BASIC KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR REVIEW QUESTIONS

These review questions are based on material contained in the Basic Keelboat Instructor Manual as well as the
general sailing knowledge expected of an instructor who teaches learn-to-sail students aboard a simple
daysailing 18-30 foot keelboat with tiller steering, working sails and no auxiliary power. Read each question
carefully, and select the one best answer.
7. What is a traveler?
1. How would you depower a mainsail? a. An adjustable jib lead.
a. Allow it to luff. b. A control on an anchor windlass.
b. Ease the backstay. c. A type of radio wave.
c. Ease the outhaul. d. A means of mainsail trim.
d. Both b and c.
8. When is a rudder ineffective for steerage?
2. At the summer solstice, the sun is a. When a boat is moving backward
a. Closest to the earth. b. When a boat is heeling drastically
b. Over the equator. c. When using an outboard motor
c. Farthest north. d. When using oars or a paddle
d. Hottest.
9. How do you get most sloops out of irons?
3. The balance of the helm influences a. Push the tiller in the direction you want
a. The speed of the boat. the bow to turn and back the jib on the
b. Sail trim decisions. opposite side.
c. A decision whether to reef. b. Push the tiller in the opposite direction
d. All of the above. to where you want the bow to go and
ignore the jib.
4. If you pay out more anchor line, you c. Keep the tiller centered, and back
a. Decrease the holding power mainsail and jib to the same side.
of the anchor. d. Trim the sails and fall off the wind.
b. Decrease the swing of the
boat while at anchor. 10. When does a sailboat always give way?
c. Increase the holding power a. To a commercial fishing boat when
of the anchor. trawling
d. Increase the possibility that b. To a powerboat in a channel
the boat will drag anchor. c. To a tugboat
d. When it hears one long blast in the fog
5. A mooring line leading at nearly
right angles to the keel is a 11. What is a sheet bend used for?
a. Bow line. a. Attaching a sheet to a jib.
b. Breast line. b. Tying two lines together.
c. Spring line. c. Same applications as a square knot.
d. Stern line. d. Securing a sheet to a cleat.

6. Symptoms of hypothermia include

a. Heightened awareness and excitability.
b. Rapid pulse and flushed skin.
c. Confusion and loss of dexterity.
d. Rapid breathing and pinpoint pupils.

BKIC Review Ques 1 12/2012

12. Brain hemisphere preference helps to 18. What identification would you find on
explain why red buoys in the U.S.?
a. People learn differently. a. Even numbers
b. Students and instructors do not always b. Odd numbers
think alike. c. Either odd or even
c. Instructors need to be patient and d. Letters
flexible.
d. All of the above. 19. What is an appropriate interval
for refreshment/bathroom breaks?
13. Seasickness a. Every 30 minutes
a. Is only a problem with beginners. b. No less than every 3 hours
b. Happens only out of sight of land. c. Every 60 to 90 minutes
c. Has symptoms of yawning and burping. d. Whenever convenient for the instructor
d. Is not a problem on an empty stomach.
20. What would you first do if the mainsail
14. What serious condition causes hot, dry, red does not go up easily?
skin, shallow breathing and a weak, a. Show the students how to sweat the halyard.
rapid pulse? b. Lead the halyard to a winch.
a. Heat stroke c. Loosen the outhaul.
b. Heat exhaustion d. Look up the mast.
c. Heart attack
d. Sun poisoning 21. What is the day shape for anchoring?
a. 1 black ball
15. How are landmarks important to a b. 2 black balls
beginner? c. 1 black diamond
a. For reference of wind and steering d. 1 black cone, apex down
direction
b. For running fixes 22. If a boat is heading due east at 6 knots, and the current
c. For historic interest is running southwest at 2 knots, what
d. None of the above is the approximate course and speed made good?
a. 45º at 7.5 knots
16. When docking, what purpose is served b. 72º at 4.75 knots
by an after spring line rigged from the c. 79º at 7.5 knots
middle of the boat? d. 107º at 4.75 knots
a. Prevents the boat from moving aft.
b. Helps the boat to stop parallel 23. A sea breeze is caused by
to a dock. a. A front passing offshore.
c. The bow line will not be needed b. Water temperatures warmer than land.
for docking. c. Land temperatures warmer than water.
d. None of the above. d. Approaching rain squalls.
17. When are onshore breezes most common 24. The holding capability of an anchor is
in many areas? determined by the
a. In the winter a. Anchor’s ability to bury itself in the bottom.
b. During cold fronts b. Anchor’s weight only.
c. On hot afternoons c. Scope of the anchor line only.
d. In early morning d. Size of the boat.

25. The part of an anchor which digs in is called the

a. Stock.
b. Shank.
c. Fluke.
d. Crown.

BKIC Review Ques 2 12/2012