Q 01/05

In modern naval terms, what qualifies a vessel as a boat?

A) It can be carried aboard a ship

B) It has no auxiliary engine

C) It has only a single mast

D) It is under 100 feet long

Answer · why

A) It can be carried aboard a ship

The oldest boat ever found, the Pesse canoe, is a dugout dating from around 8000 BC.

Q 02/05

The oldest recovered boat in the world, the Pesse canoe, was found in which country?

A) Scandinavia

B) The Netherlands

C) Ancient Egypt

D) Southern China

Answer · why

B) The Netherlands

It was hollowed from a Scots pine trunk between 8200 and 7600 BC.

Q 03/05

Facing the bow, which side of a vessel is starboard?

A) Rear

B) Front

C) Right

D) Left

Answer · why

C) Right

The name comes from the steering oar, or 'steer-board', that early ships carried on that side.

Q 04/05

Why was the steering oar of early ships mounted on the starboard side?

A) Prevailing winds favoured it

B) Harbours were all built that way

C) Religious custom demanded it

D) Most people are right-handed

Answer · why

D) Most people are right-handed

Ships therefore docked on the left, the side that became 'port'.

Q 05/05

Before 'port', the left side of a ship was known by what name?

A) Larboard

B) Leeboard

C) Ladeside

D) Backboard

Answer · why

A) Larboard

It came from 'ladebord', the loading side, and was changed because it sounded too much like starboard.