Wisconsin Boating Safety Practice Exam 2025 - Free Boating Safety Practice Questions and Study Guide

Using blasts of the horn at intervals of not more than two minutes is the correct practice when navigating through fog. This guideline is rooted in maritime safety regulations, which are designed to enhance visibility and awareness in low-visibility conditions such as fog. The reason for using sound signals is to alert nearby vessels of your presence and intentions when visual cues are limited.

In fog, the ability to see other boats can be significantly reduced, making auditory signals critical for maintaining safety on the water. Regular horn blasts help ensure that other boaters are aware of your location, which can prevent collisions and improve the overall safety of navigation.

While continuous horn blasts might suggest a vessel is in imminent danger or making a distress signal, this could cause confusion in foggy conditions. The use of only a whistle or no sound signals at all would not sufficiently inform other vessels of your presence, leading to a greater risk of accidents. Therefore, following the practice of intervals no longer than two minutes strikes the right balance between making your vessel known and reducing unnecessary noise that could create confusion.