A friend and I were having a discussion, I stated that if I had the money to
buy an ocean liner and just used it for personal pleasure (no paying
passengers) I didn't need a captain's (master's) license. I said that it
might be a bit of a problem finding someone willing to insure you though. My
friend disagreed, he said that after 60 feet the boat required a captain's
license. (just to keep this post on topic to this newsgroup I'll state that
my friend is a Republican and I'm basically a Democrat, but we don't discuss
this at all.) :-) So I ask the group. was I correct? Also is there a point
(size wise) where insurance companies want you to have credentials such as a
master's license or previous experience?
Paul

Might not be a requirement, but it sure sounds like a good idea
nevertheless. Piloting a 100 ton + vessel requires skills that only
experience and training could provide. An insurance company would be foolish
not to require some sort of qualified credentials before insuring a large
private vessel IMHO.



"Paul Schilter" paulschilter@comcast,dot,net wrote in message
...
A friend and I were having a discussion, I stated that if I had the money
to
buy an ocean liner and just used it for personal pleasure (no paying
passengers) I didn't need a captain's (master's) license. I said that it
might be a bit of a problem finding someone willing to insure you though.
My
friend disagreed, he said that after 60 feet the boat required a captain's
license. (just to keep this post on topic to this newsgroup I'll state
that
my friend is a Republican and I'm basically a Democrat, but we don't
discuss
this at all.) :-) So I ask the group. was I correct? Also is there a point
(size wise) where insurance companies want you to have credentials such as
a
master's license or previous experience?
Paul

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 18:01:10 -0400, "Paul Schilter"
paulschilter@comcast,dot,net wrote:
A friend and I were having a discussion, I stated that if I had the money to
buy an ocean liner and just used it for personal pleasure (no paying
passengers) I didn't need a captain's (master's) license. I said that it
might be a bit of a problem finding someone willing to insure you though. My
friend disagreed, he said that after 60 feet the boat required a captain's
license. (just to keep this post on topic to this newsgroup I'll state that
my friend is a Republican and I'm basically a Democrat, but we don't discuss
this at all.) :-) So I ask the group. was I correct? Also is there a point
(size wise) where insurance companies want you to have credentials such as a
master's license or previous experience?
=========================================

It all comes down to financing and insurance. Unless you own the boat
free and clear, you're going to need insurance. To get insurance, you
will need a qualified operator of the vessel. What that means is up
to the insurance company to decide.

It all comes down to financing and insurance. Unless you own the boat
free and clear, you're going to need insurance. To get insurance, you
will need a qualified operator of the vessel. What that means is up
to the insurance company to decide.


IN OTHERWORDS, NO ONE WHO HAS ANSWERED SO FAR KNOWS FORE SURE!

They are just guessing. Any body out there know the answer? I don't.
Larry Hill

On 21 Jul 2004 23:41:24 GMT, (Larry Hill) wrote:

They are just guessing. Any body out there know the answer? I don't.
Larry Hill

=====================================

I'm not guessing.

it all comes down to insurance as long as there are no passengers for
hire.

Larry,
I wasn't able to find a definitive answer on the Coast Guard site, it
just deals with commercial vessels. I've never read of anyone saying they
had trouble getting insurance because they didn't have enough experience for
a given boat size. I know that to get a Coast Guard Master's license you
first have to show two years experience on the size (tonnage) of boat your
getting the license for.
Paul

"Larry Hill" wrote in message
...

It all comes down to financing and insurance. Unless you own the boat
free and clear, you're going to need insurance. To get insurance, you
will need a qualified operator of the vessel. What that means is up
to the insurance company to decide.


IN OTHERWORDS, NO ONE WHO HAS ANSWERED SO FAR KNOWS FORE SURE!

They are just guessing. Any body out there know the answer? I don't.
Larry Hill

I know that to get a Coast Guard Master's license you
first have to show two years experience on the size (tonnage) of boat your
getting the license for.
Paul

Two years of pleasure boat ownership
isn't going to qualify you to sit for the exam unless you are *underway*, (not
at the dock), for eight hours or more for 360 of those 730 days. The CG has the
option to
reduce the hours requirement from 8-hours to 4-hours, and some districts do
almost routinely.

In actual practice, a very high percentage of people who apply for a six-pack
license based solely on pleasure boat ownership have lied about qualifying sea
service on the application form. There ought to be a check mark for "wink" and
"nod" at the bottom of the form.

Uh, that's not totally correct regarding the time frame. 2 years ( 720 days
at sea underway. They'll allow you 1.5 days per 8-12 hr days) will qualify
you for a maximum of 100 tons. After that, more time serving as Master,
Mate, or in a Supervisory Position is required.

"Paul Schilter" paulschilter@comcast,dot,net wrote in message
...
Larry,
I wasn't able to find a definitive answer on the Coast Guard site, it
just deals with commercial vessels. I've never read of anyone saying they
had trouble getting insurance because they didn't have enough experience
for
a given boat size. I know that to get a Coast Guard Master's license you
first have to show two years experience on the size (tonnage) of boat your
getting the license for.
Paul

"Larry Hill" wrote in message
...

It all comes down to financing and insurance. Unless you own the boat
free and clear, you're going to need insurance. To get insurance, you
will need a qualified operator of the vessel. What that means is up
to the insurance company to decide.


IN OTHERWORDS, NO ONE WHO HAS ANSWERED SO FAR KNOWS FORE SURE!

They are just guessing. Any body out there know the answer? I don't.
Larry Hill

IN OTHERWORDS, NO ONE WHO HAS ANSWERED SO FAR KNOWS FORE SURE!

They are just guessing. Any body out there know the answer? I don't.
Larry Hill



I know people who own and operate boats over 60-feet who do not hold master's
licenses. I know of a guy who bought a 105 foot ex Navy Yard tug, no license.

As for making a blanket statement about
what-all "every insurance company" is going to require........that would be
impossible.

Ever insurance compnay is going to assess risk before underwriting a policy.
Part of that risk includes the previous experience of the insured. If Joe Blow
has operated a 52-foot motoryacht for the last ten years without incident and
he wants to step up to a 65-footer, there won't be all that serious a challenge
in getting him a policy somewhere. (May take some shopping).

If Joe Blow's experience has been running
an outboard-powered trailer boat....let's hope that nobody will insure him to
take command of that same 65-footer.

Can't give you a definitive answer, however....
60 feet is not a criteria for a license in the US, though it could be other
places.
Insurance will play a big part as to who operates this vessel.
Where you register/document it will also be a major factor (amazin what you can
get away with when you have enough money and the right contacts)
BUT, if you can afford a ship that big, why would you want the headaches
associated with being the Master of such a vessel? Hire some flunky.

Shen