Question 1

Admiralty Law

Accepted Answer

A body of law governing maritime activities and its application to domestic and international waters, vessels, and maritime professionals.

Question 2

Aground

Accepted Answer

When a boat is unintentionally touching or stuck on the bottom of the body of water.

Question 3

Astern

Accepted Answer

Direction toward the rear of the boat.

Question 4

Bight

Accepted Answer

A loop in a line, or the middle part of a line.

Question 5

Bow

Accepted Answer

The forward part of a boat.

Question 6

Buoyage System

Accepted Answer

A system of buoys and markers that assist in navigation.

Question 7

Capsize

Accepted Answer

When a boat turns over in the water.

Question 8

Cardinal Points

Accepted Answer

The four main points of a compass: North, South, East, and West.

Question 9

Chart

Accepted Answer

A maritime map.

Question 10

Cleat

Accepted Answer

A fitting on which a line can be fastened.

Question 11

Dead Reckoning

Accepted Answer

A method of estimating a vessel's current position based on a previously known position, the course it has been steering, speed, and time.

Question 12

Displacement

Accepted Answer

The weight of water displaced by a floating vessel, essentially the weight of the vessel.

Question 13

Draft

Accepted Answer

The depth of water a boat needs in order to float freely.

Question 14

Fathom

Accepted Answer

A unit of length equal to six feet, used to measure the depth of water.

Question 15

Freeboard

Accepted Answer

The distance from the water to the lowest point of the boat where water could come on board.

Question 16

Gross Tonnage

Accepted Answer

A measurement of the overall internal volume of a vessel.

Question 17

Heave

Accepted Answer

The vertical motion of a vessel.

Question 18

High Tide

Accepted Answer

The state of the tide when at its highest level.

Question 19

Hull

Accepted Answer

The main body of the vessel.

Question 20

Inland Rules

Accepted Answer

Navigation rules applicable on waters inside of demarcation lines.

Question 21

Jettison

Accepted Answer

The act of throwing cargo or equipment overboard when a ship is in danger.

Question 22

Keel

Accepted Answer

The main structural component and backbone of a ship, running along the center of the boat's bottom.

Question 23

Knot

Accepted Answer

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Question 24

Latitude

Accepted Answer

The angular distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degrees.

Question 25

Longitude

Accepted Answer

The angular distance east or west on the earth's surface, measured from the prime meridian at Greenwich.

Question 26

Man Overboard Procedure

Accepted Answer

The actions to take when a person has fallen off a boat into the water.

Question 27

Mooring

Accepted Answer

A place to secure a vessel.

Question 28

Nautical Mile

Accepted Answer

A unit of measurement equal to 1.1508 statute miles.

Question 29

Navigation Lights

Accepted Answer

Lights used on boats when it is dark to signal the vessel's size, shape, and course to other boats.

Question 30

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

Accepted Answer

An equipment designed to assist a wearer to stay afloat in water.

Question 31

Piloting

Accepted Answer

Navigating a vessel in coastal or inland waters with frequent or constant reference to landmarks and aids to navigation.

Question 32

Port

Accepted Answer

The left side of a boat when facing forward.

Question 33

Propeller

Accepted Answer

A mechanical device with blades that provides propulsion for a boat.

Question 34

Radar

Accepted Answer

A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of sent radio waves reflected from their surfaces.

Question 35

Right of Way

Accepted Answer

The privilege of the vessel to maintain its course and speed while others give way to avoid collision.

Question 36

Rudder

Accepted Answer

A flat piece of wood, fiberglass, or metal that is used to steer a ship or boat.

Question 37

Safe Speed

Accepted Answer

The speed at which a vessel can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and can be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

Question 38

Scuppers

Accepted Answer

Openings in the side walls of a vessel that allow water to drain back into the sea.

Question 39

Seaworthy

Accepted Answer

A boat's ability to withstand the conditions of the sea.

Question 40

Starboard

Accepted Answer

The right side of a boat when facing forward.

Question 41

Stern

Accepted Answer

The rear part of a boat.

Question 42

Swell

Accepted Answer

A series of open ocean waves caused by distant weather systems.

Question 43

Tack

Accepted Answer

The course of a sailboat with respect to the direction of the wind.

Question 44

Tide

Accepted Answer

The alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day, due to the attraction of the moon and sun.

Question 45

Trim

Accepted Answer

The relationship of the boat's longitudinal center of gravity with the center of buoyancy.

Question 46

VHF Radio

Accepted Answer

Very High Frequency Radio, used for communication and emergency distress calls.

Question 47

Wake

Accepted Answer

The trail of waves that a boat leaves behind.

Question 48

Waterline

Accepted Answer

The line where the hull of a ship meets the surface of the water.

Question 49

Windward

Accepted Answer

The direction from which the wind is coming.

Question 50

Yaw

Accepted Answer

The swaying motion of a ship moving from side to side, off course.

Question 51

Zephyr

Accepted Answer

A light or west wind.

Question 52

AIS (Automatic Identification System)

Accepted Answer

A tracking system used on ships for identifying and locating vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships and AIS Base stations.

Question 53

Bilge Pump

Accepted Answer

A pump to remove bilge water (water accumulated in the bilge of a ship).

Question 54

CO (Carbon Monoxide) Detector

Accepted Answer

A device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Question 55

EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)

Accepted Answer

A device that transmits a distress signal that is picked up by satellites and used to locate a vessel in distress.

Question 56

Flare

Accepted Answer

A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion, used for signaling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in emergency situations.

Question 57

Hypothermia

Accepted Answer

A medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature.

Question 58

Mayday

Accepted Answer

The internationally recognized distress signal in voice procedure radio communications.

Question 59

Nautical Chart

Accepted Answer

A graphic representation of a sea area and adjacent coastal regions.

Question 60

PWC (Personal Watercraft)

Accepted Answer

A small vessel which uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion, and is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than inside the vessel.

Question 61

Sextant

Accepted Answer

An instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects.

Question 62

SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea)

Accepted Answer

An international maritime treaty which sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships.

Question 63

Squall

Accepted Answer

A sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes, contrary to a wind gust lasting seconds.

Question 64

Trim Tabs

Accepted Answer

Small surfaces connected to the trailing edge of a larger control surface on a boat or aircraft, used to control the trim of the controls.

Advanced US California Boating License Flashcards