PA Boating Rules & Safety
What organization regulates and enforces boating laws in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)
What type of boat motor attaches to the transom and pivots to steer?
Outboard motor.
What is the front of a boat called?
Bow.
Who discovered the principle of buoyancy?
Archimedes.
What type of fuel-efficient engines are used in many modern ships?
Diesel engines.
How is the PFBC primarily funded?
Fishing and boating license fees.
What type of hull is designed to skim across the water?
Planing hull.
What is the left side of a boat when facing forward?
Port
What early civilization is credited with developing the first known sailing ships?
The Egyptians.
What material is commonly used to build lightweight and durable modern boats?
Fiberglass.
What equipment is legally required to be on board for every person when boating in PA?
A U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
What type of engine uses a pump to push water through a nozzle for steering?
Jet motor.
What is the main structural member of a boat that provides stability and reduces rolling?
Keel
What year did the Titanic sink?
1912
What is one major environmental concern in water transportation?
Oil spills.
What should you do immediately if your boat capsizes?
Stay with the boat and try to climb on top if possible.
What is the primary function of a boat’s trim system?
Adjusts the angle of the motor to improve performance.
What is the upper edge of a boat’s hull called?
Gunwale
What canal, completed in 1869, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea?
Suez Canal.
What alternative energy sources are being tested for cargo ships?
Hydrogen fuel cells and wind-assisted propulsion.
What sound signal should be used to indicate danger or need for assistance?
Five or more short blasts of a horn.
Where is the Hull Identification Number (HIN) located on a boat?
On the starboard side of the transom.
What is the name for a boat’s vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the hull?
Draft
What 19th-century invention revolutionized water transportation by replacing sails with engines?
The steamship.
What is the busiest port in the world by cargo volume?
Port of Shanghai.