Captain License blog

B~C":2fhgpqy9 said:
The certificate is valid for one year, so, between now and next August I have to get a physical

Now comes the latex glove..... :disgust

Congratulations Capt. BC ! I'm envious.....(not about the latex gloves).
 
Kudos Ken. Given the difficulty of the exams and your passing of each of them on the first try, it sounds like you really know your stuff. Good job. May it serve you well. :thup
 
thanks folks, I was sure glad to finish this up before school started back up as it is a time consuming process. Hopefully, in the summers to come I can make a few dollars as a result of this summers anguish.
Ray,
the concrete lifesavers raise the CoG and severely reduce the metracentric heigth, if GM is lower the the CoG a turtling action takes place and the in-law will sink, at that point a racetrack turn would be in order followed by a waving of the hand. ( I jest, I like the in-law, he's always a hoot and a good source of entertainment)

Yes I would take the coures again, it cost $750 which is much less than many other schools. That cost covers the cost of the C.G. tests ($95) plus, you needn't buy any books, plus it will save you on boat insurance. If you pencil it all out, it's a reasonable cost to become a more knowledgeable boater. A person could purchase study guides and go it alone but I feel the guidance, not just in the material, but, also in the process was well worth the $$
The course is listed as a 189 hour course but is completed at your own pace with a fair amount of flexibility. I was able to study at home for a fair chunk of it, the chart work and some other parts needs to be done at the facility.
If you plan on pursuing a Near Coastal license you need to be able to document 90 days outside the demarcation line in the last three years, so outside time is important. You need a form CG 719S for every vessel you spend time on, if it isn't your vessel, the owner or master must sign it. I'm fortunate that I have summers off and have spend a good chunk of time in Ilwaco playing outside so the 90 days wasn't to hard to scare up... enjoy your tuna run and get that CG 719S signed ...

and to think, I couldn't even spell Bouy 10 & beyond until Mike started pumping the kids head full of big fish stories, if it wasn't for that I'd still be happy bass fishing :)
 
Finally got the physical & drug test done, it was off the the USCG this morning where they relieved me of my stack of documents and $145, I should be getting a fancy paper in the mail in 4-6 weeks. If anybody is interested, I can bring applications to the SBS and try to help make sense of them ferya
 
Congratulations BC. This is probably one of the hardest testing regimens anyone would ever have to go through. I passed my professional land surveyors tests in oregon and california, and they were much easier than the coast guard tests. I attended Sea School in Vancouver in preparation for a 100 ton inland masters series. I never tested because my employer sent me out of town right before I was to test, and I never picked it back up. It is much better now that you can test at the schools where you study. But the studying and memorization are grueling. After retirement I am going to attend the maritime academy there in ballard and finish it. Unfinished business.
 
bummer you couldn't do the tests will the material was fresh in the knoggin. It is pretty durn connvient to be able to test at the school but it's only a convience.....Surveying tests can't be a cake walk. I've got to ask if you went to O.I.T. to master your survey skills? Spousal unit & I are both OITers
 
Up here in the Boston area, Boatwise runs one week schools. It goes from Friday Night, all day Saturday and Sunday, Monday through Friday night, and they review on Satrday, test on Sunday. Everybody passes, and the instructors are very good. Cost, about $1,200.00 to $1,400.00. For $50.00 a guy in Boston runs the paperwork through.

Lots of people are using them. I hope to do it before I die, which, hopefully, gives me plenty of time. (Finishing up the JN Course with the USPS, then the N Course.

Keep up the good work. Thank you for the info.

Fred Heap
 
Ain't that something, B~C? You went through all that time, expense and work just to be a captain, yet M said two little words all them years ago and has been an admiral ever since.

Congrats. I know this wasn't as easy as you try to make it sound.
 
Fred, thanks, I hoped the info would be helpfull for somebody that was thinking about the process.

Mike, Admiral? hell try supreme comander.....I did have to study real hard for the drug test because I didn't know what to expect on the test as I've never used drugs :)
 
BC, no, I got my education the hard way. Night classes, some OSU, seminars, wherever. But I think that is a good way to get through the tests. I didn't hit OIT. I have a lot of friends that came through there though. Engineers and Surveyors. The OIT survey program is languishing, as are some in the few other states that offer a four year degree. And I believe that oregon, and a few other states have adopted a requirement for a four year degree to sit for the test. Ours starts in 2008. Even the license of an old guy like me is going to be very valuable in a few years. The kids aren't going into it. But your captains' license holds a whole lot more interest for me now. I always wanted to be deckhand on a tug. Probably too late for that now, but I could still teach sailing in san diego or puerto rico, or someplace a little warmer than the northwest. That has to be an okay life to retire into.
 
Hi Fred,

For those in New England who may be interested in pursuing their CG license Boatwise is an excellent choice. I have been an instructor for them for 3 years and their program is outstanding in all respects. In fact, I taught a class hosted by the Hingham Harbormaster 2 years in a row right in your neck of the woods.

The OUPV is a 56-hour program and can be completed in a number of configurations (7 day/weekend only/night and weekend etc.). The Master program adds an additional 24 hours of classroom time for 80 hours total and can be completed directly after the OUPV portion and before the exam while everything is “fresh” in your mind. Cost is $945 for OUPV and $1195 for the Master. The next series of classes starts in January. Please let me know if you have any licensing questions. You can visit the Boatwise site at the following link:

http://www.boatwiseclasses.com/

V/R Chris DeCaro
Senior Instructor
Boatwise Marine Training
 
lloyds, A good retirement job is what I'm angling for, I'm lucky that I have many summers to start working towards that goal. I think the deckhand position would be a tough, physical, kind of job & requires a different docment. The Capt license opens several possible retirement jobs, vessel delivery, crew boats, fishing charters and more. The person that got me thinking about has been driving six pack charter boats in the summer for about 20 years and plans to retire soon from teaching and just run charter boats in Ak in the summer and Cabo in the off season....that would be a rough life. There is another guy at school that retired a few years ago and makes a few extra bucks delivering boats for folks :)

Chris, glad you joined in on this thread, it's nice to have somebody that really knows the ins & outs of the license business.
 
BC, I am thinking the same way you are. I have years of experience and each day is more exciting than the last. Just love to be out there, why not make a little money and meet some new people doing what you love to do. Let me know if you find something real good. I have delivered a few boats for people between portland and seattle, with mixed experiences. In the future if I get into one of those deals again, I will stipulate no owners on the trip. I did it mainly for friends who wanted some offshore time and some lessons. Some are okay, and some are not. Offshore at night in a blow is a hard place to discover those that are not.
 
I recieved a fancy looking document in the mail today from the C.G. ....end of story. I'm getting kind of torn on whether to use it or not, going to AK for the summer would be a fine money making adventure but I sure would miss fishing and cruising around these parts.

Anyhoots, I hope this thread provides some assistance or inspiration to anybody that is thinking about pursuing a license. Aside from the tests, it's a fairly painless process...and you get a real cool looking cerfificate to hang in your boat.
 
Attaboy, Ken--
Finishing almost anything out is good, in and of itself. Finishing something you want is good. Finishing something hard is good. Keeping on pushing at new things is real good. Having fun at it is better. Enjoy. Bruce Holly
 
Congratulations Ken on your accomplishment,

I always steal a quote from Tom Hanks in "A League of Their Own" that fits the bill when talking to my students about getting their CG license:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."

Should you decide to run charters you might want to look at the link below. The document covers some of the requirements for carrying passengers for hire on an uninspected vessel. This information is tricky to find on your own.

http://cglicense.com/OUPVVesselEquipmentChecklist.pdf

Best of luck Captain.

V/R Chris
 
Congrats, Ken! Is that class where they learnt ya about the difference between cataclysmic and catastrophic heaters? Your retirement job, do not forget, is getting my dang mopeds run...
 
thanks all, that's a good link Chris.
The checklist mentions an intoxication standard, Is there a minimum level of intoxification one must maintain?

Pat, someday your mopeds and I will have to get together, I would enjoy fixin on them, they would look good in the back of a C-Ranger.
 
B~C yer just too cool.... I went to Ocean Masters License School in Seattle a few years ago.(about 20) ..compliments of the Navy...the second day they asked me to quit wearing my uniform....I was scaring the students...they thought I was Coast Guard... it was fun... and I ended up as a weekend skipper of a 180' landing craft (hauling cargo) from Coronado to Port Hueneme.
Way too much work for me...
Heck as a shop teacher you will be ruint before you retire.... best settle fer a life like mine....just sitting in da sun, fishing and playing wif the boat...
You'll be ruint !! Give in...Don't fight it... RUINT !

Joel
SEA3PO
 
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