Folks,
 
     Requiring a license would just result in money out of your wallet.  How many morons do you see everyday on the road?  I would assume to operate a car they have had to get a license.  In my opinion a license requirement will not improve behavior on the water at all, just like it doesn't on the road.  Just another way to cheat you out of more of your hard earned money.
 
HH

I think it would help overall safety and whats wrong with having more knowledge on anything. Knowledge isnt a bad thing. I doubt many people know 50% of all the water laws and dock manners. Maybe someone could post on boater manners and safety every week to help educate people on here just a thought

All good points made...esp. last one from Captnkirk. That's why I launch at Lampey or Northeast. But beside that, what's the difference between this and one never driving anything larger than a chevy chevette their entire life & come retirement you see a 40' motorhome in their drive way. Now they didn't have get a CDL to roll that behemoth down the road did they ?? As far as the "grandfather" clause goes, I've seen as many dumb old boaters as I've see newbies trying to figure out where does the drain plug go. It's all in how you were taught. I've ran boats from 14' puddle jumpers to 25' Penn Yan's to high performance bass boats and they all have one thing in common. I had an experienced hand beside me. License no...Education YES.

YES

I agree, and it will never stop all the idiots, but it will infact, educate those who want to take to the water with their new boat....
 
Here's a story.......
 
I very close friend of mine sells boat next to Lake Fork in Texas. One day this guy came in with his son. He explained that he would like to get into bass fishing with his son and would like to buy a boat.
After looking at a few boats he decided he would buy one. Not just any boat, though. His ego (and his large bank account) got the best of him and pulled away with a brand new Ranger with a 250 merc.
 
Being the salesman he was suppose to be, he gladly made the deal. Now, this guy knows NOTHING about boats and is buying a boat that can travel over 70 MPH.
 
Two weeks later he was hauiling arss down the lake showing off his new ride when all of a sudden he took out a famliy in a pontoon boat, killing a 4 year old and her father.
 
Would this have not happend if he was required to take some sort of training? I don't know for sure, but it may help with a few newbies in the boating world....
 
To add to the above story.....
The driver of the new boat actually tried to sue the dealership because they failed to explain the dangers of boating....Needless to say, the driver lost!
 
Some sort of training should be required for all operators..no matter what the age!
I actually have a "six pack" license about 12 years ago for a job delivering large boats up and down the intracoastal. I learned a lot in the week long class.
 
Also, by having some sort of endorsment on ones license can help the officials keep track of repeat offenders of violations. And put a stop to the ones that are constantly breaking laws on the water.
 
And to whomever doesn't agree with a license requirment.....I can change your mind in about 2 hours on labor day weekend.

Licensing or testing might not solve all the problems caused by bad or uneducated boaters but it sure couldn't hurt. I know there are a lot of boaters out there that don't even know the rules of the road.   

Stupid is as stupid does...