Captains License?

CV-23

CV-23

Active Member
Jun 25, 2010
1,891
Williamsport, PA
Boat Info
1990 270 Sundancer, 2003 Ford Excursion 4x4 Limited
Engines
454 merCruiser w/Bravo 1
Monday I have a meeting to discuss getting my USCG Captains License. It would be to operate a twin IO Diesel replica paddle wheeler on our river here in PA. It holds about 300 passengers on two levels and is about 70ft long. I have boated on this river my whole life and at 53 years of age have been recommended to be one of 6 captains. There are two openings coming up. The operation would pay for all my training and hours to become certified plus hours of training on the water. It's their 31st season on the water and they do 90 minute cruises 3 times a day 7 days a week plus many specialty cruises. Not sure of the level of certification needed on inland water. I have the summers off and looking for a new challenge to educate myself. I have a BS in Communications, taught at College and High School levels and enjoy the outdoors and people in general. Nothing real fancy but they offer many dinner and private cruises also which are a lot of fun. They do have a Bar on board also. Here's a link to the operation http://www.ridehiawatha.com I know quite a few of the people who work this operation and it has always got good reviews. Just a part time fun thing to do maybe. I know two of the current captains and they seem to enjoy it. Any input welcome, Mike.
 
Have fun doing it Mike. :thumbsup:

My friend Capt.Wally use to drive Sea Fox until he got sick,

He had a blast doing it and in the off season he took it down to Florida.

http://www.fishbox.tv/seafox/
 
wetpaint said:
how are you going to get the hours needed for a boat that size to obtain your license
Click to expand...

I think I will need like 100 hours with a fellow Captain plus the class work and exams. 4.5 hrs a day will take some time I know. Not sure how many tons it is but is a steel hull. The closest testing port is in NYC I believe for us. I'll get all the details on Monday. Just have to decide how much of my fun time I'll give up on my own boat. I think it's a summer job I would enjoy, Mike.
 
The following if from : http://www.maritimeinstitute.com/license_requirements.html

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Prerequisites for Captain's License
Master Near Coastal of Inspected Passenger Vessels Up to 100 Gross Ton[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]You must meet all of the prerequisites in this paragraph to receive a Master Near Coastal License for Inspected Passenger Vessels of up to 100 Gross Tons:
[/FONT]

  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must be 19 Years old

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must be able to document 720 days of experience on a vessel 360 of these days must have been on ocean or near coastal waters

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must have 90 days within the last 3 years

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Your tonnage is determined by the U. S. Coast Guard depending on your experience for a 100 Gross Tons license, 180 days must be on vessels of 51 gross tons or greater OR 360 days must be on vessels over 34 gross tons for a 50 gross tons license at least 1 day of the 720 must be on a vessel over 5 gross tons. If all your time is on a vessel of 5 gross tons or less the license will be limited to 25 gross tons.
    [/FONT]
 
I think he only needs inland

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Prerequisites for Captain's License
Master / Inland or Mate Near Coastal of Inspected Passenger Vessels Up to 100 Gross Ton[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]You must meet all of the prerequisites in this paragraph to receive a Master Inland or Mate Near Coastal License for Inspected Passenger Vessels of up to 100 Gross Tons:
[/FONT]

  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must be 19 Years old

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must be able to document 360 days of experience on a vessel

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Must have 90 of the 360 days within last 3 years

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]For the Mate Near Coastal 180 of the 360 days must have been on the ocean or near coastal waters

    [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Your tonnage is determined by the U. S. Coast Guard depending on your experience for a 100 Gross Tons license, 90 days must be on vessels of 51 gross tons or greater OR 180 days must be on vessels over 34 gross tons for a 50 gross tons license at least 1 day of the 360 must be on a vessel over 5 gross tons. If all your time is on a vessel of 5 gross tons or less the license will be limited to 25 gross tons[/FONT]
 
Don't get scared by the numbers. Gross tonnage is not the actual displacement of the vessel.
"Gross tonnage is calculated based on "the moulded volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship". They use a mathematical formula to measure the volume. For instance ferries cut holes in bulkheads to lower their tonnage. If you spend a lot of time on a pleasure boat 30-36 feet you will probably get your 50 ton. I'm guessing 40 footer or better will get you your 100 ton. These are guesses. I did most of my boating on a 25 footer with yearly boating on a 36 footer and got my 50 ton Master endorsement for inland waters, and Mate on near coastal waters. This is probably confusing, but go ahead and do the class you can only gain by it.
 
Mike - that sounds awesome, best of luck....I did my OUPV 6 Pack over the winter using True Courses online class. It allowed me to study late into the night when I wanted and not when I didn't have the time. Their course is great but better still, is that they assign a mentor to literally be available as much as needed. My guy is Captain James Sinclair out of Wilmington NC, a great guy, really knows his stuff and has plenty of patience lol...the chartplotting was cause for a few moments of extreme frustration, but once he got me squared away - well I scored a 100% on that part of the test. They will also have the masters addition to the 6 pack, which I think is the process. The course was about 800 bucks, and as far as I'm concerned, was a great value. PM me if you have any questions....don..opps Captain Don lol
 
DF470DA said:
Mike - that sounds awesome, best of luck....I did my OUPV 6 Pack over the winter using True Courses online class. It allowed me to study late into the night when I wanted and not when I didn't have the time. Their course is great but better still, is that they assign a mentor to literally be available as much as needed. My guy is Captain James Sinclair out of Wilmington NC, a great guy, really knows his stuff and has plenty of patience lol...the chartplotting was cause for a few moments of extreme frustration, but once he got me squared away - well I scored a 100% on that part of the test. They will also have the masters addition to the 6 pack, which I think is the process. The course was about 800 bucks, and as far as I'm concerned, was a great value. PM me if you have any questions....don..opps Captain Don lol
Click to expand...

Thanks.....I'm moving forward and all my costs will be paid for by the operator. We had a great meeting. I start May 1st, Mike.
 
Just an update! My 90 days are in and we're pulling the Hiawatha out of the water Thursday. Sea School starts Dec 5th in Annapolis, MD. Need to get cranking on my TWIC Card, Physical, CPR & First Aid recertification and a new Social Security card that I lost/damaged years ago. Do have a Passport but SS Card is still needed I guess. Plenty of studying ahead!
Me on the Bow
 
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