Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real OBS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance flashcards as text
After running your boat in shallow, sandy water, what component should you inspect and potentially service before the next outing?
Answer: The raw-water impeller and cooling system intake for sand or sediment damage
Sand and sediment ingested through the cooling water intake can wear or destroy the raw-water impeller and score the pump housing, leading to cooling failure.
What is the correct procedure when discovering that your boat's anchor line (rode) has chafed through approximately one-third of its diameter near the bow chock?
Answer: Cut out the damaged section and re-splice or replace the rode before anchoring again
A rode chafed one-third through has already lost significant breaking strength; it must be repaired or replaced before anchoring in any conditions where the full load might be applied.
What does a thorough annual inspection of a boat trailer include that a pre-launch check might skip?
Answer: Inspecting wheel bearing condition and repacking or replacing them on the appropriate service schedule
Wheel bearings on boat trailers are particularly vulnerable because they are submerged during launch and retrieval; annual inspection, repacking, or replacement is critical to prevent bearing failure on the highway.
When does a Type IV throwable personal flotation device (PFD) require replacement?
Answer: When it is waterlogged, has tears in the cover, or has lost buoyancy material integrity
A throwable PFD must be replaced when it is waterlogged, shows tears or damage that could allow water into the buoyant material, or when the foam core has deteriorated and no longer provides adequate buoyancy.
What is the purpose of the NMEA recommendation to run an outboard motor in a freshwater flush tank after saltwater use?
Answer: To remove salt deposits from the engine's internal cooling passages that would otherwise corrode and clog them
Running the engine in fresh water flushes salt crystals from internal cooling passages, preventing the corrosion and blockages that degrade cooling efficiency over time.
Which finding during a pre-departure inspection of your vessel's visual distress signals (VDS) would render them non-compliant for use on coastal US waters?
Answer: Orange smoke signals or red flares with an expiration date that has already passed
The Coast Guard requires that pyrotechnic VDS devices bear an unexpired date; expired flares may no longer reliably ignite and are not considered acceptable substitutes for current signals.
A boater notices that the engine is consuming significantly more fuel than usual for the same speed and conditions. Which maintenance issue could MOST directly explain this?
Answer: A fouled or damaged propeller that reduces thrust efficiency and forces the engine to work harder
A fouled hull, damaged propeller, or worn propeller with incorrect pitch forces the engine to burn more fuel to overcome reduced efficiency and maintain speed.