OUPV(6 pack) and a 100ft m/y legal?

In private use where the people are actually the owners guests, no problem as no license at all is required. In charter service where people are paying for the ride, you have two restrictions. The vessel be <25grt and have 6 passengers or less (plus appropriate crew). I have yet to see a 100' boat to come in at under 25grt.

There are some boats like some Carolina Skiffs that the CG has issued a COI for. I believe their COI is good for like 8-12 passengers and from what I understand the captain is still required to have at least a 25grt license. But this is for paying customers not the owners friends. If they are friends and not paying customers I would still check with the owners insurance company to make sure.

Legally, yes as long as they are not paying passangers and it's a privately owned vessel. HOWEVER, the insurance company will never insure a 6 pack captain on a 100'

You'd be surprised, experience counts more than licenses for insurance.

I have never looked into it personally since I had enough time for a 100t whne I got licensed but I'm pretty sure that the 6pack limit is 6 pax obviously and 100gt not 25

I know a few 50/60' my that run charters with a 6pack captain

in any case a 100 footer will be over 100gt

Unless things have changed in the last couple of years, OUPV is restricted to 25 GRT. As for 100'>100grt, not necessarilly true. lots of boats out there up to 145' that come in at 99grt for operation with a 100grt license.

looked it up... : 46CFR10
§ 10.467 Licenses for operators of
uninspected passenger vessels of
less than 100 gross tons.
(a) This section applies to all applicants
for the license to operate an
uninspected vessel of less than 100
gross tons, equipped with propulsion
machinery of any type, carrying six or
less passengers.

seems to be 100gt not 25gt.

yes, tehre are 100 footers measured at 99gt although tghey are unlikely to be the average yachts. they're often purpose built boats designed to fit under the limit...

Interesting, they did change it, wonder when... Notice, it's now Gross Tons (ITC) rather than Gross Register Tons, GRT. US licenses used to be rated in GRT, not GT, which had several tonnage exemptions like tonnage doors that apply. For the last couple of cycles mine has been rated in both. Perhaps they are getting rid of the GRT altogether now to get in line with the international conventions supplanting 100,200,500 &1600 GRT limits with 200,500,1600 and 3000 GT only.

As for purpose building around tonnage rules, you bet. The Branson Belle on Tablerock Lake is 300 some foot and multiple decks, a big old box, and she can be run with a 100 ton license.

Problem with corps of engineers

I would like to know is the corps of engineers has any say about running my boat on navigable waters of a river? I have a 100 ft. 30gt houseboat/paddle wheeler. I do not take on passengers for hire, nor have anyone but family and friends for weekends. I have an OPUV from my days of charter fishing, but am now retired. We live on out boat for weeks at a time during the summer. Thanks Bill, (spirit of the Suwannee)

If you own the vessel and it is your private vessel not being used for carrying paying passangers or anything commercial then it should be no problem to operate the vessel so long as it's under 200 GT.

I have not checked recently but if memory serves me there are different tonnage ratings associated with a OUPV. In other words you can have a 6 pack 25 ton, a 6 pack 50 ton or a 6 pack 100 ton. Under no circumstances can you take more than 6 paying guests no matter what your tonnage rating with a OUPV.

Maximum tonnage on a six pack is 100. However, tonnage is determined based on experience and may be 25, 50, or 100.

What is your OUPV? It is issued with tonnage. Also, it may be inland or near coastal depending on experience.

OUPV and/or Tonnage does not matter.
Per OP; Family & friends, No paying passengers. --> No USCG license required.

However;
The ship has to meet USCG safety and equipment rules.
Maybe some state safety and equipment rules.
AND, Some states require a boaters license or certificate of completing some
safe boating course. This is state level and not the Fed (USCG) captain license.

On larger yachts, Some insurance companies may have requirements of a USCG captain to be involved in some events. Still, This is not a Fed rule, but a business gatcha.

If the OP is getting paid to run the boat for the owner, he needs to have a license.

Please cite the regulation stating that.

There is tonnage on an OUPV. It s the master that comes in different sizes.

If you pass the 100T test, you will get either a 25, 50 or 100T master depending on your experience. 1.5 times the tonnage you have experienced on round up to the next level. Ex, if most of your sea time is on a 40T boat, you will get 40x1.5=60 rounded up to th next one which is 100

Same with the 200t test... 125, 150,200 depending on your sea time.


As to getting paid to run a boat, it s irrelevant. It s about whether passengers are paying for the ride. No license needed to get paid to run a private boat with non paying passengers or to get paid to make deliveries.

Obviously, you re unlikely to find people willing to hire you and underwriters to insure you without at least an OUPV

Guess we'll see about that. I currently plan to retire and let my license lapse. Not worth the hassle or money. I suspect there'll be a few people still wanting to take advantage of my 30 years of professional service. Think they might find me a better bet than the kid with a freshly minted, 1st issue license.

Not completely true. Unless the rules have changed time served on vessels above 300 tons do not count towards higher tonnages with the initial Masters license. If you have time served and documented on a 300+ ton vessel you may not receive a 100ton Master- even if that time is over the required 720 days.

In addition I recently upgraded my license to 150 tons after taking the MPT course of 150/200 upgrade class; I also qualified for a 500 ton but not the 200. Same test/same class for the 150/200- but it depends on your documented time.

Well there are obviously exceptions, clearly a lot of experience will help although I ve got to wonder why woudl you let your license lapse. You never know, it's. N big deal to renew.