Lessons from a captain - rough cost?

[KeithD]

Hi - We have a friend who's a liscenced captain, and he's taking me and my wife out for a few hours of hands-on lessons. We haven't disccussed $, but I want to know what's a standard hourly rate for lessons.
Thanks, KeithD

 

[Turtlesboat]

I've paid up to $150/hour.

 

[raffles]

I buddy if mine took lesson at the beginning of the season and the charge was $75 per hour, if paid upfront for 10 hours dropped to $60 per hour - He also had the Capt. accompany him when he picked up his new boat for $300 for the day - He is out of Westchester. I think he did get a good deal though as he is a repeat customer.
Why don’t you call Marinemax in Lindenhurst and ask what they charge as an indication?

 

[Asureyez]

In SoFla

Good teaching Capt. can be engaged for something like $500. a day here (6 -7 hr. day) in So. Florida not including the boat.

 

[Presentation]

Please define licensed captain.

This could be a person with a six pack.

If the only qualifications are having a six pack I would assume this person is doing it as a favor and expects no money. Maybe a free lunch or an “I owe your one buddy.â€

An experienced licensed teaching captain that is doing this as a primary occupation and has an established track record teaching boaters is a different story.

 

[KeithD]

I'm pretty sure he's not expecting any money, but I want to offer him payment. I believe he has completed his USCG training for becoming a Liscenced Captain, and while this is not his full-time trade, it will be something he is doing to supplement his income.
Thanks for everyones advice / opinion.
-KeithD

 

[aquadancer]

I just used Boatboy Marine Training for my 13 year old son. 4 hrs hands on, on the water session using my boat costs $439 (plus lunch for the Capt.) All of their teaching Captains have USCG Master's license.

BTW - they do a great job and I highly recommend them

http://www.boatboymarinetraining.com/serpri.htm

 

[Presentation]

aquadancer, for a master - sure.

Keith - since its not his full time job I am still thinking its a six pack.

A six pack is a USCG licensed captain, just at the lowest possible level. Mostly this is what a fishing guide would get.

 

[gerryb]

I asked around our marina and got the names of 2 captains that regularly help others with some basics. I spend about 2-3 sessions with one of them and probably paid him probably $30/hr...

 

[Dancin Dave]

Please define friend. :smt017

 

[Pirate]

Presentation - are you SURE that a six pack license is the lowest designation? Do you have one?

 

[CSR_Admin]

What does the level of your Captains License have anything to do with how well you can instruct somebody to operate a small boat :huh: Is a license even important?

 

[Turtlesboat]

I think it is if you make money doing it. Isn't it required?

 

[CSR_Admin]

If you have paying passengers it is required. Teaching somebody how to operate their own boat is different.

 

[Turtlesboat]

ah, so the difference is who's boat you're on. :smt017 or is the difference that the captain isn't driving the boat, only coaching the driver. or is it a bit of both?

 

[Gunn]

What does the level of your Captains License have anything to do with how well you can instruct somebody to operate a small boat :huh: Is a license even important?

Good point Jim. If you like the way your buddy handles his boat, by all means have him help you. And if he's licensed and you hate the way he does it, then forget about it.
Just find the best guy at the marina that can run his boat near the docks; have him help you for a "6-pack".

 

[CSR_Admin]

ah, so the difference is who's boat you're on. :smt017 or is the difference that the captain isn't driving the boat, only coaching the driver. or is it a bit of both?

You'll need to check an official reference for the exact definition, but basically if somebody is paying to be on a boat you are operating you need to be licensed. It doesn't matter who owns the boat. In this case, the boat owner is not paying to charter their own boat.

I run boats every which way for people as time permits, have done deliveries at this point from ME to the Carribean and over to Panama, never had a license. I simply submit my resume to the insurance company and get their blessing. Other than that, nobody is paying to be on the boat so I don't need to be licensed.

I have seen incredibly talented skippers that do not have a license as well as complete idiots that do. So the license really has no bearing on how well somebody can teach you to operate a boat in my opinion. While it is required to give a list of documented hours to get a license, this list can easily be made up and even if the hours are legit may have nothing to do with the style/size of boat you need help on.

Definitely get references on your teacher, and I think they should earn about $400/day.

 

[fwebster]

A 6 pack refers only to the fact that the vessel is an uninspected vessel and can legally carry up to 6 paying passengers. It has very little to do with the competency and training of the captain and only limits how many passengers are on the vessel he operates.

Paying a captain on your boat is kind of a gray area since the argument can be made that he is carrying a paying passenger. It would be safer to use the most competent teacher and handle the financial consideration away from t he boat.

 

[dcwjd]

I paid 75 per hr here on Long Island. Went out for 3 hours one day and then 2 the next and was good to go. It's money well spent especially when it comes to docking help.