Staying safe on waterways

Question 1

What is the main resource to get your boat licence and PWC licence?

Answer 1

Transport for NSW Boating Handbook

Question 2

What are the 5 main safety rules when boating?

Answer 2

1. Always wear a life jacket.
2. Check the weather before you go out and when you’re out, and take extra care in cold water.
3. Always travel at a safe speed and keep a look out for others.
4. Know your limitations, and those of your vessel. Head out with others whenever possible.
5. Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs when boating.

Question 3

What are the two Acts and Regulations that cover the laws on the water?

Answer 3

Marine Safety Act 1998 and the Marine Safety Regulation 2016.

Question 4

What is COLREGS?

Answer 4

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Question 5

Define a ‘vessel’.

Answer 5

Any vessel used as transport on the water.

Question 6

What is not included as a vessel?

Answer 6

Surfboards, SUP’s, towed equipment, and swimming equipment.

Question 7

Define a ‘powered vessel’.

Answer 7

Vessel with an engine. Eg - powerboats, sailboat using an engine, PWC.

Question 8

Define a ‘sailing vessel’.

Answer 8

Any vessel using a sail for power. Eg - sail boat not using engine or with no engine, sail boards and kite boards.

Question 9

Define ‘Personal water craft’.

Answer 9

PWC - Vessel with a fully enclosed hull that you drive standing up, lying down, sitting astride or kneeing. It uses water jet propulsion and has an engine in a water tight compartment. Eg - Jet-ski, jet powered surfboard.

Question 10

Define a ‘rowing vessel’.

Answer 10

A vessel that you row.

Question 11

Define a ‘tender‘.

Answer 11

Vessel used to transport people and goods between its parent vessel and the shore. It is less than 7.5 meters long and doesn’t operate further than 1 nautical mile from from the parent vessel.

Question 12

Define a ‘skipper’.

Answer 12

The person in charge of a recreational vessel, whether driving or not. Aka - The master.

Question 13

Define ‘driver’.

Answer 13

The person driving a vessel. Aka - The operator

Question 14

What is the beam of a vessel?

Answer 14

The widest part of the vessel.

Question 15

What is the bilge of a vessel?

Answer 15

Inside the bottom of a vessel hull where water collects.

Question 16

What is the bow of a vessel?

Answer 16

The front of a vessel.

Question 17

What is the cabin trunk of a vessel?

Answer 17

On a small boat, a raised cabin above the deck.

Question 18

What is the centre line of a vessel?

Answer 18

The middle line of a vessel, from now to stern. The dividing line between port and starboard.

Question 19

What is the chine of a vessel?

Answer 19

A sharp change in angle on the surface of a hull. Often located where the top sides meet the water line.

Question 20

What is a cleat?

Answer 20

A fitting on a vessel to which lines can be attached.

Question 21

What is the cockpit of a vessel?

Answer 21

A lowered space in the deck of a boat where people sit or stand.

Question 22

What is the console of a vessel?

Answer 22

Where controls are located, such as steering, radio, ignition and other switches.

Question 23

What is the deckhouse of a vessel?

Answer 23

An enclosed cabin on the deck of a vessel.

Question 24

What is the draft of a vessel?

Answer 24

Distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the vessel.

Question 25

What is the free board?

Answer 25

The vertical distance from the waterline to the top of the vessels hull.

Question 26

What is the gunwale of a vessel?

Answer 26

The top edge of a vessels sides.

Question 27

What is the hull of a vessel?

Answer 27

The main body of a vessel.

Question 28

What is the marlin board of a vessel?

Answer 28

A small deck on the back of a boat to make getting into the water easier.

Question 29

What is the port side of a vessel?

Answer 29

The left side of a vessel when you are looking towards the bow.

Question 30

What side of a vessel displays a red sidelight?

Answer 30

The port side.

Question 31

What is the pulpit of a vessel?

Answer 31

The railing at the bow of the vessel.

Question 32

What is the starboard side of a vessel?

Answer 32

The right side of the vessel when you are looking towards the bow.

Question 33

What side of a vessel displays a green sidelight?

Answer 33

The starboard side.

Question 34

What is the stern of a vessel?

Answer 34

The back or rear of a vessel.

Question 35

What are the topsides of a vessel?

Answer 35

The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the gunwale.

Question 36

What is the transom of the vessel?

Answer 36

The surface that forms the stern of a vessel.

Question 37

What is the wheel of a vessel?

Answer 37

Used for steering a vessel. Also called the helm.

Question 38

What does ‘Give way’ mean?

Answer 38

Reduce speed, stop, reverse or alter course to keep out of another vessel’s path.

Question 39

What is a ‘knot’ (speed)?

Answer 39

1 knot is a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour, or 1.852 kilometres.

Question 40

What is a nautical mile?

Answer 40

A unit of measure for distances at sea. 1 NM = 1.852 kilometres.

Question 41

What are navigable waters?

Answer 41

A waterway that a vessel can navigate safely.

Question 42

What is ‘Planing’?

Answer 42

A vessel is planing when it speeds up enough to rise and skim on top of the water. Also called ‘on the plane’. Heavier boats are not capable of planing.

Question 43

When is a vessel underway?

Answer 43

A vessel is underway when not anchored or fastened to the shore or ground. If a vessel is drifting, it is underway.