Captain's Licence????

[rgranger]

Hey All

This is not strictly a sailing question but it is sailing related....

I sail my boat about twice a month, 9 months out of the year and I have a growing list of buddies who want to be on my call list when I'm heading out.

I'm always very careful not to let them buy me a case of beer or anything else like that because I'm under the impression that any compensation could be considered a captained charter ride and since I don't have a captains license.... you get the idea.

Well this past week, I was in Florida and I chartered a Hobie Cat for a half day of sailing, before we left port the kid at the reservation tiki hut asked me if I wanted to pay an extra $60 for a half hour lesson.

Now I know this yahoo with a hemp-rope necklass and pierced nose did not have a captain's license. So...

What are the rules?

If you are giving lessons do you need a captain's license? Or is it only if you are skippering a boat for a cruise?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mcrow33]

It is my understanding that you can give sailing lessions on a sailboat without a motor and not have to have a captains license. At the sailing school I teach at which is an ASA school most of the basic keel boat lessons are given by instructors without license, the basic coastal cruising and bare boat classes are instructed by Licensed Captains. And don't be surprised that the hemp-rope, and pierced nose yahoo, didn't hold a license.

 

[rgranger]

It is my understanding that you can give sailing lessions on a sailboat without a motor and not have to have a captains license.

Ah! That makes sense, since hobies don't have motors.

And don't be surprised that the hemp-rope, and pierced nose yahoo, didn't hold a license.

Ah ha! I knew that would stir the pot a bit... but seriously, this kid referred to (or is that refer to) the main sheet as the "main sail halyard rope".

I HOPE he didn't have a captain's license.

Thanks for the info and fair winds,

r

 

[Relentless]

You would be surprized at how easy it is to get an OUPV license, And you are not required to know the names of all the lines on a sailboat to get one

 

[Rick Webb]

Mcrow is Correct

No motor, no license is needed.

There was a bunch of discussion on this at the last US Sail Symposium I attended as US Powerboat is trying to get into the powerboat instruction business.

It is amazing the characters you meet who are Licensed Captains. All you really have to do is pass a test and spend time on the boat. No certification of ANY practical knowledge and absolutely no knowledge of sailing is required.

 

[PSTEVEN]

I used to run a sailboat dealership and over time I had three hundred ton captains work in the repair department. I personnally would not have wanted to be at sea with any one of them in charge of the boat. As to the beer being payment. It was my understanding that as long as you do not request the beer as payment, it is not. If they bring food and beverages along and offer some to you, you are not being paid to skipper them around.

 

[Ross]

If someone brings you a gift and you accept it you are under no obligation to do more than say thank you. If you ask me for a ride on my boat and I say 5 bucks, Then you are paying a fare and are entiltled to a safe ride. But if I say sure it's your neck let's go and you come along, we are partners in the ride and share the risk and the pleasure.

 

[CaptChuck]

I must disagree with those who said getting a Captain's license was easy. While I was surprised that there was no practical part of the exam the test itself was certainly NOT easy. I will be happy to e-mail sample questions to anyone and see how they do. I have a Master's license with a sailing endorsement and teach sailing in Buffalo. Checking with US Sailing and you will find that if you take passengers for hire (students or not) and the vessel has a motor you are required to have a license.

 

[mcrow33]

I spent 10, 10 hour days in class. I spent all evening studying after class and spent 5 hours sitting for the exam. Easy no.... I then spent several hours gathering documentation, filling out forms, going through the background check for my TWIC card, drug test,... Costly yes... But I do feel that most people could do the same thing and not know a thing about boat handling. If you can past the test, and prove the 365 days of sea time, you can get the license. The definition of Sea time is four hours or more underway per 24 hour period. Your buddy has a boat, and takes you fishing, he can sign off on your sea time, even if you didn't do anything to handle the boat.

As for the buddy bring beer for the fishing trip and it being called a charter. No way, it was discussed in class. Even if you say, let's go fishing, you bring the beer. Unless it can be proven as a business deal, and it is also proven that you run a fishing charter for beer. You don't need a captains license. Of course I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV. I do play a sailor.

 

[Scubagirl62]

Just for giggles... what's the difference between a licensed captain and a harbor master? What extra do you have to do to be a harbor master???

 

[mcrow33]

I can only speak for Vt. You don't need to know a freakin thing. The harbor master for the city of Burlington at one time was the elected mayor. Not sure who it is now, but if it's not the mayor, it would be some other city flunky. Their only job here is to collect mooring and dock fees, and to make sure the no wake rule is followed. A licensed captain needs to know the 72 colregs, navigation, boating theory, first-aid, including CPR. The basic test I took for my Masters License 40 questions on the colregs, +90% to pass, 80 questions on navigation theory (day markers, aids to navigation, so on) +70 to pass, 100 questions on boating threory +70 to pass (deck hardware, PFDs so on), 10 question navigational chart plot, +70% to pass. I also got my Sailing and towing endorsments, which were two added test. I also had to document 365 days of sea time.

 

[CaptJake]

Gotta agree with the "that was easy?" crowd. The OUPV license is only required if you run a "business" of providing charters or piloting. Gifts are gifts. Fees are fees.