Captain License Sea time question.

mnm99

mnm99

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2015
2,447
Long Island
Boat Info
2004 340 SeaRay Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 Merc
For who ever went through the application. I'm filling out my sea time as honestly as possible. I owned 2 boats back in my teens and 20's, but cant find the darn paperwork. I have the info for the 2 last boats I own, so that's good. I have been on a couple close friends boats over the years many times so they will help me out with the days too. It's so hard to give a round about. When I didn't own a boat I was on my friends at least 5-6 times a month, so I'm just putting down between 4-7 for each month for all the years I have known them up to when I bought mine. This is back to say 2019. Does the CG really question these days? I want to be honest, but I really don't know.
Thanks
 
USCG Captain here.....I work with several other Captains in my area (NE Florida) and the USCG will definitely verify sea time if it is not associated with a boat you own. USCG will require a signed affidavit from the boat owner (that you are claiming sea time on) to verify that you have spent those hours on that boat as the "Operator" and not a passenger. Remember that the USCG is a Federal agency and that falsifying a document is a big deal to them.

Be careful of being caught out as your application or renewal will be flagged!
 
Thanks. I’m not looking to do anything fishy and if they called then they would verify correctly. Sometimes we we’re in ocean, sometimes bays, sometimes rivers. I can’t recall how much for each honestly. Just asks seaward and shoreward. The sea is around 50 miles from us now but he use to trailer back then. Just these kind of things. I guess they would just ask him I suspect.
I’m not so much sure if you have to be the operator. Operator is my boat. From what I’m told. I’ll have to verify either mate or deckhand. Or something else.
I don't think I can get enough days for a Masters Near Coastal. I may have to just go for OUPV Near Coastal / Masters Inland for now. I was hoping for a Masters Near Coastal, But don't want to push it.
 
You can upgrade to your masters once you have oupv at anytime so don’t stress too much. But I agree with the above statement and I’m also a Captain.
 
What’s the average days per month you guys boat? Summer months I’m out at least 10-15 days a month. What a pain trying to go back to 1995 and write down days for every month. Almost done though. Lol.
 
On my own 380DA I go out at least 2xMonth year round and once a year we do a 3 week trip on the boat.
At work I run two boats and I probably put in at least 20 hours a week year round.
 
Gallf1 said:
On my own 380DA I go out at least 2xMonth year round and once a year we do a 3 week trip on the boat.
At work I run two boats and I probably put in at least 20 hours a week year round.
Click to expand...
Wow 2 time a month. I'm on the boat at the dock at least 5 times a week and take it out 3-4. I pay way too much for such a short season here. I use it as much as possible.
 
mnm99 said:
What’s the average days per month you guys boat? Summer months I’m out at least 10-15 days a month. What a pain trying to go back to 1995 and write down days for every month. Almost done though. Lol.
Click to expand...

That's a tough question, because we're on the boat every weekend fri-sun, from sometime in April to the beginning of Nov. but don't always go somewhere, maybe out for the day, out to lunch etc. those types of days usually have more running time then if we went somewhere for the weekend. Out to lunch and cruise around could be 4-6 hours of running time. Where as a trip 3-4hrs. on average, some times less.
 
@SKybolt I was under the impression that even at the dock, if "you" are in command of the vessel, that counts towards your hours for a Captain's License.

Am I mistaken?

Jaybeaux
 
Jaybeaux said:
@SKybolt I was under the impression that even at the dock, if "you" are in command of the vessel, that counts towards your hours for a Captain's License.

Am I mistaken?

Jaybeaux
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That is a very good question, but I was under the impression it's operation time you need to log. But they want you to log Sea service time. That in and of it self doesn't mean operating the boat as a captain. So you may be right, they now count military service at sea as sea service also.

https://www.marinerslearningsystem....t=3 What form do you,any given month and year.
 
mnm99 said:
UNDERWAY. Is considered sea time. Not at the dock.
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So it doesn't actually say that. Take a look at this: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/professional_qualifications/crediting_sea_service.pdf

Page 2 states the following:

What counts as sea service?
• Sea service is a measure of a mariner’s lifetime experience on boats, whether recreational, commercial, or military. It may be counted from the day a mariner turns age 16 and accumulates over his or her lifetime.

• A day of sea service is any day that a mariner served upon a vessel in an assigned position in either the deck or engineering department of a vessel (not a passenger). The position may include duties such as: handling lines, being a lookout, steering the boat, and other navigational or propulsion functions.

• Sea service never expires and may be reused when applying for new endorsements. It is the mariner’s responsibility to keep copies of all sea service records.

So it doesn't mean "underway" or "making way". But I do think it does mean not at the dock also. But that could be my interpretation of the requirement. Years ago I only submitted moving or underway time.
 
I'm on my 3rd 100 Ton license and all of my sea time has been on our vessel. It has never been subjected to review.
 
Hey I understand. I'm trying to figure out as close to what I remember and would love to use the dock as time, but not going to. I'm there almost every day from May to Nov. I don't know how much handling lines your gonna do at the dock all day though, being lookout for what, friends with beer coming down the dock..lol.

The position may include duties such as: handling lines, being a lookout, steering the boat, and other navigational or propulsion functions.
 
If you are current and only renewing I was short on sea time. I had to take a open book refresher course on line. no big deal.
 
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