how do you get a captians license?

[profisher2004]

I am asking this question for the reason that i would like to start my own charter boat but i need to get ny license first . also what is a good size boat for me too start out with ? Thank you and have a good holiday.

[BOHICA]

Ryan, good luck with the venture. Good place to start is by taking a class with one of the respected co. that teach the capt. class. 3 B's or Sea School are a start. Look in the fisherman magazine, they're advertised weekly. Class takes about 4-7 weekends depending on your schedule and total cost is about $750 plus cost of application to the USCG when you pass. You will learn great information regardless of your experience and you'll make some great friends along the way. Many charter boats in the Cape May area are only 24-25ft so I would at least start there. I've heard it ain't an easy way to make a living but neither is a real job. Good Luck!

[Bawugna]

Profisher, Here is a list of the things you need to do/have in order to get a license (I may have left some out, hey nobody's perfect)

First aid Certification (current

CPR Certification (current)

Medical exam on form CG719K (must be signed in ink by Doctor, no rubber stamps etc)

Drug test that complies with USCG regs (some schools give the right one at the class)

Must goto a USCG exam center and have your oath read and get finger printed (fingerprints have been a problem, some times the USCG would insist on doing them, other times they said you had to come in with them done.....Who knows what they want now)

Documentation of your sea tim, 360 days with 90 days offshore for a 6 pack

References, 3 I think.

A Certificate of completion from a USCG accepted school (or must pass Exam at USCG exam Center)

By the time you are done, you are looking at about a grand.

Good Luck

[NJAngler Bill]

I just got mine from the Mariner's School. Fantastic program and I learned a great deal. They made the whole process painless. Bob Figular runs the school and his # is 866-Sea-Capt or MarinersSchool.com.

[Brian E. Mullaney]

question about document of sea time - must you be running the boat (I assume) or if you mated or fished 360 hours does that count as water time???

& how can you prove/disprove - seems wishy wash to me.

[Bawugna]

Brian,

There is really no way for them to prove or dispove you claims. If however there is some reason for them to take a look or 2 then they ae well within their rights to ask you to give better documentation. For instance our instructor realted this story.....A guy had on his application that he lived around here. He had on his app that he had 20 or so trips in Jan and Feb. The USCG took him to task on it. Hi explantion was acceptable. He was self employed and spent the winters in FLA so the fishing days claimed at that time of year made sense.

If you mated, you would want to have that captain be one of your references and you would want him to endorse your app where it is appropriate...there is a section for that, kinda like which boats were the time logged on and who owns the boat. I had my friend endorse mine as him being the charter operator and me being Mate. My private boat time was taken from my fishing logs. I only logged between 30 and 45 days per year so it took a few years to gather up the needed time.

If it looks reasonable then it will be accepted for face value. If you use your own boat as a vessel you count your time on. you have to prove ownership of that boat.

The days at sea thing is supposed to be operating or performing other related duties. Watch, helm, anchoring and such. Capt Scott can fill in the blanks here I am sure

[MargaritaVille]

Bawugna,
You have to show 90 hours off shore?
What is considered offshore? past the 3 mile mark?

I guess to get my 6-pack, I am gonna have to take a few trips with stain to get endorsed.

[COMPLEAT]

Supposed to be 90 trips? I think if you have cleared the inlet that counts as offshore but I could be wrong. In the old days private time was not accepted. You had to work the deck and have the time notarized. They have relaxed quite a bit on that. It also used to be that you were given a tiny piece of water to work. You had to run six round trips (again documented and notarized) to extend your area.

[Brian E. Mullaney]

BAWUNGA - THANKS - IM LOOKING TO GET MINE IN TWO OR THREE YEARS - AND WANT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

[Bgsdad]

Show proof that you have virtually no other skills and didn't make it past the 3rd Grade!

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

Sorry guys! I couldn't resist!

[Jimbo]

Check with Capt. Scott or someone else. Get the right info. right up front.

[THECHUMSTAIN]

Originally posted by Bgsdad:
Show proof that you have virtually no other skills and didn't make it past the 3rd Grade!

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

Sorry guys! I couldn't resist!

I might not have made it past the 3rd grade but it was the best 5 years of my life.

[Brian E. Mullaney]

IF AND WHEN I PASS THE TEST STRIPPERS (YES SPELLED THAT WAY SO DONT BE AN IDIOT AND GO "I NEVER CAUGHT A STRIPPER - "REAL FUNNY - NEVER HEARD THAT LAME ARSE ATTEMPT AT A JOKE"

BACK TO THE STORY - STRIPPERS WILL BE ALLOWED ON BOARD [img]smile.gif[/img]

[TIMMY]

Try checking out the merchant mariner liscensing homepage on the Coast Guard Site. It takes you step by step and will answer lots of your questions.
www.uscg.mil/stcw/
It even has a section for those interested into going into the charter business right around the top of the page.

[Capt. Scott]

Here's the link to 3B's (I hear they have the best teacher!!!)

http://www.captainsschool.com/index.shtml

For 6-pak not limited to inshore waters you need 90 days sea time in the last 3 yeras (tough for weekenders) and 90 days offshore (anything past the ends of the jetties in the ocean).

If you have owned boats and can get copies of the registrations/bills of sale/documentation papers,etc,etc....you sign off your own time listed as days per month and average hours per day.

For time on other's boats...they just sign and notarize the form as to your time in days per month and hours per day.

As to duties...you can be blind drunk and asleep every minute on every trip....unfortunately it counts although if the CG REALLY knew that they may be a bit upset.

While the material is tough for most...as long as you take the course and study a bit....most pass as long as the teacher is good, cares and can see your weak spots.

I've got a class in the Toms River starting in January and back to Somers POint/Atlantic City are in late Feb. Masters classes and towing endorsements to follow. Keep an eye on the web site schedule.