Compulsory licensing for the operation of a boat is a bit of a contentious subject. There are many experienced sailors who never actually took a course but have more sea miles logged than most charter boats! Then at the opposite end of the scale there are those who have no clue, but for whatever reason have not taken a course.
It should be noted that in a lot of countries it is a requirement to hold a certificate of competence or a minimum level of license in order to operate a boat, the charter industry in particular (Europe at least) has had a clamp down, they will not bareboat charter vessels to people who do not have a minimum level of qualification.
It should be obvious that for all compulsory licensing, mandating and regulation, nothing can replace experience & good judgement.
The case for
Other vehicles are licensed
You cannot legally drive a car, ride a motorcycle or operate certain industrial and agricultural machinery unless you are properly trained and examined, the reasoning being you would be a danger to yourself and to others if you did not have at least a basic introduction, explanation and examination of the subject. I cannot think of a reason why boats would not be any different.
The images of some old "Captain Birdseye" type sailor with a white beard, peacoat, sowester and pipe hanging from their mouths as your tutor and examiner are long gone. Times have changed and courses have changed to match them, there are still basic skills to be mastered, but a lot of electronics and their uses are now included.
Online learning
Much of the theory parts of courses can be learnt from the comfort of your chair, this is such a leap forward as it allows the courses to concentrate on practical aspects. When I was teaching, the online or distance learning courses had not really begun, sitting in a classroom listening to someone drone on is no fun for any student, so getting it done in your own time is a major bonus.
Safety
This should be obvious, social media is literally full of videos of boating accidents, from very light dock rashes to full on beaching, capsizing and smashes, some of which look very serious. Boating is by and large a fairly safe pastime, having knowledge of dangers and possible causes of accidents on a boat can only improve safety, this is good for everyone.
Emergency procedures
The number of people who have little or no clue of how to raise emergency help is stifling, the good thing about boats is the procedure is pretty much the same wherever you are.
Social aspects
Boaters are a friendly bunch, I have written about it before. By taking the course you will certainly meet some great people. This is true of dive courses too.
Insurance
You may not be able to insure a boat unless you have met a minimum standard of training or obtained and license to use a boat. This becomes increasingly important when the value of the vessel goes up. Boats over a certain length or amount of horsepower may also become uninsurable or prohibitively expensive to cover without a minimum level of competence or experience.
The case against
Government mandates
However bizarre I find this, I do understand it. Governments handing down requirements for how you should live your life are often seen as overreach, in some places boat licensing requirements are handed over to another body who are experts in that area and are able to separate out people who will use recreational boats and professional seafarers.
Loss of freedom?
I have heard this one touted, some people see compulsory licensing in order to use a boat as a form of reduced freedom. I understand this, boats really are one of the last forms of freedom, no queues, peace and quiet, so having your freedom leaned upon by a faceless bureaucrat who probably cannot tell their bow from their stern is understandable. That said, if a compulsory course saved just one accident, it would be worth it.
Conclusion
I heard a great saying the other day "we were all novices at some point". I will be the first admit, on every course I have attended I have always learnt something. We have to gain experience, in order to be able to gain that experience it often involves having met a minimum standard. The case for compulsory licensing I think depends on how you came to boating, if you grew up around boats and have many years of experience, then perhaps I can see why you would see it as unnecessary.
Many people come to boats without really having had much experience, so a course is not only obligatory, but also necessary in order to be safe. I used to be an instructor for a lot of courses, so perhaps I am biased, but no matter how much experience you have, you are constantly on a learning curve. In my opinion I am in the for camp of compulsory licensing.
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