Requirement to be licensed?

Or have the sea time being a cook or a stew- and then get the 100 ton, and more time as a stew who does watch on occasion and get a 500 ton.

a) Yes, but the captain or owner has to put his name on the paper which brings up honor (I know, I know) and federal penalties including jail time. The person's position on the boat is also stated.
b) I would never hire a captain that wasn't on at least his second issue, but I'm amazed at how few ask about that, although insurance companies often do.
Those who ask if you have a license and nothing more, often get exactly what they deserve, Captain Crash.

Absolutely! Multiple issues at least lets you know the guy or girl has experience, because so many come in with the dream and can't tough out the lean years. By reissue time they're gone. But more questions than that need to be asked as well, such as is your experience relevant to what I need you to do and the type of boat I own. However too many ask nothing more than are you licensed.

I saw a Mate on a Megayacht with a 500 ton master, that had never run a boat over 25'. This said Mate went on to run a almost 60' yacht for the owner, and couldn't even after months of instruction and had to be demoted from Captain on the vessel and put back on the megayacht. Regardless of seatime, a good portion of people don't have the decision making skills,character traits, mental aptitude, or hand/eye coordination to be a proficient Captain of a yacht over 50'.

True. I've met licensed plumbers whom I would trust to turn on my sprinklers and we all these days know certified financial consultants who are great at losing money. We can only seek the most qualified and then watch that can actually do their jobs. But to ask someone in any profession if they're licensed and then go no further......

I am an engineer can I turn them on too.?

My brother in law, who's something of an electronics genius, has an expression. 'If you want to screw something up, get an engineer involved.'

Hi,

I have a question for your brother in law.

When deep sea if the autopilot stops should we call the engineers or the electricians?

Truth is he was referring to design engineers not marine engineers. Just couldn't resist pulling your leg.

If the autopilot stops, don't you just start it again?

Insurance Cost For Commercial Venture

I'm looking into pursuing a Six Pack License and was wondering approximately how much more my insurance would be I currenctly own a 27' Cabin Cruiser that runs around $500 for a year for coverage. That's with a $300,000 Liability coverage.

I would assume the only thing I would add would be maybe more Liabilty Coverage?
Any information would be welcomed!
Thanks

Insurance

I apreciatate the responses!~
Thank You.

Seasonal residents in this area will often have local guys Captain their small Power Boats for them. I know of several that are not Commercially Licensed, though they operate commercial Fishing vessels, or have other experience in the area.
We always thought it made sense for the seasonal residents to have a local fisherman navigate them around, ( after witnessing a few mishaps on 'the' ledge) though after reading this thread I wonder how Insurance companies would view such an arrangement?
Does this mean a person needs either the '6-Pack', or '100 Ton' license to be at the wheel of a private vessel no greater than 25 ft?

Nothing wrong there. However, how do the people know that these guys know what they're doing. They're main job might be behind the counter at McDonalds. A license guarantees a certain amount of experience. The more renewals the more experience. As for the insurance companies they won't care any more than if you have your cousin running the boat. However they may well care if you use a licensed Master, by way of rate or restriction reductions. When your insurance company requires the use of a captain, such as when you move up to a much larger boat, those guys will sot satisfy their requirement.

Thank you for the reply. As you may have sensed, there is some 'fine print' along with my previous question.
Our son is a commercial fisherman and has been on the water in this area for about two decades. He does not hold a commercial captain's license for his vessel.
He has also been a Caretaker for a Summer resident's 25 ft power boat as mentioned. They have had a mishap or two over the years while operating alone, and now The Mrs. is widowed, they have had our son Captain for them so they could still enjoy boating safely in the area.
The Boat is twenty years old and was recently repowered, rewired, ect. at the suggestion of our son, as he said things had been let go for a while. The insurance company has contacted him about updating the file for the boat after the amount of $ that has been put into it. They are requesting a laundry list of expected info, photos, ect. Though are also asking for his Captain's license.
He asked my wife and I about this, and we did not know what to say. He is accredited with a Boating Safety Course from the USCG, as well as First Aid certified. The family is obviously much safer with him and his local knowledge and experience. Will the insurance broker see it this way without A commercial license?

Amazing amount of info and knowledge to be taken in from this forum! Thank you.