licensing - USCG vs state certifications

[skyhawk]

It's really all in the instructor......

generally speaking, re other subject matters anyway, I'd say that's only true to a point. The curriculum drives a lot of it.

An example to your point. I've sat through a lot of CPR and first aid courses over the years. Some taught my very qualified and experienced folks. One class, however, was definitely a stand-out. It was a fairly young paramedic. Young enough to have energy but old enough to have had some real experience. He told a lot of on-topic war stories that really brought reality into the class.

 

[psneeld]

generally speaking, re other subject matters anyway, I'd say that's only true to a point. The curriculum drives a lot of it.

An example to your point. I've sat through a lot of CPR and first aid courses over the years. Some taught my very qualified and experienced folks. One class, however, was definitely a stand-out. It was a fairly young paramedic. Young enough to have energy but old enough to have had some real experience. He told a lot of on-topic war stories that really brought reality into the class.

You just made my point.

 

[skyhawk]

yes, my 2nd paragraph was intended to do just that! You made a good point!!

I do contend, though, that a great instructor can be hand-tied by a curriculum, cert requirements, or other variables
and I supppose to the contrary, a mediocre instructor can be propped up by great material
but you're right... the right person can make a real difference

 

[Iggy]

What really helped me, was crewing on a small commercial boat. How The U.S.C.G. would inspect the boat, how they were using the VHF. I could go on.... There was so much to it.

 

[amapola]

Florida residents must register their boat even if they have it USCG documented.

 

[Whiskey&Blues]

I did not realize it was a requirement, so thank you for this post...however, I did complete the Boating Safety course offered by BoatUS for free, here and it appears to be on the list of approved training. I completed it over the course of a few weeks in the evenings after work. I knew a lot of it, but I also learned a lot. Studying ATON's now. Have fun.

BoatUS Online Training

On the water training.

courses.boatus.org

 

[Panama Dave]

I would advise against a USCG license unless you are planning on working commercially. I have been working commercially for the past 20 years and hold a 100 ton Near Coastal Masters. I get an insurance discount on my boat but it is no different than the discount I would get for a boaters safety course. Getting the initial license and renewing it every 5 years is a hassle and of almost no benefit to a recreational boater. The only advantage I have seen is that the insurance company doesn't question my ability to handle my 47' motor yacht since I have been the Master of commercial vessels over 100'. However, that is based on my experience, not on simply holding the MMD.

 

[ProMaritime]

for context, I'm a lifelong small boat guy dreaming of getting something bigger for full timing or maybe part time cruising

I'm more interested in cruising the Bahamas, US east coast, and over to Europe... but I wouldn't mind the idea of the great loop either...full or partial. So I was doing some poking around on the AGLCA site, and found this page.
I was honestly surprised that some states require education for me. I'm not arguing against it and I don't see it as a problem or a bad idea, I just figured I'd be aged out of any such requirements. I'm in Florida and I know we have a cert requirement here too, but I'm long past the grandfathered-in age so I never really gave it any thought!

Seems like there are a ton of choices, and each state seems to have different needs, so I'm wondering on the state level is there is a "best one" universal cert that I can do now and that does it all (for the state level needs anyway), aside from USCG Captain's license since that one will take some time? & Do any of those NASBLA options do anything for insurance or for international cruising?
I'm wondering from the perspective of regulatory and also just for hull insurance considerations?
US coastal & near shore
great lakes and inland
international cruising

A while back I started thinking that maybe I should start working on my USCG OUPV certification, not that I have any aspirations of commercial operations, but thinking that it'll maybe help with insurance as well as when operating internationally or even in other states of the US. I don't have the 90-day recency experience requirement but I no doubt have much more than the 36-day total requirement. I've been operating boats since I was a kid, and on my own since I was 16. (dad was a USCG BMCM) Problem is that I can't document most of that time in terms of numbers of days in any particular month or year. I figure the recency time will come quick once I get a boat, and will most likely do some orientation work with a training captain at that point anyway, so I'm not concerned about that
And for for the total requirement - With random photos I can document some of them and I can start logging moving forward...so no matter.

Maybe I'll just start studying and do a USCG OUPV class since that seems to be the most universal for my need. I wonder though if I do the test, does a clock start ticking to wrap it up and if I don't get the time logged soon enough then I'll have to test again?

 

[rgano]

I just realized that I have NOTHING aboard my boat which indicates that I have ever had any nautical education. I had a Florida boating safety card on my last boat, but never gave a second thought about ensuring it made it onto the current boat a second thought. Now it is lost, and Florida no longer has any records back that far. My retired Navy ID card might evoke sympathy from the requesting LEO, but nowhere on it is there any proof I commanded a naval ship in the mid 1970s. I think I am just going to make a copy of my now-expired USCG Unlimited Tonnage Master license and carry that aboard. Wonder what the LEO will make of that when he consults his NASBLA equivalency table?

 

[SteveK]

I just realized that I have NOTHING aboard my boat which indicates that I have ever had any nautical education. I had a Florida boating safety card on my last boat, but never gave a second thought about ensuring it made it onto the current boat a second thought. Now it is lost, and Florida no longer has any records back that far. My retired Navy ID card might evoke sympathy from the requesting LEO, but nowhere on it is there any proof I commanded a naval ship in the mid 1970s. I think I am just going to make a copy of my now-expired USCG Unlimited Tonnage Master license and carry that aboard. Wonder what the LEO will make of that when he consults his NASBLA equivalency table?

I guess you have to go back to school and start over. You probably have forgotten more than you remember.

 

[Comodave]

I was teaching a BS&S class. Before class I was playing with a line and a cleat device. An old guy, now my age, came up and told me that he had been boating all his life and that he wouldn’t learn anything in the class. But his wife wanted to take the class so he was just here to be with her. As I cleated the line he said I was doing it wrong. So I gave him the line and asked him to show me how to cleat. He proceeded to put all 10’ of line on the cleat. I had the device clamped to the table. So I took the bitter end of the line and said I was the boat. Now I asked him to uncleat the line. I was pulling on it. He said well that I had to let go so he could get it off the cleat. I told him the wind was blowing and I couldn’t tell the wind to stop. He grumbled a bit. So I showed him the proper way to cleat and told him to play like the wind. He pulled on the line and I uncleated the line. He looked at me sorta amazed and said that maybe he would actually learn something in the class. Never too old to learn.

 

[SteveK]

Dave we need to see a video.

 

[TBill36]

I had a 50 ton license that I let expire years ago. The previous renewal required me to get a TWIC ( tranportation worker id card}, join a random drug test program, and go to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor to sign off that my hearing loss (I wear hearing aids) would not adversely affect my seamanship abilities. Since I didn't use it, it was too much trouble to renew.

 

[Comodave]

Dave we need to see a video.

This happened before smartphones so no video.

 

[psneeld]

I just realized that I have NOTHING aboard my boat which indicates that I have ever had any nautical education. I had a Florida boating safety card on my last boat, but never gave a second thought about ensuring it made it onto the current boat a second thought. Now it is lost, and Florida no longer has any records back that far. My retired Navy ID card might evoke sympathy from the requesting LEO, but nowhere on it is there any proof I commanded a naval ship in the mid 1970s. I think I am just going to make a copy of my now-expired USCG Unlimited Tonnage Master license and carry that aboard. Wonder what the LEO will make of that when he consults his NASBLA equivalency table?

I can't say for Florida, but NJ was/is one of the most strict states on the Boating Safety Class stuff and the Marine Police said a MMC (even expired) counted but you had to have it aboard like your Safety Card.

Did find this on a FWC web page....

FAQs About Boating Safety Education Requirements

FAQs

myfwc.com

Yes, the following is a list of exemptions.

• A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.

You can always ask the officer what nav lights a 200' tug towing astern, with >200 meter tow would show, then tell him when he can't.

 

[Frosty]

I can't say for Florida, but NJ was/is one of the most strict states on the Boating Safety Class stuff and the Marine Police said a MMC (even expired) counted but you had to have it aboard like your Safety Card.

That's interesting to read. I let my MMC and associated other bits expire, but always wondered if they would count for anything (lesser) if carried aboard. I mean, you would hope, as the tests were a lot more involved than some of the online quiz type things.... (I do carry them just in case they would come in handy but this is the first time I've seen it mentioned.)

 

[Mancave]

I did my USCG OUPV and Master 100 ton upgrade course online. I really enjoyed the coursework and learned a lot. In many states where boats are rented, they require a boat safety course. My license has always served this function. Anyone who takes a course like this and says they learned nothing... well I will not judge. I also hear the people have done 4 year degrees and learned nothing...

I now do a lot of boating in Europe. There is not reciprocity unless you have . There are licensing agencies in Europe such as RYA, but I have not yet completed any of those. I've been boarded on 4 different occurrences, I always took out my USCG license, but they didn't seem interested. I'm told that they may ask for some proof of competence. Maybe this sufficed, I don't know. I think they were looking for signs of smuggling and VAT tax paid on boat.

I like the fact that I hold the credential. For that reason alone, I am glad I pursued it.

Fair winds,
Captain Bobby

Captainbobby.com

Highland Duck on the High Seas

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In Germany, the automobile club, ADAC, conducts 40 hour courses, with written exams and demonstrations of practical experience. I'm not sure how to update a license; perhaps a question for an embassy counselor officer.
Best Wishes,
Rollyn Trueblood, LTC US Army, rtd

 

[jimfrens]

I took the NH safety course years ago, then several years later took a course which led me to a USCG 50 Ton Master license. The Master course was so far beyond what I learned in the NH course, there’s just no comparison. I recommend it for any serious boater regardless of boat size. \

 

[lwarden]

I took the California boating safety course a few years ago because it's now a requirement. I thought, from the perspective of someone new to boating it's a pretty good starting education on boating (if they remember it). I'm really glad they started requiring it, but I don't know how well it's enforced. I do know rental boaters, especially jet skis are notorious for violations and I don't believe they are required to have a boaters card.

Regarding USCG licensing, I agree with several above, it's not worth the hassle if you aren't going to work it. I let mine from the 80's lapse long ago, but it did come in handy when we went to get insurance on the current boat. I sent the agent a photo copy and there were no more questions about my ability to handle the boat.

 

[Iggy]

I took the NH safety course years ago, then several years later took a course which led me to a USCG 50 Ton Master license. The Master course was so far beyond what I learned in the NH course, there’s just no comparison. I recommend it for any serious boater regardless of boat size. \

I agree. Renewing it is one thing. It is a pain, but you/we still need a physical very year. Knowing what I know now, was never in any class that I saw. Plus the TWIC card get you though the airport a little faster. No t a great reason to renew, but it helps if you fly a lot.

Anyways, its all a matter of opinion. Some of us were born on the water, some not. I was not with just a general idea how to handle a boat. The Capt's test is good, but nothing like working on a commercial boat. It was a good learning experience.