TV show- "Below Deck"

Hi Superstitious, names get changed every day by people with all kinds of luck but mostly good business sense.

More low drama on the high seas...

Below Deck likely to run another season

Typical, human filth glorified for tv. Read about some of their arrest records and childish antics here. Below Deck's Samantha Orme mug shot photo from DUI, hit and run charges in 2006

Not too impressed by what i saw in just watching a couple of episodes. Yachting deserves better.
I was interested to learn that most of the "crew" were actually stand-ins
during the time the filming was going on. The captain kept aboard his first officer and chief engineer, they ran things behind the scenes and off camera.

Intrigued by the guy they cast to play the first officer, a young fellow who got his first captains license at the age of 19, 100ton Master. Reading his bio I learned that he got his second license, 1600 ton Master Oceans, in 2010.

This puzzles me because I do not understand the upgrade path how one can go from 100 ton Master to 1600 ton Master. 46CFR 11.412 states one of the requirements under seatime is 360 days as Master, Mate, or equivalent supervisory position on a vessel over 100 GRT, while holding an endorsement as master or mate.

Am I missing something here?

I'd say all he had to do was put in the days as a mate on a vessel over 100T, take the required courses and then file for the upgrade.


"I was interested to learn that most of the "crew" were actually stand-ins
during the time the filming was going on. The captain kept aboard his first officer and chief engineer, they ran things behind the scenes and off camera."

I believe you see the real captain from time to time. He is the one noted as "relief captain". Otherwise I can see no reason to have a relief captain on a fully manned vessel.

I've heard through the grapevine that the the TV captain bumped a 112' Westport on the bottom up near Woods Hole a few weeks ago while acting as a relief captain.

There may be a Yacht Brokerage reality show coming to the small screen. I was contacted in April by a producer's rep in NY who claimed responsibility for the "Pawn Stars" show. With multiple, mixed concerns I shot a test video for them. From the industry who invented "don't call us, we'll call you" I have heard nothing. Lucky me.

From what I read Lee was the real captain, just not able to fire the "actors". Supposedly the real FM and CE were also on board to run the boat but I don't know if they ever appeared on camera.

Capt. Lee Rosbach | LinkedIn

Maybe. But you do see another "relief" captain on the show from time to time for some reason.

I too think Lee is the real Captain, and if you notice most of the time he does not interact with the crew and maintains his distance from the show. I believe the real engineer has been shown on the show. He's the shorter dark hair, dark skinned, philippino looking guy that wears the coveralls, you rarely if ever see him except for the fire drills. As for the real first mate, he may be the guy that is briefly shown as the "relief captain".

You can go from a 100 ton master to a 1600 ton master, but I do believe you need 720 days as master 360 as master on over 100 tons to do so, and the rest of the time could be as mate. Lee also mentioned that Aleks was a Captain on a boat before. I ran a 76' Lazzara and it was 101 Gross Tons so would be a newer 80' Hatteras MY etc etc....which you could be good with the insurance company if you have a 100ton master and good history/resume, so Captain of something like that would qualify for the 720days over 100 GT. Here are the actual qualifications for a 1600 ton master.

1440 minimum total career days including: 720 days on near coastal or oceans routes; 720 days as OICNW or Master while holding a license; 720 days of service on a vessel over 100GRT (at least 1/2 with a license); 90 days in the last three years on a vessel of at least 100GRT.

You said yes. You did it. Shot it. Did they mislead you?

How can one serve as a master or a mate on a vessel over 100GRT if their license limits them to not more than 100 GRT.

The rating only applies to commercial vessels. On private yachts A 100 ton master could technically run a 200 ton boat or larger. The only one who would limit that would be whether the insurance company would or wouldn't insure him to run that vessel.

Commercially I have seen a Captain work on a larger vessel than his license holds as a 2nd or 3rd Captain, such as on pushboats that run the inland rivers 24/7, or a cruise ship where the Captains take shifts etc. Same as with a mate. A 2nd mate, or whichever.....

So maybe my confusion stems from the idea that I thought that the purpose of the CFR I quoted earlier was that someone looking to upgrade to 1600 ton Master would have to have served as a licensed captain or mate on a vessel >100GRT within the scope of their license. Meaning someone would have to have a 200 or 500 ton mate or master license to get the necessary 360 days.

That and the fact that the CG can let you run a vessel 10% over your license size.

Really.

At least that is what I was told by one of the training agencies. And when I asked some one at the CG licensing office years ago they confirmed.

I bet a ton of people on this site ware company/boat shirts when they travel. I do all the time. I don't think that mister bed bug did that just because. But I could be wrong.

A boat t-shirt is one thing. I've never seen the Orkin man at the airport.

Capt J,

This is true... But maybe he does own a company that kills bugs. When flying, and I fly a ton, I sometimes ware my company shirts. You see "Coke" Polos in the Atlanta airport. Oh well, I guess I am the odd one here.

Keith