How to drive a boat and get a driving license for boat?

Here is some information for you : Boat Driving Basics Boating is a great way to cool off on a hot weekend. Before you head out and buy a boat there are a few things you should know. Operating a boat is very different from a car. Sure, both usually have a steering wheel with forward and reverse, some even have boat speed control like a car's cruise control, but the car will not usually be affected by things like wind and current. On the water, as well as the road, there are also rules to follow. However, water is fluid and those rules are more of a guideline, taking second seat to current conditions. Now that you are aware of the fact that you are not driving your car on the water let me walk you through the basic steps of how to drive a boat. First off, before you leave the dock, make sure you have enough fuel, that there is enough oil, and that all your safety equipment is in proper working order (i.e. horn, life jackets, etc). Now is time to start the engine. If you have an outboard, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to start. If you have an inboard (engine inside the hull) make sure you turn on the ventilation blowers prior to starting just to make sure there are no gas vapors where there shouldn’t be. Once the boat is started, be sure the engine is running okay, take note of any wind or current, and then cast off in such a way as to use the two to your advantage. Once you are underway and out of the busy marina or launch, turn on your electronics (radar, GPS, sonar). You can never have too many ways of judging conditions, be sure though to have an old fashioned compass aboard as well as know how to use it. As you go along, you may see buoys that are red, or green as well as other color variations. The red and greens are the most important. They are the channel markers. The best rule of thumb to navigating them is “RED, RIGHT, RETURN” as in red buoys on your right as you return to sea. Once at sea though the buoys will usually disappear, and you will be faced with the open sea. With the sea comes the potential for big waves. With waves is best to hit them at a 45 degree angle, hitting them head-on will make for a wet rough ride that may damage the boat. Hitting them sideways may result in the boat getting swamped and potentially sinking. There are many skills required to operate a boat and many different skills depending on what type of boat. If you want to get the most out of your boating experience and want to be a safe knowledgeable boater, attend a class offered by Boats US, your local US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and pick up a copy of Chapman’s Piloting. You Can Find More information about boating Here : http://www.allboatingsecret.com Thanks

As they all says It really depends on the area were you live.in Alabama they require boater certificate to operate a boat.I would suggest you go to seminars or schools that teaches sailing.hope this helps.

Some excellent information from Lily, but her statement about buoys is geographically specific and applies to only a limited number of regions; the Americas and eastern Pacific, plus Japan, Phillipines, and South Korea. These areas are referred to as the IALA "B" regions. There is also a small but vitally important error in her explanation: "as in red buoys on your right as you return to sea" should in fact read "as in red buoys on your right as you return FROM sea"; as stated, she has the direction of buoyage the wrong way round. The rest of the world, including your intended cruising area, Europe, is IALA "A"; starboard hand buoys are green, port hand are red. Much else that she says is spot on, but I would in fact go further; you do not DRIVE a boat but HELM (or operate) her. If you refer to driving you are likely to be already in the potentially very dangerous mindset that thinks helming a boat is very similar to driving a car. It is not; they are totally different, operating in very different environments, and requiring very different skills and different safety precautions and procedures. Close inshore, i.e. where navigation is not an issue because you can immediately see exactly where you are, you need to be aware of (and make due allowance for) the effects of tide and wind and current, as Lily says. Perhaps even more important is an awareness of waves, and you need to know how to handle them. Then there is the fact that all three are linked; tidal streams and currents will affect the effective wind, i.e. what is experienced by the water; and all three will affect the height and length and shape of waves. Add to that the depth of water and the nature of the bottom, and the topography of the sea bed and the coastline, all of which can also affect tidal streams and currents and waves. And add the fact that when wind and tide (or current) are in the same direction the waves will be smoothed out to a considerable extent, but when they are in opposing directions they will become much shorter and steeper and higher; they can then produce what appear to be almost vertical walls of water, they can break, they can produce what one of our local pilot books calls "character-forming seas" and can provide "an almost spiritual experience"; in short, they can suddenly become seriously dangerous. You need to also be aware of the vertical movement of tides; a patch of sea that has ample water for a small boat over the top of the tide may be festooned with rocks when the tide is lower, or it may become dry land when the tide drops. One of the best ways to learn to helm (or operate) a boat safely is to take an approved course. Lily has already referred you to the American courses; in the UK the national authority is the RYA and the vast majority of courses are those training for RYA qualifications, and many sailing clubs and countless commercial organisations offer such courses. Elsewhere in Europe I am sure that local courses will be available but you will have to make local enquiries. Finally, the "driving licence". Terminology aside (I have already made that point) this varies between different jurisdictions. In the UK no licence is needed, although appropriate training and qualifications are strongly recommended for all newcomers to the sport; successive governments have had the wisdom (thus far) to prefer education to legislation, and this has worked superbly well, and considering the extent of participation our safety record is very impressive.

First, where do you live? USA, Europe, South America? The license requirements vary from country to country, and even here in the USA. There are parts of the USA now that requires a "Boater Safety Course" to be taken and the "Proof Card" in your wallet anytime that you are boating. Check with you state's web site for that requirement (www.STATE.gov). Look at the motor vehicle section and the Wildlife sections for these requirements. If still in doubt, call a local boat dealer and ask. Since you want to take up sailing, enroll in Sailing lessons. They will start you out with small easy to handle sailing boats. Once you receive you "Certs" from that school, you can then move up to larger sailing crafts from that school or another.