HOW TO OBTAIN A CAPTAIN'S LICENSE

The term captain is tossed loosely about to the point where a person with the actual credentials needs to clarify them. If the charge you are in of the operation and well-being of a vessel, you are m you are the captain. Unless you plan to take on passengers for hire or operate a commercial vessel such as a charter boat, cruise ship, or tanker, you do not need a captain's license.

However, many seasoned boaters do go on to obtain an official license.

Obtaining a captain's license is a combination of taking a class (and passing the test), accumulating the required the-water experience, and meeting USCG physical requirements. To qualify for a captain's license, you will need to perform these tasks:
Document the equivalent of 360 days on open water, with one-day counting as a minimum Of four hours. Ninety days of your sea time must have been within the past three years Of your license application. If you crew on a boat other than your own, you will need the owner's signature on the sea time form you submit.
Contact the USCG Regional Exam Center ( http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/recs/ ) to request an application. The government section of your phone book should have a listing as well. Complete all portions of the application, including the physical exam and drug test.
pass the written exam by taking a Class locally or online. Study hard, because there is much content to remember.
Present yourself at the nearest USCG facility for fingerprinting and review of your application. If all is well, you will receive your license.

Once you have earned the title Captain, you can go on to become a Master. The level you are awarded equates to the size vessel you are qualified to operate. For example, a 500- ton Master is qualified to operate a 500-ton commercial vessel.

Comments

What boat should you use? KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS

KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS what boat should you use? I cannot answer that. People often ask me exactly that question. Why not ask me who you should marry? Things to consider when looking for a vessel include your physical size, your fishing style, where you intend to use the vessel, whether you'd prefer to paddle or pedal, how well it paddles, whether you enjoy fishing alone, its cost, its weight, how you intend to cany it, its storage capacity, how comfortable it is, the aesthetics of its use and more. Everyone has different needs. My fishing style when paddle fishing includes a lot of wading. I want a sit-on-top (SOT) kayak because I can easily get off of and on to the kayak. One of my kayaks is an Ocean Kayak Drifter (no longer made) purchased in 2003. Designs have improved a lot since then. I still like that old boat for two reasons, though. First, my boats are carried atop my car. That one weighs fifty-five pounds, and I can lift it. Second, the boat is fairly vid...

Top 3 golden rules to use Kayak for Fishing

Benefits of Kayak Fishing For most people, the decision to use a kayak for fishing comes after being a successful angler. In other words, the skill for fishing has been developed but the way to get to the fish is being changed. There are several basic reasons that people switch to or add kayaks to their fishing routine. • First, kayaks are much easier to transport and store than other boats. • That leads to the next advantage which is cost. A kayak is much less expensive than any type of motorboat, to begin with, and it does not require much maintenance or expensive gasoline to propel it. Registration fees and permits may also be much cheaper. • For the avid fisherman, however, the greatest advantage of a kayak is stealth. There is less of a shadow, no noisy motor and the ability to move into very shallow water. While those three points are all valid, there is also the likelihood that you truly want to experience the peace and quiet that fishing from a k...

Big 3 Factors Affecting Boat Control

Factors Affecting Boat Control We'll next address your controls, and then the key dynamics of the boat in response to your controls. After that, we'll take the boat for a spin around the harbor and docks. First, the controls. Know Your Controls Your boat has a wheel for steering and a throttle for power and direction. Engine Control If you have a single-engine there usually will be one control. Today, most boats employ a single lever to control both transmission and throttle. By moving the lever forward, forward gear is engaged and power is applied. Initially, power is at idle speed steadily increasing as the lever is moved farther forward. Conversely, moving the lever sternward from the neutral position engages reverse gear at idle speed increasing as the lever is moved rearward. Neutral is usually indicated by a tactile "detent" between forward and reverse gears. With the latest electronic controls, shifting is effortless and may lead to not appreciat...

GO RACING OR GO FISHING

ADD A SPORT TO YOUR CRUISE If you want to do more than cruise, add racing or fishing to your cruising plans. Each has a challenging learning curve that will get you and yours out on the water to test your collective skills. GO RACING When we think of racing, we think speed, so it may seem odd that the plurality of boat racing occurs in the sail-boat category. Because sailing is expertise, competition takes the form of matching tactics with other boats of the same type. Sail-boats utilized specifically for racing—think America's Cup—are mere hulls with few things comforts and a specialized sail plan. Powerboat racing is offered by the American Power Boat Association (APBA). It requires specific kinds of boats and is regulated, much like NASCAR racing is for autos. For more information, log on to www.alpha-racing.com. Any sailboat is eligible for yacht races, also called regattas. Yacht racing involves not only sailing the boat but also choosing a class consisting of ...

Dive between yesterday and today - My experience

As THE SAYING GOES, there are old divers and there are bold divers, but there are no old, bold divers. I have no idea where the saying came from. It could have originated from a wise old diver who wanted to make a point about the foolishness of youth, but I think it was more likely first proclaimed by a young person as a way of thumping the chest and announcing to the world, "Look at me, I'm young and bold." I think this because the corollary, "Look at me, I'm old and cowardly," just doesn't sound right. Whatever the case, now that I'm what must be considered an old diver, the saying doesn't seem quite as pithy to me as it once did. Of course, being old does not necessarily mean being smart, but it does give me a perspective on the evolution of the sport of scuba diving that younger divers might not have. People ask What it feels like to scuba dive? Is it worth getting scuba certified? Why do you like diving? What do scuba divers do? ...

Boating Geek

Search This Blog