• 82 questions

Nebraska Boaters Safety Practice Test: State Law Questions

A practice boat test for Nebraska's own statutes, state law only, with the State Boat Act section under every answer.

On what date did Nebraska's course-and-certificate rule take effect?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Bank checked October 12, 2026.

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All 82 questions

Boating safety certificate 6

  • A Nebraska boater born in 1990 needs the course and certificate to operate which craft? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(2)
  • Nebraska's age and certificate sections do not apply to which operator? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.08
  • Nebraska's boating safety course law applies to a person born after which date? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(2)
  • On what date did Nebraska's course-and-certificate rule take effect? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(2)
  • Passing the course is one half of Nebraska's rule for operators born after 1985. What is the other half? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(2)
  • Who approves the boating safety course that Nebraska law requires? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(2)
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Ages and rented boats 8

  • A Nebraska boat livery may not rent a motorboat or personal watercraft to a person under what age? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.07(1)
  • An adult rents a motorboat in Nebraska. Her 16-year-old son may operate it on what condition? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.07(2)
  • Before leaving a Nebraska rental office, what must each authorized operator of a rented motorboat do? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.07(4)
  • How long must a Nebraska boat livery keep its record of who hired a boat and when it left? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1251
  • In Nebraska, how old must the operator be when the boat has a person in tow? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(1)(b)
  • Under Nebraska law, who must make sure that only the listed operators run a rented motorboat? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.07(3)
  • What is the youngest age at which a person may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Nebraska waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.06(1)(a)
  • What must a Nebraska rental agreement for a motorboat list? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.07(3)

Life preservers 5

  • A rowing scull in an authorized Nebraska regatta may go without flotation devices aboard if what is true? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241(2)
  • How many life preservers must a Nebraska vessel other than a sailboard carry? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241(1)
  • Where must the life preservers on a Nebraska vessel be kept? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241(1)
  • Which of these must carry a throwable flotation device in addition to one device per person, under Nebraska law? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241(1)
  • Who must wear a flotation device on a personal watercraft in Nebraska? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.02(1)

Personal watercraft 9

  • A Nebraska personal watercraft has a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch from the factory. What must the operator do? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.02(2)
  • Apart from its own sections, what rules does a personal watercraft follow on Nebraska waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.01
  • During which hours may a personal watercraft not be operated on Nebraska waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.03
  • In Nebraska's definition, a personal watercraft is a motorboat shorter than what length? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1204.01
  • Nebraska bans a personal watercraft from jumping another vessel's wake at a distance of less than what? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.04(1)
  • Nebraska's personal watercraft law requires the operator to be in what position? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.04(2)
  • When may a personal watercraft tow a person on water skis or a tube in Nebraska? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.05
  • Which of these does Nebraska name as a prohibited personal watercraft maneuver? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.04(1)
  • Whose wake may a Nebraska personal watercraft operator not jump, whatever the distance? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1241.04(1)

Water skis and towing 5

  • A Nebraska boat is towing a water skier with only the operator aboard. What makes that legal? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1258
  • During which hours may a Nebraska motorboat not tow a person on water skis? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1259
  • Nebraska forbids steering a towed skier into a person or object. Which objects does the section except? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1261
  • Nebraska's night towing ban does not apply to an authorized water ski tournament when what is provided? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1259
  • What is the job of the second person Nebraska law puts in a boat that is towing a skier? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1258

Reckless operation, noise and officers 9

  • A Nebraska city wants its own ordinance on operating boats. What does the State Boat Act allow? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1264
  • A Nebraska officer signals a boat to stop by hand or with a flashing red or blue light. What must the operator do? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1238.02
  • For which Nebraska motorboats are exhaust cutouts allowed? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1253(2)
  • How far ahead must the person in charge apply to hold a boat race or regatta on Nebraska waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1263
  • Nebraska's ban on reckless or negligent operation covers boats and which other things? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254
  • Under Nebraska law, an owner is presumed to have consented to the use of a vessel when who is in control of it? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1267
  • What is the loudest a motorboat may be on Nebraska waters, measured on plane at one hundred feet or more? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1253(1)
  • Which officers may stop and board a vessel to enforce Nebraska's State Boat Act? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1269
  • Who may operate a vessel fitted with a rotating or flashing red or blue light on Nebraska waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1238.01

Alcohol and drugs 10

  • A Nebraska court grants probation on a first boating under the influence conviction. How long is the no-operating order then? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.12(1)
  • A Nebraska officer directs a blood test. What may the person tested do afterward? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.03
  • After a first boating under the influence conviction in Nebraska, for how long does the court order the person off the controls? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.12(1)
  • By being in control of a motorboat under propulsion in Nebraska, a person is deemed to consent to tests of what? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.02(1)
  • Nebraska's boating under the influence law applies to a person in actual physical control of which craft? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.01(1)
  • Under Nebraska's boating law, what is the rule for an unconscious person and the chemical test? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.04
  • What alcohol concentration makes it unlawful to be in control of a motorboat under propulsion in Nebraska? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.01(1)
  • What happens to a Nebraska boater who refuses an officer's preliminary breath test? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.09
  • Who decides whether a Nebraska boater's chemical test is of blood, breath or urine? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.03
  • With a prior conviction, how long is Nebraska's court-ordered ban on controlling a motorboat? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1254.12(2)

Accidents and reports 5

  • A Nebraska boating accident leaves a person missing. Which agency must be notified by the commission or other police as soon as practicable? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1256(2)
  • A Nebraska boating accident with property damage alone must be reported when the damage is more than what amount? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1256(1)
  • After a collision, what must a Nebraska vessel operator give in writing to an injured person or the owner of damaged property? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1255
  • How far does a Nebraska operator's duty to help others after a boating accident reach? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1255
  • With whom does a Nebraska operator file the description of a reportable boating accident? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1256(1)

Classes, lights and equipment 12

  • A canoe is twenty feet long. Which Nebraska class is it? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1213
  • A Nebraska livery boat lacks required equipment. What does the State Boat Act say? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1252
  • At what distance must the white lights required by Nebraska's light sections be visible? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1236
  • Nebraska requires fire extinguishers on every motorboat. What must they be able to put out? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1242
  • Nebraska's Class 2 covers vessels of what length? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1213
  • Under Nebraska's vessel classes, a 14-foot motorboat is in which class? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1213
  • What light does a rowboat or canoe under hand power show at night in Nebraska? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1235(2)
  • When must a vessel underway on Nebraska waters show its lights? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1232
  • Which boats are excepted from Nebraska's rule on ventilating the bilges of engine and fuel tank compartments? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1245
  • Which gasoline engines are excepted from Nebraska's flame arrester rule? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1244
  • Which Nebraska vessel class is not required to carry a whistle or other sound-producing appliance? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1239
  • Which Nebraska vessels must carry an efficient bell? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1240

Numbering and registration 13

  • A boat numbered in another state visits Nebraska. After how many consecutive days must it be numbered here? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1249(1)
  • A Nebraska boat registration has expired. Until when may the owner renew it? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1226(2)
  • A Nebraska owner sells a numbered boat. Within how many days must the commission be notified? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1229(1)
  • For how long may a new owner operate a Nebraska motorboat before it is numbered, with proof of the purchase aboard? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1211(2)
  • From what distance must a Nebraska boat's bow numbers be clearly visible? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1216
  • The holder of a Nebraska certificate of number moves house. How soon must the commission be told the new address? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1230
  • How often does the owner of a Nebraska motorboat register it or renew the registration? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1214(1)
  • How tall must the registration numbers on the bow of a Nebraska motorboat be? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1216
  • What must the owner of a motorboat not registered in Nebraska buy before launching in the state's waters? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1214(2)
  • Where does the owner of a Nebraska motorboat file the first application for a certificate of number? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1214(1)
  • Where must the certificate of number be while a Nebraska motorboat is in operation? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1221(1)
  • Where on the vessel does Nebraska's aquatic invasive species stamp go? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1214(2)
  • Which of these is exempt from Nebraska numbering? Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-1249

How this list was compiled: Written only from the State Boat Act, Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 37-1201 to 37-1275 (definitions; numbering and registration, 37-1211 to 37-1231; lights and equipment, 37-1232 to 37-1248; personal watercraft, ages, the boating safety course and rented boats, 37-1241.01 to 37-1241.08; liveries, 37-1251 and 37-1252; noise, 37-1253; reckless operation, 37-1254; boating under the influence, 37-1254.01 to 37-1254.12; accidents, 37-1255 and 37-1256; towing, 37-1258 to 37-1261; races, local rules, liability and enforcement, 37-1262 to 37-1269), read one section at a time on the Nebraska Legislature's site, https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/browse-chapters.php?chapter=37, on 2026-10-12. Each question names its section and links to it. That a course and a certificate exist is section 37-1241.06(2). The Act gives no number of questions and no pass mark. The Game and Parks Commission's boater education page, https://outdoornebraska.gov/parks/go-boating/boater-education/, read the same day, says every student passes the boating safety exam with 75% or higher; that figure is the Commission's and is stored nowhere in this bank. The Commission's regulations in the Nebraska Administrative Code were not read and nothing is asked from them. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text; nothing is copied from a boater handbook, a boating course, a course provider's study guide or another practice test.

How it works

This unofficial Nebraska boaters safety practice test asks state law only: every question comes from the State Boat Act, sections 37-1201 to 37-1275, and names its section. Navigation rules, lights and buoys have their own bank here. Read October 2026.

Read the full guide

Sunset, fifty yards and 96 decibels

Personal watercraft stop at sunset (37-1241.03) and may not jump another vessel's wake within fifty yards (37-1241.04). Towing a skier stops one-half hour after sunset (37-1259). A motorboat may be no louder than 96 decibels, measured on plane (37-1253).

Questions and answers

Who needs a boating safety certificate in Nebraska?

Anyone born after December 31, 1985 who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft. Section 37-1241.06 asks for a Commission-approved course and a valid boating safety certificate.

How many questions are on the Nebraska boating safety exam, and what score passes?

The State Boat Act gives neither number. The Game and Parks Commission's boater education page says every student passes a proctored exam with 75% or higher. The 25-question practice exam on this page is this site's own length and shows no pass line.

How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Nebraska?

Fourteen for a motorboat or personal watercraft, and sixteen when a person is in tow (section 37-1241.06). A livery may not rent either craft to anyone under eighteen (37-1241.07).

What is the alcohol limit for boating in Nebraska?

Section 37-1254.01 sets eight-hundredths of one gram per 100 milliliters of blood, or per 210 liters of breath, for anyone in control of a motorboat or personal watercraft under propulsion. A first conviction brings a six-month no-operating order.

Is this practice boat test Nebraska's official exam?

No. This page is independent practice, not a government website, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has no part in it. Each answer cites a section you can open. The course also covers navigation and safe operation.

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