OBS Traffic Laws & Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When two powerboats are crossing paths and a collision risk exists, which boat is the 'give-way' vessel?
- The boat on the port side (Correct answer)
- The boat on the starboard side
- The faster boat
- The larger boat
Correct answer: The boat on the port side
In a crossing situation, the vessel that has the other on its starboard (right) side is the give-way vessel and must yield.
Question 2: What does a vessel's 'stand-on' obligation require?
- Immediately anchor to avoid collision
- Maintain course and speed while the give-way vessel maneuvers (Correct answer)
- Sound five short horn blasts
- Reduce speed to bare steerage
Correct answer: Maintain course and speed while the give-way vessel maneuvers
The stand-on vessel must maintain its course and speed so the give-way vessel can predict its position and maneuver accordingly.
Question 3: Under the Navigation Rules, a 'narrow channel' rule requires vessels to:
- Anchor in the center of the channel
- Keep as far to the starboard side of the channel as is safe and practicable (Correct answer)
- Travel at maximum speed to clear the channel quickly
- Always yield to vessels going upstream
Correct answer: Keep as far to the starboard side of the channel as is safe and practicable
Vessels in narrow channels must keep to the starboard (right) side to allow safe two-way traffic.
Question 4: Which signal should a powerboat sound when overtaking another vessel on the overtaken vessel's port side?
- One short blast
- Two short blasts (Correct answer)
- Three short blasts
- One prolonged blast
Correct answer: Two short blasts
Two short blasts signal intent to pass on the port side; one short blast signals intent to pass on the starboard side.
Question 5: What is the maximum federal speed limit when within 100 feet of a swimmer in open water?
- 5 mph (Correct answer)
- 10 mph
- 15 mph
- Slow-no-wake only applies inside marked swim areas
Correct answer: 5 mph
Federal law limits speed to 5 mph within 100 feet of a swimmer in open water to prevent injury.
Question 6: A vessel engaged in fishing with nets that restrict maneuverability displays which day shape?
- Two black balls vertically arranged
- Two cones apex-to-apex (Correct answer)
- A black cylinder
- A diamond shape
Correct answer: Two cones apex-to-apex
A vessel engaged in fishing (trawling) that restricts maneuverability displays two cones with apexes together (like an hourglass).
Question 7: Under the Inland Navigation Rules, vessels in a head-on situation must:
- The larger vessel yields to the smaller
- Both vessels alter course to starboard to pass port-to-port (Correct answer)
- Both vessels alter course to port to pass starboard-to-starboard
- The vessel with the wind on port side yields
Correct answer: Both vessels alter course to starboard to pass port-to-port
In a head-on situation both vessels must turn to starboard so they pass each other on the port (left) side.
OBS Traffic Laws & Regulations 2
When two powerboats are crossing paths and a collision risk exists, which boat is the 'give-way' vessel?