For me, the license is a matter of pride ( like being able to do celestial navigation) and a source of additional retirement income. I currently crew on a tour boat and do the occasional delivery for a bit of income. The tour boat is 81 GRT, and I'll be sailing south for the winter; both factors are a positive because they will let me establish the credentials for a 100T Offshore or Near Coastal license. Other potential sources of income are working for Towboat/US or SeaTow, or driving a water taxi in various ports that I might chose to stay in for a while.
I see that Enterprise is documented at 18GRT, and you sail in the ocean, so you could undoubtedly get a 50T Near Coastal Masters License. That's a bit more difficult than a "Six Pack" license (OUPV = Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel) that lets you take up to 6 guys fishing or day sailing, but does open up more options. There is also a restricted OUPV ticket that is appropriate for teaching sailing or working at a summer camp. Getting your first license - including fees, medical exam, fingerprints, background checks, and taking a class - will probably run you in the neighborhood of $2k. Now I've taken the license class offered by my local community college twice, and self studied for the test. Most of the folks I know who have a license went to a commercial program. The advantage of the commercial programs is that they can administer the test themselves, and they virtually guarantee that you will pass the test. And I suppose the cost of the class is offset by the fact that you don't have to travel to a USCG testing site to take the test. In my case I had to go to either Baltimore of Charleston for the test. If you are thinking about getting a license or taking a class for the educational benefits, don't bother. Join your local Power Squadron and take their courses instead. They are a lot better instruction and a lot less expensive. If you take the USPS Seamanship, Piloting, and Advanced Piloting classes, you will everything you get in a captain's class - and a lot more. The 0nly thing you won't get is the ability to browse the CFR for things like approved firefighting procedures, what the restrictions are for loading a cargo of manganese, the definition of a plimsol line, and other things that basically are germane to the merchant marine. I have been in the USPS classes through Junior Navigation (basic celestial navigation) over the years. The instructor in one of the classes I took regarded me as a PITA because I kept pointing out errors ,particularly when he was "teaching" the plotting and navigation part of the course, based on what I had learned in Power Squadron classes. BTW, one other reason to get a license is insurance. It may not make much difference in the cost - my experience was that completing a state approved boating safety class (as offered by the CG auxiliary or USPS) or completing Power Squadron classes got a 10% discount - the same as having a license. But a license may make it less expensive to get insurance for offshore passages or cruising in the Caribbean, and for establishing your bona fides when chartering.. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 12:36 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List Captain's License Listers, Has anyone on the list gone through the process of getting a captain's license? And, if so, why? I keep seeing these courses available at boat shows and the back of sailing magazines, and have always been a little curious. Then again, I've heard horror stories as to increased liability should someone get hurt on a vessel operated by a licensed captain. Any thoughts? All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B City Island, NY Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log Website <http://ncc1701a.blogspot.com/>
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