How do you learn boating?

[Zeal]

Boating license helps, though I guess that would equal the class/certification.

I learned how to drive a boat long before driving a car and it was under a man who was in the navy and had 50+ years experience (the boat had a rounded tip and no power steering!).

Like others have said, if you know someone who had a boat and knows their stuff, have them go out with you on your boat and be your driving instructor.

Also, know how long it takes for your propeller to go up or down and know how far up and down it goes so it doesn't beat down into the bottom(I see/hear this too many times)!

If you don't know a certain area, go slow, you'd rather move slow and avoid going 30 knots just to slam up on a bar. Know what places get very shallow during the tides and also where the boat is going to be headed on a drift (again, I've seen people drift right on to a bar and couldn't get off it).

Another common thing people seem to not get is knowing how to untangle the propeller if they drove through a bunch of seaweed or someone's crab trap lines.

Lastly, get yourself POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. Will save your butt more than once!