Skipper license?

[whitecaps]

You guys tired of all my question yet?

I think it would be cool to have a Skipper License, do any of you know the ropes in getting one? This way I can maybe make some money sailing other peoples boats for them? I would like to meet some people and maybe help them as a crew member if needed and or skipper there boat for them?


I remember asking my DAD when I was little" How come this boat never moves DAD" It was a boat next to use in a slip! He said those people have a person come out and sail there boat for them, because they never learned to sail! So I think there is a lot of people like this today what do you guys think?

[Sunspot Baby]

Assuming you are in the U. S. the requirements are well documented at the Coast Guard web site http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/index.htm.

The most time consuming thing for me was documenting sea service. Unfortunately, there were a lot of days sailing on boats in Asia that I couldn’t document because I lost contact with the vessel owner.

Many people go to a USCG approved school to train and take the test. You can also do independent study and go to a Regional Examination Center to test.

Visit the site at the link above and I think you will get most of the information you seek and it will be the “official version” not what someone may think they know.

Sunspot Baby

[whitecaps]

Thats cool I will check this out thanks! If your in the Lake Erie area me and the wife are always looking for a sailboat ride... Or if you need a crew..

[CSY Man]

A school, or a "cram course" is highly recommended.

I did that twice, first for my 6 pax ticket, then for the 100 ton.

Lots of stuff to memorize, but the schools have some kind of system to get it in your head.

Documenting the sea time was also an issue, took me several weeks to get all the stuff together, finding people I sailed with years ago etc.

[whitecaps]

CsyMan,

Is there anything about swimming on this test?

[Sunspot Baby]

I read your other thread relative to swimming and no, there is no swim test but there will be stuff on in the water survival, hypothermia, etc. Its book stuff, no practical.

Speaking of practical, I find it interesting that all testing is theory; there is no requirement to demonstrate any seamanship or boat handling. Just time served.

Sunspot Baby

Sunspot & CSYman
Can you elaborate on documenting time at sea?
I've owned my own boat for about 12 years but don't keep an accurate log or journal. What else will they accept?

[Sunspot Baby]

On a boat you owned, and can provide proof of owner ship, they seem to accept whatever reasonable time you claim. I felt I was conservative in my time on a previously owned sport fisher, becuase I did not have a complete log of all time operating the boat.

On my current boat, I keep a detailed log and counted only days actually underway and did not count days on the hook or in a slip.

If you were a cook in the Navy, you can claim all your sea time as confirmed by USN. That includes even time in port.

I know of a captain who accumulated sea time on an excursion boat as a "story teller."

The vast majority of licensed skippers have a ton of time they can't document but they have so much that they can, that it is not a problem. There are the few that stretch the truth.

I count myself among the former. I encourage you not to become one of the latter.

Sunspot Baby

[ssullivan]

Going to "school" for the license is the only way. It will save you money in test taking fees.

[MOONLIGHTING]

HI EVERYONE ,FIRST TIME USER ,I LIVE COMFORTABLY IN ISRAEL AT THE MOMENT AND IM LOOKIN INTO GETTING MY SKIPPER LICENSE OUT HERE,MY PLAN DOWN THE LINE HOPEFULLY TO LIVE ON A NICE SIZE SAILBOAT AND CRUISE THE WORLD,AM I NORMAL?

[GordMay]

No - you're not normal; you're EXCEPTIONAL (as are cruisers all) !!!

[Sunspot Baby]

Moonlighting:

No you are not normal, therefore you will fit in well in this forum.

So that more people see you and welcome you, you should post a new thread in the "meets and greets" section.

Welcome aboard.

[jean1146]

Even if you sail with friends the time you spent on their boat will count as long as you can get proof and have your friends sign some kind of an affidavit.I went and got my sixpack like that,the problem is how much of all that do I remenber today? I guess it's practice practice....JC.

[capt.coon]

Quick question: While documenting sea time does time on a liveaboard count as 1.5 or twice the sea time?

[Tempest245]

Sea Time for " small vessel sea service" is documented on CG form 719s Which can be found on the CG site linked above.

Time served is " Underway" time. If you are documenting time on a vessel other than your own, the master or owner of the vessel must attest to your service...see form below

No double time for sleeping at the dock.

www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_719S.pdf