Requirements to Be a Delivery Captain (Sailboats)

[drjekyl]

Hi,

I have seen many questions asked about captains licenses for chartering, but specificallly what does it take to become a delivery captain. Also can one make a modest living at this and/or captaining a yacht for the owners(would that require additional licensing? ). I met a guy here in PR that delivers yachts and captains them for the owners ( I guess so the owners dont have to worry about stopping the party ) but didnt get a chance to really grill him about any specifics. Im mainly talking about the east coast of the states and the caribbean. Thanks.

[edsailing]

I don't know about the States, but here in the UK you really need to be Yachtmaster, with commercial endorsement and a lot of miles under your belt.

Making a living - possible but there will be lean times......

[FSMike]

There is no legal requirement for a license in the USA, although most have them. Some owner's insurance companies can be quite picky about it.
You make more money delivering motor yachts than sailboats.

[dana-tenacity]

I do deliveries on occasion, have done for more than 30 years. I have no qualifications, but show insurance companies 150,000 miles and they accept that. One day this will change, then I'll stop doing deliveries and go cruise my own boat.

[Sunspot Baby]

Having a master's ticket with sail endorsement is a good start, but the hard part is getting the contacts. Just sticking your card on the board at the marina is not going to do it.

George

[David M]

It looks like it comes down to having the experience.

In the US and many other countries, a license is required if people are paying to be aboard. In the US if a license is required, the license must cover the type of vessel, size and where it is sailed. There are a lot more specifics than this.

[drjekyl]

So for the most part right now it is based on experience and reputation, unless you have people on board with you then you need a license. Thanks everyone

[sailvayu]

you only need the license when the people onboard are paying passengers. If you have crew paid or not and they did not pay to ride on the boat you are ok.

That is for US not sure other countries.

Fair Winds

[David M]

To be a little more specific, some vessels require a licensed operator(s) irrespective of if the people onboard are paying to be aboard. This applies to all larger Coast Guard inspected commercial vessels. The operators of these vessels are required to be licensed. We are talking mostly commercial vessels here and generally not pleasure boats.

As a general rule of thumb with exceptions, when a pleasure type vessel becomes a business, then the Coast Guard starts requiring licensing.

[s/vPainkiller]

Another relevant point is that if you are hiring a captain to deliver your boat, most likely your insurance company would require a USCG captains license (in the US).

Scott

[bvimatelot]

Originally Posted by s/vPainkiller

Another relevant point is that if you are hiring a captain to deliver your boat, most likely your insurance company would require a USCG captains license (in the US).

Scott

I've never found that to be the case in all my deliveries of US flagged boats. The insurance companies are quite happy with my RYA Yachtmaster's licence and my experience. Tony

[s/v 'Faith']

USCG Master, 200t (Sailing, towing)... helps give insurance companies a warm fuzzy.

References are much more significant when doing private (not brokered) deliverers.

I have taken several jobs simply because I know the players (owners, brokers, buyers)... not too interested in being selected to move broken boats and then take the blame for all that is wrong with them.... I hate to tell you, but some of the 'easy' jobs are more trouble then they may appear at first glance.

Good work if you can get it, but be careful out there....

Good luck,

[CaptPatAg]

The license helps refill the cruising kitty when needed. Makes for a pretty good encore occupation. Driving a commercial boat on the BP oil spill right now. Will be heading back to cruising come the first of the year.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by edsailing

I don't know about the States, but here in the UK you really need to be Yachtmaster, with commercial endorsement and a lot of miles under your belt.

Making a living - possible but there will be lean times......

Or... as in my case you don't have the Yachtmasters but you do have years and miles under your belt and a good name with an insurance company...
You then do the jobs the Yachtmasters refuse to do without passing a full Survey, Liferafts, EPIRBs, and assorted other extras they seem to consider essential.... eg; the 9metre Catalac I just took from the UK to Turkey... it had been rejected by several Yachtmasters because it failed its survey and could only get 3rd Party insurance, the owner could not afford or was unwilling to lay out for the extras...
I looked her over and said I'd do it if he got a new inflatable, an ST2000 which I jury rigged to a tiller bar... and a pack of flares...
Job on...

Making a living.... doubtful

[jkleins]

Can I ask, why would the insurance company even know about a delivery? Do you tell them every time someone borrows your boat?

I read my policy several years ago and don't remember anything about them caring who is driving. It appeared that the boat was insured not me similar to a car. Is this a common requirement?

Jim