Alabama Boating License Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Alabama Boating License Exam. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get set to ace your boating license test!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

When is a sailboat under sail the give-way vessel when encountering a power-driven vessel?

When the sailboat is overtaking the power-driven vessel
When the sailboat is to the right of the power-driven vessel
Always
When the sailboat is less than 20 feet in length

The correct answer is: When the sailboat is overtaking the power-driven vessel

A sailboat is considered the give-way vessel when it is overtaking a power-driven vessel, regardless of which side it is on or the length of the sailboat. This is because the power-driven vessel is typically moving faster and has less maneuverability than the sailboat. Therefore, it is safer for the sailboat to give way and avoid a potential collision. Option C, "always," is incorrect because there may be situations where the power-driven vessel is the give-way vessel, such as when it is overtaking a sailboat, or when it is navigating in a narrow channel. Option B is incorrect because the right of way in this scenario is determined by the vessels' positions and not specifically by which side the sailboat is on. Option D is incorrect because a sailboat's length does not determine its right of way in this situation.