I took Mariners Learning System online and I felt it was a great option. Cheaper than in person and I didnt have to take 2 weeks vacation. It also gives you a year to pass the test so youre not cramming it all in 2 weeks. I was able to learn on my own time and since I was still working seeing things out on the water everyday helped. It was still difficult, and Ive never studied that hard, even in college but left the proctored exam with my 100 ton masters, and theres nothing like hearing, "Congratulations, Captain!" From the proctor. Not for everyone but if you need to save money and are fully comitted in learning the material it's a great option. Also when filling out paperwork, I do it to the best of my ability and then make an appointment with the cosst guard if youre near one and theyll make sure i have signed and have all the documents i need.
I'm from WI and passed my USCG master's 6-pack license first try in Miami. All I did at home was memorized Chapman and the USCG Rules and Regs. Got 98%. Easy peasy.
Thoughts on pilot vs Capt? Since you have done both and so have I. 1. Pilot is much more difficult as you actually need to demonstrate vs just show paper work. 2. Written for Capt is much easier than pilot. The navigation is very complimentary skills. 3. Paper work for USCG much more confusing. 4. Classrooms are the best. 5. Medical is much more relaxed for USCG 6. Masters upgrade is pretty basic 7. Drug testing requires for USCG, although may also be for commercial pilot. I only had recreational
I guess you haven't had to take the rader observer class/test yet? If you think paper charts are obsolete wait till you have to learn how to plot targets on sheets that simulate using a grease pencil on an old flat top Sperry Rand radar set that you won't find outside of a museum ship today🤣. Just like everything the government does it's 50 years behind the times. I remember seeing those radars on vessels as a kid now we're required to have ARPA radars on larger vessels that automatically plot and track multiple targets yet have to take this damn class and test every 5 years that's based on equipment that's not even allowed to be used anymore 🤦. At least with the plotting if you get hit by lightning and everything in the wheelhouse gets fried it might be useful, however with the rader observer crap if both your ARPA radars get fried by lightning what the hell are you going to do with your rader plotting skills🤦
@@Trump985 didn't need the endorsement back then for what I operated. Sea School offered it but it was expensive. I think you can just get a letter these days to re-certify instead of a re-test.
The Captains school just Google it it will pop right up, you can email me at paul@captainschoiceusa.com and we can talk about it and I will send you all there info.
I’m in the process of getting my 100 ton master. I work on a 100 ton vessel and am doing it online. With the help of 4 other captains it’s not so bad. I always ask them questions.
How do you prove your time on a boat? My 24 year old son has been sailing and motoring his own 34 and 36 foot sailboats for the past 6 years and lived on on them for 1 year and has tons of hours sailing and driving his boats. This has primarily been in the SF Bay, specifically in the Oakland Estuary, Alameda Channel and around Treasure Island. How does he prove all this time and experience on his boats in order to take the 6 pack class to get his captain's license? (forgive my terminology if its not 100% corerect) Thank you!
The process in the 1980s was much better. The schools did not have the power they have now to charge so much money. I used a school for the Celestial part of my Third Officers Any Tonnage any Ocean, but the rest I did by reading. Of course the whole regulatory scheme now is a mess, and getting worse fast.
Would you recommend getting a Captain In A Box and reading the material and participating on line and then taking the actual school and then test? Not worried about cost, just want to ace it on the first session. I'm eyeing a spot in the next night school course which starts in August for two weeks (M-F) plus two Saturdays would like to go in totally ready. -scott
So what was/is the final cost in doing it vis a vie a school, and which school did you select. Thanks. A topic that I'd like to hear you discuss is engine size vs design. My MT 34 had a Lehan 120 and as a scour the ads I see some with HP 220. PERSONALLY, why look for more speed and purchase a trawler hull design it's not made for speed: RIGHT?
Great video. I have a question though. I am currently 58 years old and have owned my own boat for about 13 years. I have very limited experience before owning my own boat. I’m very interested in obtaining my captains license but I wonder if I’m going to be able to have enough time on the water to qualify. I’d like to obtain the license to become a better boater and also the pride for achieving such a goal. What do you think?
Well in 13 years you should have enough time on the water. You can use all of it, you might get limited to inshore only if you have never been off shore but that’s about it. Please remember that this will not make you a better boat driver just safer and rules of the roads, really has nothing to do with driving a boat.
If you don’t plan on using a license in a commercial sense than its not worth it. Once you have a license you open yourself up to liability far above what a “pleasure boater” would be accountable for. Just food for thought.
@@Lasereyezz that is 100% correct, it’s like having a CDL license if you don’t need, don’t get one. Some guys have goals to get them and it’s not going to hurt anything but your 100% right it will hold you to a higher standers and if you get in an accident more then likely they will hold you responsible because your the pro.
One difference with the CDL example is if some 20 year old jet skier drags you into court all his attorneys are going to be putting the word “Captain” in front of your name every time your spoken to or referred to. Makes a huge difference in the heads of jurors. At 58 tokyobosco im sure has slayed a few dragons and full filled a number of goals. IMO just not worth it. They do sell license insurance.
For me it would mean I can sign off for someone to get insurance by having sea time with a license captain and if I had to use it to make a living I could
My wife and I are looking to purchase a large retirement boat. We have no experience. If I pass the captains test will I be able to get more reasonably priced insurance? Ty
how do you ctually prove you have done the sea time is this an honor system type of thing.And do i just go to someone who already has captain license to do the signing?Also does a past criminal record have effect on getting the license jeez sorry so many questions lol.Thanks in advance
Sea time you can get by anyone who owns a boat signing off, they just have to prove ownership of the boat. You can get the form and fill it out then they sign off. Not sure about criminal record stuff. You can call the Captain school and ask them. Thanks for watching
all my concern about sea time i did have a wildlife and fishing boat license from Florida about 5 years ago but i did not documented anything about sea time how am i going to prove it in order to get captains license does anyone have an answer for me or any other solution thanks
