Captain's license
 

Anyone have a captain's license?

An ad has me curious. $555

I'm captain of my ship......don't need no stinkin Liscence lol

Check out the qualifications required. Many many days of operation on the water , four hours or more in the previous few years, etc.
The lic. Has to be renewed every five years. This calls for documentation of time afloat.

For my sixth renewal
In the period in which I sailed all over the South Pacific for a couple of years in my own boat, and grew more as a small boat operator, and lived aboard the whole time. This included sailing from N Z to Tonga, Fiji, back to N Z. Then to Cook Islands , French Polynesia on to Hawaii. Quite a few thousands of miles. And still had a hard time coming up with the required days to requailfy for the lic. Renewal.

Most folks just fudge the time requirement needed to qualify. Which cheapens the lic. In my mind.

The test is surprisingly challenging to pass, and the crib courses really help in preparing for the test.

Cheers Richard

Richard, what was your reason for getting a captain's license? Just curious. :)

No license, but I'm Master of My Domain.

On some days, I'm happy to be Gilligan.

If you are considering pursuing a maritime career, a license is the way to go. But as Richard pointed out, it takes sea time as well as CG exam.

For my 100 ton license, it took 720 days of documentable sea time. When I upgraded to 500 ton, that took 360 additional days and much more complicated test with CG.

A 6 pack license (6 passengers or less) requires 360 days of sea time. If you have a boat, this would allow you to take paying passengers. But then you need to check your insurance policy etc.

Licensing also requires a drug test, physical exam and a TWIC -Transportation Worker Identity Card. Repeat every 5 years.

Vince

First thing I thought of

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My son attends Calif Maritime Academy...he is half way done. He will graduate then take a third mates test. 3 years total some credits were transferable

I'm toying with the idea of starting a chartered fishing business. But I really don't know much about it. It would be way off in the future, but moving back to Florida has got my curiosity up.

Tevake, you sound like a man with many stories. Love to hear about your trips sometime.

Easy-peasy...

Go through Sea School:

They line up all the paperwork, provide the testing (honest test, not like the USCG that tries to trip you up), drug testing, everything...

Very, very streamlined...when it comes time to renew, if you don't have the hours, a simple weekend refresher course is all you need.

I did mine 15 yrs ago to run charters off the NC coast...no business for it now as fuel prices have pushed the cost for charters beyond what anyone really wants to pay (for gulf stream trip).

You should be good to go in Fla. far more inshore stuff...

Can't recommend them enough. Really the only way to go. SmileWavy

Cheers!

Classic. I've got to license my pet dog Eric and I've got to license me pet cat Eric.

Hey Doug, I grew up doing some boating / fishing with my father in Fla. Then got into surfing which eventually brought me to Hawaii in the early 70s. Looking around there, the folks that seemed to be having fun at work were the charter boat folks. That planted the seed for me. Soon I was working as. Beach boy at a special small resort called Kona Village Resort. Where I was able to build up the time on the water required for the test.
Once licensed and living a 25' engineless sailboat I started to explore the Islands in ernest. Leading to years of migrating up and down the chain seasonally, Kauai in the summers , big island in the winters. Lots of adventures along the way.

After many years of doing winter whale watching off of the kona coast, and Maui , and doing Kauai, Na Pali tours in the summer. My interests pushed me to persue South Pacific voyaging. Along came Tevake. Sorry scroll down a bit to see tevake
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/618910-voyaging-canoes-depart-hanalei.html

The perfect platform for cruising the S. Pacific. Looking for uncrowded waves, and trying to learn more about the Polyneisan migration across the pacific.

Yep a few stories along the way. Just can't find the pic of Tevake arriving in N Z under jury riged windsurf sails after dismasting half way from Fiji. But this is long enough allready.

Cheers Richard. AKA Captain Ono :-)

Ahoy Flyin by, the son of a good friend from Oahu is going to the Maritime Academy now also.
Probably a classmate of your son. His name is Kyle Morgan.

A number of fellow small boat skippers I've worked with over the years decided to step up to ships and went thru the Academy and on to successful careers in shipping. Can be a good job for those that enjoy lots of time at sea.

All the best to your son.

Cheers Richard