cavelamb wrote:
Our local marina is hosting a Captain's License course (six pack)
next month.

Other than being able to charge passengers for passage, what
would be a good reason to have a captains ticket.

Also?
What's the legal down side?

I would take the course if one were offered near me just to gain the
information. Self study isn't always good enough because you don't know
what to study.

Legal: in theory, you will have more expertise than others so in some
instances you can't plead ignorance.