On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 05:56:07 GMT, "O:P\)" wrote:

I am playing with the idea of a boat. I'm new to boating. What would you
folks recommend, power or sail? Do I need extra skills for sail boats? One
more question, do I need a license? and if yes, where do I get it? I'm in
Toronto.

1. Check out the basic / intro course at a local Power Squadron.
Canadian Yachting Assoc also has certification & courses from intro
thru offshore passagemaking.
2. In Toronto, you require an "operator's permit" for any motorized
boat within the downtown area (basically from Bluffer's Park to Humber
River, within a couple miles of shore). Testing is on basic
rules-of-the-road and a short practical test (back off the dock, pick
up a life-jacket, c'mon back). Marine police check pretty regularly
within the inner harbour (if you've got a powerboat especially).
3. I think you also need a Coast Guard licence. At one time, if you
had the Toronto Port Authority "operator's permit" you could also get
the CG one without further testing; maybe even vice-versa.
4. If your boat has a VHF radio (pretty well a necessity) you need a
"base station" permit and an "operator's permit".

Some of the local yacht clubs provide basic intro sailing lessons --
either on a dinghy (geared towards racing) altho a few also have
keelboat lessons (my club, Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club, for example).
Clubs also tend to have prep courses for licencing and sometimes even
administer the testing. ABYC is putting together a membership
category that includes timesharing a 25ft sailboat (a blatant plug )

I dunno of any lessons available on operating a powerboat.

Hope this helps,
g.