On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:06:51 -0500, in message

Jeff wrote:

Ryk wrote:

Is it a "sea day" if I'm out sailing my own 35 foot sailboat, or do I
need to be under the supervision of a licensed captain?


It is supposed to be a full 8 hour day, but at the discretion of the
testing officer they will accept 4 hour days. If you "self certify"
you have to show that you actually own a boat. You fill out a simple
form showing how many days you sailed, inside and outside the various
lines, etc.

There's a lot of "wink wink nudge nudge" around this point. While
"old timers" have no problem with the time, 360 days is a little tough
for someone who only has done recreational boating for a few years. I
think they figure that anyone willing to go through the testing should
be given the benefit of the doubt. And frankly, I don't see how you
get the Near Coastal or Offshore without working every day on a
fishing boat.

On that basis I probably wouldn't have much trouble documenting 360
days, but virtually all of it on the Great Lakes, which I presume
would all be considered Inland.

Also, while the 100 ton is actually enough to run a small tour boat or
ferry, to be certified for 100 tons, you need experience in something
at least close to 100 tons. Sailors often get 25 ton licenses, some
have even smaller.

Are those registry tons or actual laden displacement? A sailboat of 25
registry tons could be relatively small, say 45 to 50 feet...

Ryk