Struck diver in critical condition - Florida

[Akimbo]

You need to get a license for a dog or cat... but anyone can buy a boat...

True, but the license says nothing about your ability to care for the animal. This is also true for licensing a power boat with CF numbers in the US, which has no requirement for the owner to be a competent to drive it.

 

[DennisS]

Follow the dollars. Pet licensing is income for the state. It is postulated that boat licensing would harm tourism, and therefore harm income for the state.

The boating industry is a factor when it comes to lobbying against "boat drivers licenses. If it could discourage someone from buying a boat, they're against it. Personally I think it's more a question of attitude than ignorance, a gold boat with 5 outboards and a lawyer waiting on the dock, pretty much sums up the attitude