Captain's License

[GLF]

There are several members that are interested in getting a Captain's License. With all of the Charter Captains on board, we should be able to come up with the requirements.

What are the requirements for getting a Captains license?

[Shades]

These are the general requirements for obtaining a USCG captain's license. I know it seems a lengthy, but it's really not that bad. As far as some of the other requirements such as CPR, First Aid, etc... most captain's training facilities offer these classes as well. I got my license through Captain Bryan and would recommend him to anybody wanting to get their endorsement.

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BASIC REQUIREMENTS OPERATOR OF UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS (6 passengers or less)
(18 years old): 360 days of experience in operation of a vessel. 90 days of the 360 days on ocean or near coastal waters or may be limited to inland. License will be limited to vessels of less than 100 gross tons and limited to near coastal waters not more than 100 miles offshore. If not U.S. citizen, the license will be limited to undocumented, uninspected vessels.

MATE, Near Coastal (19 years old): 360 days of experience in operation of a vessel, of which 180 days on near coastal waters.

MASTER, Inland, Not More Than 100 GT (19 years old): 360 days of experience in operation of vessels on any waters. License will be limited to vessels of not more than 100 gross tons and limited to inland waters. Endorsement for Sail or Auxiliary Sail available with 180 days of Sail of Auxiliary Sail time (may be part of the 360 days and may be prior to license issuance).

MASTER, Near Coastal, Not More Than 100 GT (19 years old): 720 days of experience in operation of a vessel. 360 days of the 720 must be on near coastal waters. To be eligible for a 100 GT license, 360 days must be on a vessel of at least 35 GT otherwise, the license will be limited to 25 GT or 50 GT. License will be limited to vessels of not more than 100 gross tons, limited to near coastal waters not more than 200 miles offshore. Endorsement for Sail or Auxiliary Sail available with 360 days of Sail or Auxiliary Sail time (may be the same or part of the 720 days).

COMMON TO ALL THE LISTED DECK LICENSES

4 hours minimum to count as one day. (Only one day for each date) 90 days recency in the past 3 years is required. First Aid within the last 12 months (Could be Standard First Aid) and current CPR is required U. S. Citizenship, you will need original passport or birth certificate. Military time goes to Headquarters for evaluation and foreign time is evaluated by Coast Guard (REC).

Pass a routine physical. Vision must be at least 20/200 uncorrected in each eye and correctable to 20/40 in each eye. Color sense must be satisfactory. Must be within the past 12 months. (Waivers available in some cases). Drug screening also required. Free of drug or felony convictions for past 3 years, or past 10 years depending on severity of offense.

[J J Mac]

Following are some additional hoops you have to jump thru:
- Pass four CG written tests. The easiest way to do this is to take a class by a CG approved instructor (6 days I think) and he can give the tests
- You must physically go to a CG Regional Exam Center (e.g., toledo or St. Louis) to show IDs, get fingerprinted, and give an oath.

For Michigan charter boat captains you
- Must be a member of a random drug test group (I think this is Michigan requirement not federal). The easiest way to do this for most people is to join the Michigan Charter Boat Association.
- Have your boat pass inspections by the Michigan DNR (both drydock and dockside). The boat must be reinspected every two years.

You can get a packet that explains the Federal requirements and gives you the proper forms by calling a CG Regional Exam Center. A packet of materials can be obtained from the Cadillac DNR office that gives the Michigan requirements. A discussion I had with Wisconsin licensing officials makes me believe that the requirements there are different than in Michigan.

[Capt. Mike]

Following are some additional hoops you have to jump thru:
- Pass four CG written tests. The easiest way to do this is to take a class by a CG approved instructor (6 days I think) and he can give the tests
- You must physically go to a CG Regional Exam Center (e.g., toledo or St. Louis) to show IDs, get fingerprinted, and give an oath.

For Michigan charter boat captains you
- Must be a member of a random drug test group (I think this is Michigan requirement not federal). The easiest way to do this for most people is to join the Michigan Charter Boat Association.
- Have your boat pass inspections by the Michigan DNR (both drydock and dockside). The boat must be reinspected every two years.

You can get a packet that explains the Federal requirements and gives you the proper forms by calling a CG Regional Exam Center. A packet of materials can be obtained from the Cadillac DNR office that gives the Michigan requirements. A discussion I had with Wisconsin licensing officials makes me believe that the requirements there are different than in Michigan.

JJ, not really nessasary to go to Toledo. We had an officer come to our class and swore all of us in at once. All ID(birth certificate and SS id) and fingerprints were sent in with our application. Id info was sent back after being approved.

Our class was 9 hours per day for 9 days. 80 hours and then took the test right there.

BTW, I took the class in Mt.Clemens at Great Lakes Charter training.

[GLF]

Has anyone ever taken the test without taking a course?

[CaptLevi]

I used an at home study course. I also tested myself online at boatus/seatow site.
I think that while it was probably a little more difficult, it allowed me to learn at my own pace without taking a week in a hotel.

[Capt. Mike]

Has anyone ever taken the test without taking a course?

I was asked that same question by someone. Although anything is possible, I'm sure you would find it very difficult. We had so many quizes and reviews that it would have been hard not to pass. You will probably find the charting the most difficult. We spend about a good 2 1/2 days on it.

We were taught only what we had to know. (highlighted only the important stuff and disreguarded the rest (filler)).

[Willie Bee]

For a quick look at what it takes to pass the 6-pak license and to take a sample test go to the coast guards website at www.uscg.mil/stcw.
You may want to pick up a Chapmans seamanship book and look it all over, everything in the book is fair game for the questions on the test. There are a number of traveling schools out there, I know one is at www.takethetest.com and in NE Wisconsin the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has a class set up. I had a tutored class and then went to Toledo OH to take the test, two days of tests that were set up in 4 parts, best advise STUDY!

[GLF]

Thanks for the Link Willie Bee!

[HitMan]

As of January 13, 2006 you MUST go to Toledo, OH to get finger printed. It is part of the new expansions on Homeland Security. I went earlier last month to Toldeo to renew my license and it was not fun. They have to verify your identity with a Passport, Driver's License, Birth Certificate, finger prints, and other things. The MCBA is working on eliminating this process as there are a lot of complaints, etc. They are trying to get it back to a local government institution like it used to be and not have the National government involved in Charter Fishing Captains.

Captain Jon

[Capt. Mike]

Yup, its true. Good thing for me is I got 5 years yet to renewal time. Maybe by then things will relax.

[Yankee Troller]

I just finished my course with Dennis Daniels of Sea Tech Marine Training. THey guy is awesome and knows everything. He makes class fun and you will laugh your ass off. www.seatechmarinetraining.com