licensed captain requirements?
 

This is an off chute from "hunter 34 ... Broker.
I am not aware that in Canada we have Licensed pleasure craft sea Captain.
This year at the Newport RI boat show I saw several booths advertising for
pleasure craft Captain courses.
The information that I got was the cost of the course. When I ask for the
content of the course and its syllabus the answers I got were not as
detailed as I would have though. One of the person at the booth informed me
that if I wanted to operated my sailboat for commercial purposes I would
have to have a Captain's licence in the US. Because I do not know much
about this subject I will not make any comments and would appreciate if
someone could enlighten me.

licensed captain requirements?
 

In the US, anyone who takes a "passenger for hire" must be licensed.
This does not include cost sharing amongst friends, but anything that
"smells" like making money does.

The license requirements go well beyond the basic "Power Squadron"
class. You must be able to show 360 days of service, pass various
physical tests, drug test, criminal checks, etc. First and CPR certs
are needed. The rules test is closed book, must be 90% correct, and
is rather tricky. The other tests require boating, navigation and
plotting skills (running fix, etc.) and a knowledge of federal
regulations and how to look them up.

Courses for passing the basic version are a full week and cost roughly
$1000. The CG allows the course provider to give tests that are
roughly similar to the CG test, but are given in a friendlier
environment. Passing this allows you to take 6 passengers on a
personal yacht, assuming it passes certain requirements. An upgrade
to a more professional license, is fairly straight forward.

If your need is only very limited, such as a launch driver, there are
limited licenses that are easier to get.


wrote:
This is an off chute from "hunter 34 ... Broker.
I am not aware that in Canada we have Licensed pleasure craft sea Captain.
This year at the Newport RI boat show I saw several booths advertising for
pleasure craft Captain courses.
The information that I got was the cost of the course. When I ask for the
content of the course and its syllabus the answers I got were not as
detailed as I would have though. One of the person at the booth informed me
that if I wanted to operated my sailboat for commercial purposes I would
have to have a Captain's licence in the US. Because I do not know much
about this subject I will not make any comments and would appreciate if
someone could enlighten me.

licensed captain requirements?
 

... Passing this allows you to take 6 passengers on a
personal yacht, assuming it passes certain requirements. An upgrade
to a more professional license, is fairly straight forward.

The "six pack" allows you to operate an uninspected vessel near shore.
The upgrade is a bit tricky though as you need to be a US citizen and
need 720 documented sea days (typically 4 hours underway) to get a
Master 100 tons. Actual granted tonnage is often less than 100 and is
based the size of the vessels you have documented time on and the CG
may impose other limits on you license depending on your experience.
The 100 ton mate (360 sea days) includes the "opuv" and is a better
option for US citizens doing six pack trade. If you want to work
"commercial" (ie. not tourist) boats you'll likely need to get your AB
too which involves advanced fire fighting and life saving and sea time
on commercial boats. Courses for 100 ton licenses typically run three
or four weeks.

-- Tom

licensed captain requirements?
 

wrote:
... Passing this allows you to take 6 passengers on a
personal yacht, assuming it passes certain requirements. An upgrade
to a more professional license, is fairly straight forward.

The "six pack" allows you to operate an uninspected vessel near shore.
The upgrade is a bit tricky though as you need to be a US citizen and
need 720 documented sea days (typically 4 hours underway) to get a
Master 100 tons. Actual granted tonnage is often less than 100 and is
based the size of the vessels you have documented time on and the CG
may impose other limits on you license depending on your experience.
The 100 ton mate (360 sea days) includes the "opuv" and is a better
option for US citizens doing six pack trade. If you want to work
"commercial" (ie. not tourist) boats you'll likely need to get your AB
too which involves advanced fire fighting and life saving and sea time
on commercial boats. Courses for 100 ton licenses typically run three
or four weeks.

The "Near Coastal" upgrade is 720 hours, but inland is only 360. The
dividing line varies around the country. Here in New England inside
of the entrance buoys, roughly 10 miles offshore, is still "Inland."
Thus you can cruise your entire life in New England and never have a
minute of even "Near Coastal" time.

On the West Coast, going outside the harbors is is Near Coastal. But
still 720 days of Near Coastal time is a lot of trips up and down the
coast.

Also, even with OUPV, citizenship is required if the vessel is
documented.

Boatwise offers courses, the full Master's course is 80 hours.

http://www.boatwise.com/master100gtlicense.html

licensed captain requirements?
 

On 9 Nov 2006 10:55:51 -0800, in message
.com
" wrote:

... Passing this allows you to take 6 passengers on a
personal yacht, assuming it passes certain requirements. An upgrade
to a more professional license, is fairly straight forward.

The "six pack" allows you to operate an uninspected vessel near shore.
The upgrade is a bit tricky though as you need to be a US citizen and
need 720 documented sea days (typically 4 hours underway) to get a
Master 100 tons. Actual granted tonnage is often less than 100 and is
based the size of the vessels you have documented time on and the CG
may impose other limits on you license depending on your experience.
The 100 ton mate (360 sea days) includes the "opuv" and is a better
option for US citizens doing six pack trade. If you want to work
"commercial" (ie. not tourist) boats you'll likely need to get your AB
too which involves advanced fire fighting and life saving and sea time
on commercial boats. Courses for 100 ton licenses typically run three
or four weeks.

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?

Ryk, Curious Canadian

licensed captain requirements?
 

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
wrote:
... Passing this allows you to take 6 passengers on a
personal yacht, assuming it passes certain requirements. An upgrade
to a more professional license, is fairly straight forward.

The "six pack" allows you to operate an uninspected vessel near shore.
The upgrade is a bit tricky though as you need to be a US citizen and
need 720 documented sea days (typically 4 hours underway) to get a
Master 100 tons. Actual granted tonnage is often less than 100 and is
based the size of the vessels you have documented time on and the CG
may impose other limits on you license depending on your experience.
The 100 ton mate (360 sea days) includes the "opuv" and is a better
option for US citizens doing six pack trade. If you want to work
"commercial" (ie. not tourist) boats you'll likely need to get your AB
too which involves advanced fire fighting and life saving and sea time
on commercial boats. Courses for 100 ton licenses typically run three
or four weeks.

The "Near Coastal" upgrade is 720 hours, but inland is only 360. The
dividing line varies around the country. Here in New England inside of
the entrance buoys, roughly 10 miles offshore, is still "Inland." Thus you
can cruise your entire life in New England and never have a minute of even
"Near Coastal" time.

On the West Coast, going outside the harbors is is Near Coastal. But
still 720 days of Near Coastal time is a lot of trips up and down the
coast.

Also, even with OUPV, citizenship is required if the vessel is documented.

Boatwise offers courses, the full Master's course is 80 hours.

http://www.boatwise.com/master100gtlicense.html

Yup... I have an OUPV, Near Coastal... good to 100 mile offshore. The
demarcation line is not far off at all... pt. bonita and mile rock in the SF
area.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

licensed captain requirements?
 

Boatwise offers courses, the full Master's course is 80 hours.

I took a 90 class hour course that took four weeks, but there are lots
of options out there including self study if you are willing to test at
a CG test center. The big issue for most of us non-commercial folks is
getting the documented sea time. I think the regional testing centers
may have somewhat differing standards, but generally you can use time
in your own boats if you can prove ownership.

For the OP who I think was Canadian I think the Yachtmaster option
might be appropriate.

-- Tom.

licensed captain requirements?
 

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.

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.

One more curious thing - being a deckhand or even bartender (sometimes
they are the same!) counts as service. Anyone who spends a few
summers working a tour boat would be well advised to make the effort
to get a license.

licensed captain requirements?
 

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

licensed captain requirements?
 

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

Registry tons (cubic feet). Try this
http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/MSC/T3/cg5397/cg5397.form.htm to get an idea.

-- Tom.

licensed captain requirements?
 

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. . . .

There's a lot of "wink wink nudge nudge" around this point.

There's a lot more winkin' and nudgin' going on than that [in the US].

I know somebody who had nowhere near 360 days afloat, who'd convinced
skippers to pad his seatime a ridiculous amount. The trick is to
involve several skippers who don't know what the others are reporting.
One of the skippers was very irate when he learned an applicant for
whom he'd been generous reporting seatime, and who claimed he was "only
going for a 6 pack and just a few days short", showed up later with a
720 day license.

And the "self certify" route is rife with fudging too. If the
applicant is the only one lying, who's gonna dispute it? Know a
skipper who has a 6 pack ticket, who was a weekend sailor with only
three years of ownership at the time. When I called him on it, he
winked and said his boat had been very, very busy those three years,
according to his logs. Know of another with a similar incredulous
story, and he said, "Every morning I'd go out to the dock and step into
my punt." Also miraculously passed the eye test, with 20/500 eyesight.

I don't fault the Coast Guard, though; they're hugely understaffed
and, especially since 9/11, have bigger fish to fry than 6 pack
cheaters.

licensed captain requirements?
 

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
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.

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.

One more curious thing - being a deckhand or even bartender (sometimes
they are the same!) counts as service. Anyone who spends a few summers
working a tour boat would be well advised to make the effort to get a
license.

It wasn't a huge problem for me getting Near Coastal. The demarcation line
is only a short distance from the entrance, and we went that way quite a
bit, both on my boat and others. I didn't perceive any wink/wink/nudge/nudge
when I was in CG office. They called a couple of the people I used to
document my time.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

licensed captain requirements?
 

On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:12:17 -0800, Mark wrote:


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. . . .

There's a lot of "wink wink nudge nudge" around this point.

There's a lot more winkin' and nudgin' going on than that [in the US].

I know somebody who had nowhere near 360 days afloat, who'd convinced
skippers to pad his seatime a ridiculous amount. The trick is to
involve several skippers who don't know what the others are reporting.
One of the skippers was very irate when he learned an applicant for whom
he'd been generous reporting seatime, and who claimed he was "only going
for a 6 pack and just a few days short", showed up later with a 720 day
license.

And the "self certify" route is rife with fudging too. If the applicant
is the only one lying, who's gonna dispute it? Know a skipper who has
a 6 pack ticket, who was a weekend sailor with only three years of
ownership at the time. When I called him on it, he winked and said his
boat had been very, very busy those three years, according to his logs.
Know of another with a similar incredulous story, and he said, "Every
morning I'd go out to the dock and step into my punt." Also
miraculously passed the eye test, with 20/500 eyesight.

I don't fault the Coast Guard, though; they're hugely understaffed and,
especially since 9/11, have bigger fish to fry than 6 pack cheaters.

The point is to make sure people are qualified. The judgment of seasoned
peers (CG officials?) is often enough.

Looking beyond the numbers, wouldn't you say a skipper with an actual
years' worth of cruising experience is probably more experienced than
someone with twice as many days as a deckhand on a (probably fair weather)
tourboat?

I know a couple of architects who sat on licensing examination boards,
back when architect licensing was heavily based on an interview. They
said they could tell within 5 minutes whether a candidate was really ready
to be a licensed architect, or full of you-know-what.

Back to captains' licensing, unless you really think you're going to be
taking passengers for hire or doing deliveries, or something else that
actually requires a license, there's probably more reason not to be
licensed.

Matt O.

licensed captain requirements?
 

Matt O'Toole wrote:

Back to captains' licensing, unless you really think you're going to be
taking passengers for hire or doing deliveries, or something else that
actually requires a license, there's probably more reason not to be
licensed.

I've heard that before, but it's unclear to me. Are you any more
culpable if you have a license, but are merely out pleasure sailing,
and something goes wrong?

licensed captain requirements?
 

"Mark" wrote in message
oups.com...

Matt O'Toole wrote:

Back to captains' licensing, unless you really think you're going to be
taking passengers for hire or doing deliveries, or something else that
actually requires a license, there's probably more reason not to be
licensed.

I've heard that before, but it's unclear to me. Are you any more
culpable if you have a license, but are merely out pleasure sailing,
and something goes wrong?

Not that I'm aware of... if you're out on business and *don't* have a
license, you're in deep sh*t beyond whatever they boarded you for.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com