I am interested in taking folks out on my 27' Catalina for a fee. i.e. 4-hour sunset cruise. Has anyone in here set up a small business like this? Do you have to have some special license? I'm not interesting in setting up a business like a chartering company where I involve a lot of boats and take out scores of people. Just two people at a time, generally.
Requirements to captain a boat
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Gotta have a license...
"for a fee" is the magic phrase. What you wish to do, does require a captains license. Commonly called a "six pack". It consists of school and written test, plus a detailed log or your hours on the water... It can be done, I wish you good luck. Now if you were only taking "friends" out for a sunset cruise... that's little different. just my 2 cents. Ross in Tampa
"for a fee" is the magic phrase. What you wish to do, does require a captains license. Commonly called a "six pack". It consists of school and written test, plus a detailed log or your hours on the water... It can be done, I wish you good luck. Now if you were only taking "friends" out for a sunset cruise... that's little different. just my 2 cents. Ross in Tampa
water taxi to your mooring field
so is a 6-pack also required for the college and high school kids that taxi you out to your mooring ball at a marina that has charged you $800/year for the ball?
so is a 6-pack also required for the college and high school kids that taxi you out to your mooring ball at a marina that has charged you $800/year for the ball?
Must have license
I believe the catch phrase is "passengers for hire". As long as you receive any form of remuneration, you need a license. That includes friends buying the fuel, although you will never be busted on that one. Just remember that licensing and insurance is never an issue until you get caught. But when you do, you will find out that the risk was NEVER worth the reward. If you have any doubts, call the CG and they will tell you where to look it all up. Its been a while since i pawed through the CFR's, but its all in there. An attorney friend once told me that if you want to play with the letter of the law or try to twist its meaning to suit your application....eventually YOU WILL NEED A LAWYER.
I believe the catch phrase is "passengers for hire". As long as you receive any form of remuneration, you need a license. That includes friends buying the fuel, although you will never be busted on that one. Just remember that licensing and insurance is never an issue until you get caught. But when you do, you will find out that the risk was NEVER worth the reward. If you have any doubts, call the CG and they will tell you where to look it all up. Its been a while since i pawed through the CFR's, but its all in there. An attorney friend once told me that if you want to play with the letter of the law or try to twist its meaning to suit your application....eventually YOU WILL NEED A LAWYER.
You want to set up a passenger service
You can call it anything you want but you would be carrying passengers for hire. If you give a friend a ride into town that's a kindness but if you set a fee for the trip that's business. Get the minimum license and the proper insurance and go for it. Do you plan to include refreshments? If you serve a glass of wine you will need a liquor license. If you plan to serve food you need a permit from the health department. Some of the watermen run ECO tours up here they have to be able to show all of the proper papers. Charter fishing boats, same thing. Marine police won't care "why" you are out there, only that you have the proper papers and equipment. Have an accident and your boating days are over if you haven't covered the laws.
You can call it anything you want but you would be carrying passengers for hire. If you give a friend a ride into town that's a kindness but if you set a fee for the trip that's business. Get the minimum license and the proper insurance and go for it. Do you plan to include refreshments? If you serve a glass of wine you will need a liquor license. If you plan to serve food you need a permit from the health department. Some of the watermen run ECO tours up here they have to be able to show all of the proper papers. Charter fishing boats, same thing. Marine police won't care "why" you are out there, only that you have the proper papers and equipment. Have an accident and your boating days are over if you haven't covered the laws.
don't need a liquor license
to serve liquor on your boat. You do need one to RE-SELL for profit. I've worked on charter boats in Newport Beach as a bartender and they don't have liquor licenses. They include the booze in the package price, or the customer provides his own, and the bartender is contracted to serve it with a service fee added to the bill. So if you asked your guests what type of wine they wanted, you could pick it up for them at the store and bill them for it, as long as you didn't resell it for profit. Your profit would be built into the charter fee, or the service charge.(glasses, chilling, serving etc)
to serve liquor on your boat. You do need one to RE-SELL for profit. I've worked on charter boats in Newport Beach as a bartender and they don't have liquor licenses. They include the booze in the package price, or the customer provides his own, and the bartender is contracted to serve it with a service fee added to the bill. So if you asked your guests what type of wine they wanted, you could pick it up for them at the store and bill them for it, as long as you didn't resell it for profit. Your profit would be built into the charter fee, or the service charge.(glasses, chilling, serving etc)
Water Taxi to a mooring field
There is a special license called a "Launch License" if I remember correctly, and it will allow you to operate that type of launce within very strict geographical limits jeff
There is a special license called a "Launch License" if I remember correctly, and it will allow you to operate that type of launce within very strict geographical limits jeff
All good answers.
But it basically boils down to obtaining a 6-pack Coast Guard license. You may take up to six passangers for hire that is why it is called a six-pack. The requirements are being a US citizen, being at least 19 years old and having a 1 year documented time in the water. (It helps if you own your own boat to document the time) There is an application form and a test and it will set you back approx. $240. Your standart boat insurance coverage does not cover chartering so check with your insurance company to see what the appropiate coverage will cost. Check your local county regulations as you may need a permit to conduct business in their jurisdiction. You start a small business and all of a sudden you have a number of partners with their hands in your pockets. Good luck.
But it basically boils down to obtaining a 6-pack Coast Guard license. You may take up to six passangers for hire that is why it is called a six-pack. The requirements are being a US citizen, being at least 19 years old and having a 1 year documented time in the water. (It helps if you own your own boat to document the time) There is an application form and a test and it will set you back approx. $240. Your standart boat insurance coverage does not cover chartering so check with your insurance company to see what the appropiate coverage will cost. Check your local county regulations as you may need a permit to conduct business in their jurisdiction. You start a small business and all of a sudden you have a number of partners with their hands in your pockets. Good luck.
JOE !!!........................I'm with Ross
No matter how you slice the cake, you are selling the liquor, whether you get the money per shot, or make it part of an all inclusive price. The only way to know for sure is if their is an insurance claim. Then the courts will make the determination. Just becuase someone is doing it, doesnt make it right or legal.
No matter how you slice the cake, you are selling the liquor, whether you get the money per shot, or make it part of an all inclusive price. The only way to know for sure is if their is an insurance claim. Then the courts will make the determination. Just becuase someone is doing it, doesnt make it right or legal.
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