NY has had a boaters license requirement for personal watercrafts for years. As far as I know they do not require a license for boats at the moment, but I heard they are going in that direction. I got it back when it was a requirement for operating jet skis so I haven't stayed up to date.

I just checked the regulations here in NY and it looks like they have implemented a timeline based on your age to get a boaters license by 2025. By 2025 all boat operators must have a license. The interesting part is the regulation states renters will not need a license.

"Renting a boat

Persons may rent and operate a motor boat from a livery without first obtaining a boating safety certificate."

That's great you got the motor running, congrats. I'm just curious since you didn't mention it, but I assume it is a 2 stroke and you are premixing your gas with oil. Also you can tell a lean or rich condition by checking your spark plugs. If your engine is running lean, the spark plugs will look more white depending on how lean it is and if it is running rich, the spark plugs will be darker depending on how rich. You want a nice slightly brownish color. As mentioned above, rich is ok, lean is a problem.