License for sailing a sailboat?

Question

Do I need to get the license to sail in US and Caribbeans waters, or having my friend who is experience with sailing can show me and teach me?

Thanks a lot!!

Answer 1

You do not need any licenses or certification to take your own boat sailing.

The only circumstances under which you'd need a master's (captains) license is if you were to take passengers for hire (and had an engine on the boat; oddly enough, the USCG doesn't care about chartered boats without engines).

That being said, I highly recomend you get certified in keel boats by US Sailing, or a similar certification. Also, keep in mind certifications may lower your insurance.

Answer 2

No license required to go out for recreational purposes.   Go out with your friend, have fun and learn more about this fun sport.     If you wish to charter, having a bareboat certification helps.  If you wish to take people out for hire in the U.S., you need your captain's license.  

Answer 3

how bout putting this one in Hobbies?  it doesn't seem like a cruise ship question.

good luck  

Answer 4

If you simply want to said your own boat around without carrying passengers or cargo for hire, I don't think licensing is required by law, but you should check into what may be required anyway!  (Even a swap of services is often considered "for hire".)  Also, some marinas require particular skills prior to allowing a boat to enter their waters, so check with them.  Further, insurers often want to be certain of skills and experience as a condition of providing coverage, so be sure to check with your insurer.  If you have any plans at all for commercial use of a boat, you absolutely need to check the maritime laws!  A place to begin with all this is your local US Coast Guard station.