vessel's stopping distance and turning ability
Correct answer: The color of the vessel's hull
Hull color has no bearing on safe speed; operators must consider visibility, traffic, maneuverability, background lights, and vessel draft.
Question 3: A vessel aground in restricted visibility sounds which fog signal?
- One prolonged blast every two minutes
- Three distinct strokes of the bell before and after rapidly ringing the bell (Correct answer)
- Two prolonged blasts every two minutes
- Rapid ringing of the bell for five seconds every minute
Correct answer: Three distinct strokes of the bell before and after rapidly ringing the bell
A vessel aground sounds a bell signal — three distinct strokes, rapid ringing for five seconds, then three distinct strokes — to alert nearby vessels.
Question 4: Under Navigation Rules, 'underway' means a vessel:
- Is moving through the water under engine power
- Is not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground (Correct answer)
- Has its navigation lights on
- Is traveling faster than 5 knots
Correct answer: Is not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground
Underway means the vessel is not anchored, not moored, and not aground — it may or may not be making way through the water.
Question 5: When must a vessel operator take action to avoid a collision under Rule 8?
- Only when the other vessel is within 100 yards
- In ample time, with large enough alteration to be readily apparent to the other vessel (Correct answer)
- Only when the other vessel sounds a danger signal
- Immediately before impact
Correct answer: In ample time, with large enough alteration to be readily apparent to the other vessel
Rule 8 requires action to be taken in ample time and be large enough that the other vessel can clearly see the maneuver being made.
Question 6: What does a vessel constrained by its draft have priority over?
- Vessels not under command
- Vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver
- Power-driven vessels, sailing vessels, and fishing vessels in narrow channels (Correct answer)
- All other vessels without exception
Correct answer: Power-driven vessels, sailing vessels, and fishing vessels in narrow channels
A vessel constrained by its draft ranks below vessels not under command and restricted in ability to maneuver, but has priority over power-driven, sailing, and fishing vessels.
Question 7: Which statement about the 'danger zone' for a power-driven vessel is correct?
- It extends from dead ahead to 112.5 degrees on the port side
- It extends from dead ahead to 112.5 degrees on the starboard side (Correct answer)
- It extends from astern to 180 degrees on the starboard side
- It is the 360-degree circle around any vessel
Correct answer: It extends from dead ahead to 112.5 degrees on the starboard side
The danger zone is the arc from dead ahead to 112.5° on the starboard side — any vessel approaching within this arc has the right of way over your vessel.
Alabama Boaters Navigation Rules 5
On Alabama waters, when two vessels are approaching head-on at night, a boater sees both a red and a green light ahead.
This means: