2007-05-08 05:47:28 · 4 answers · asked by eric b 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
Before you can take out paying passengers, you must have a license as Master (legal term for captain) from the US Coast Guard. You can get one for different sized yachts with geographic restrictions based on your experience. You must take a physical including a drug screen and pass a written test.
Remember, if you tell a friend to bring lunch for you or pay for gas and he can ride your boat, you've just asked him to pay for his voyage in some way. You must be licensed.
2007-05-08 06:23:58 · answer #1 · answered by tom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to have merchant mariner's license from the Coast Guard. Requires study, experience and passing a rather difficult test. Easiest is the so-called 'six pack'., which allows you to get paid for up to 6 persons on an uninspected vessel. More than 6, you need an inland certificate at least. Look in the back of SAIL Magazine or other major Boating mags for courses and classes. The killer usually is the navagation section of the test, which when I took it, required a 90% to pass. The experience part, must be certified by the vessel owner or captain and be in the class of vessel for which you seek a license. Depending on the license, you might need as much as 720 days of experience over the last 10 years. Also count on being subjected to random drug tests and asked to be in the standby pool, in case of national emergency.
2007-05-08 21:06:19 · answer #2 · answered by squeezie_1999 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
360 Days experience, pass the test , pass a physical, you a charter Capt.
Goto USCG web site look up license
2007-05-08 16:55:44 · answer #3 · answered by tony1z 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You must be licensed.
Contact the US Coast Guard
2007-05-08 12:53:34 · answer #4 · answered by Robert B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋