Need for license to pilot a 58+ yacht

No need for a license, but there is a good chance that your insurance company will require you to have a captain aboard for a period. It'd be a very good idea anyway for the first couple of years even if you want to "drive". You'll find there is a big difference between running a 20 something footer and a 50 footer and a huge difference with a 75 footer. Just today we had a momentary bilge alarm. We have 6 bilge pumps plus 2 manual pumps, plus the main engines can be used as pumps. Having just cleaned the bilges I was surprised to find that I completely missed the bilge area by one of the pumps which is where some water collected to trip the alarm. How does that equate to your experience on 20 somethings? That's the long way to tell a short story.

No requirement for a license in any state, and certainly not at the federal level. However, if you have no experience handling large boats you just might want to pay somebody to teach you. I can't count on both my hands the number of times I have seen someone embarrass themselves trying to back into a slip.

Also, most "hull" insurance deductibles for 50+ foot yachts are around 10 grand. Know what you are doing before you go banging into a tight marina.

Last week I ran my 53' Viking for the first time in about 6 months and when it came time to dock, everything clicked; you never really forget.

Actually, I've been seeing 10% deductables. On a new 50 that heads up towards 200 grand.

I agree with what everyone else is saying but would like to add this. Get yourself a full time Captain at least for the first year. There is a lot of information to learn how to safely navigate and run a 58-75' yacht from a 20'. Also a 75' yacht is twice as much boat as a 58' in almost all aspects. A lot heavier, a lot physically larger, a lot more systems, and a lot less forgiving if you screw up. Also, a yacht needs constant maintanence and you'll need to learn how to keep up with that as well, it's not like a car where you just park it in a garage.

Hmm, not so sure about that:

Anything over 199 tons needed a licenced Captain the past.

Agree on the rest however: Take courses AND hire a Captain/Instructor for the first few months.

You can even take a Coast Guard "Captains" course and the exam, although you may not be able to get the ticket due to lack of experience.
By taking the course it will force you to learn stuff you would never have to know by just running your own private vessel.

The course is of the "Cram" type, like drinking water from a fire-hose: 2 weeks of schooling and do 100 to 200 questions after class to practice for the test.

Not pleasant, but again, it will force some knowledge into your head..

In NC, if you were born after January 1, 1988, you must carry a boating safety certificate to operate any vessel propelled by an engine with 10 horsepower or more on public waters.

Interesting first post, on a fairly old thread.

I have a question regarding this issue which I just found on this thread: So, leaving aside insurance company requirements for a moment, could I operate my own 110 foot U.S. flagged boat ( say 120 gross registered tons) on U. S. coastal waters, with no passengers for hire aboard, even though I have no captain's license, without violating any regulations (including but not limited to any manning requirements, if any) ? Many thanks for any insight.

As long as the Vessel is not commercial and takes no paying passengers a privately owned vessel does not need a licensed captain but I would still take the courses and try to get a license so you would have more experience, ive sailed a 75ft schooner and with a crew of 3 plus a captain it is still a lot to handle

> could I operate my own 110 foot U.S. flagged boat ( say 120 gross registered tons) on U. S. coastal waters,
I get different answers to this question depending on who I ask. Many just say they dont know about private owners regs.
In the UK I thought I saw something about 24m or more requiring a license, but you cant get anything done in the UK without regs approval, health and safety for days and absurd limitations.

My guess is that the regs of the flag country apply. It would be great to get the input of a maritime lawyer.

A maritime lawyer couldn't advise you on a public forum. If you want the input of one, then I'd suggest calling one.

In the US, no license is required to operate your own boat. However, getting an insurer to approve you is another thing entirely. In other parts of the world including Europe, the 24 meter rule comes into play.

Now the very fact that you think licensing and health and safety is absurd, doesn't represent you well.

If the vessel is not for hire, privately owned, then the owner legally can run it himself if it's under 200 GRT.

>Now the very fact that you think licensing and health and safety is absurd, doesn't represent you well.
Sorry what? Perhaps you should concentrate on putting words in your own mouth, not mine thx

>If the vessel is not for hire, privately owned, then the owner legally can run it himself if it's under 200 GRT.
well this is where it is not clear. In the UK is it:
over 24m OR under 200GRT in the UK, or
over 24m AND under 200 GRT?

With the present state of over regulation in many first world countries - that does nothing to actually promote heath or safety - its hard to understand even the stated requirements.

Oh, here we go again......