wf3h wrote:
http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=184983

Coast Guard Requests Authority to Require 'Proof of Proficiency'
By Louis Gerlinger
May 3, 2006
If approved, the provision could lead to mandatory licensing for
boaters nationwide.

WASHINGTON D.C. (LNS) - The Coast Guard has asked Congress for
authority to establish a "proof of proficiency" requirement for
recreational boaters - which, officials conceded, could lead to
mandatory nationwide licensing for recreational boat operators. A
legislative change proposal, which was submitted by the Coast Guard's
Office of Boating Safety, would amend Section 4302(a) of Title 46,
United States Code, which gives the Secretary of Transportation
authority to prescribe regulations, by adding subsection (4) which
would read (The Secretary may prescribe regulations) "establishing
minimum requirements for recreational vessel operator proficiency."
California presently doesn't have a mandatory education or licensing
requirement for recreational boat operators


Hmmmmm. "Proof of proficiency" sounds like a different concept than
"slept through a boating course one afternoon in order to obtain a
'minimally educated' certificate (currently required in about 40
states)".

If the Coast Guard would simply require that boaters need to get an
attendance certificate for a USCG Aux or Power Squadron course (many of
which are one-day events), this is already being handled on the state
level in almost every state where there's an appreciable amount of
water upon which to boat. I'm surprised that CA is so far behind the
trend. The USCG proposal isn't very necesary if it is simply for more
education.

However, if the USCG wants to establish some actual standards of
"proficiency" to demostrate *capability* as well as basic education,
I'd be 100% in favor of that. Some guy who is totally clueless about
how to operate his boat is a hazard to everybody around him- regardless
whether or not he can parrot "red, right, returning" and make a lucky
guess about basic COLREGS.

Another benefit; this program might eventually cut down on the number
of those licensed masters who should really have their certificates
printed on toilet paper. The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.
It might be tough to convince the USCG that a boater who just purchased
a boat six or eight months ago (and for whom the USCG has the original
"proficiency" record) has logged enough sea time to test for a license.