Captains License Course - Seaschool

[swordfish123]

Sorry for the slightly off topic post here but I need some advice from all you captains..I dont really think anyone reads the "other" forum lol..

anyway I'm a freshman college student( majoring in business/marketing at Ole Miss) and this summer I want to persue an internship/job at a yacht brokerage or related company. I know this idea sounds pretty far fetched but MarineMax is a client of my dad's so i may have some connections there. My plan is to stay in Florida for the summer and work there (...and fish...). I know that having a captain's liscence would be a huge plus on my resume and could score me a more fun job...

I know i have way over 365 days on the water, but its not logged. I guess my question is does anyone have any advice as to how to go about obtaining the liscence?

The way i figure..if im gonna work for a living one day..mght as well be around boats and fishing..so this would be a great opportunity to get a head start.

Thanks guys

[Mike]

Seaschool

I just finished a couple of months ago.. I still have to take the CPR course, but the seaschool was great.

A really good prep course....

Mike

[Canyon Runner]

First off...you can "guesstimate" your log...as long as it seems legit, you need the person you fished with, or boated with to sign off on your "logged" days. I did mine by self study...I filled out the application, applied, got approved and took the test. It really wasn't that hard. The rules of the road are available at west marine, as well as a book that teaches you plotting. The light list you just need to familiarize yourself with, and you will be supplied with it during the exam for the nav general. And you need to get aquainted with CFR46 for the deck general, which will also be supplied during the exam. If you go to the CG licensing website they have a PDF file with all the possible questions they can ask. There are some 1200 or so questions they can ask for Nav rules, they give you all the answeres, read the book, study, and go through the questions until you know them...its really not as bad as it sounds. same thing with deck general, plotting and nav rules. HOWEVER, the question bank on those includes questions they ask for ALL CG licenses...hence questions that are much harder and more involved than you will need for a 6-pack, so you have to sort through them.
THis is a lot of info, seaschool is definately another option, but with you in Miss, and in school, not sure if you will have time or means for a structured course. This is the reason why I didn't take a course. Keep in mind, you can study for 2-3 parts at a time and take them seperately. You don't have to pass them all on the first try, many people I know study for a few weeks, take 2 sections, then study some more and go back and finish.
if you go the self route, let me know, I will make sure you have all your paper work in order before you go, they are very strict with what they will accept!
Justin
Canyon Runner Sportfishing

[swordfish123]

Thanks guys....CRMate i sent you a PM.

[swigg11]

Justin,

I'm also interested in getting the OUPV license, but don't have time to take a course b/c I'm still in school and have my hands full. Is there a site on the web that has all the information that you said we would need to do a self-study. I called the West Marine in my home town (Stuart) and they just referred me to the Chapman School. Being landlocked right now, I don't have a whole lot of other resources around to find out about it. Thanks.

Swig

[Darkhorse1975]

Originally Posted by Mike

Seaschool

I just finished a couple of months ago.. I still have to take the CPR course, but the seaschool was great.

A really good prep course....

Mike

Hello Mike, I am curious about the SeaSchool Course you attended. Is this the SeaSchool at www.seaschool.com? If so, I would appreciate a little info or answer a few questions. It looks like a good class. Thanks

Chris

[Mike]

Ya Chris, that is the one.

I still have to take the CPR course before I can send my paperwork in... but the school was pretty good...

[Canyon Runner]

since I received so many Private Messages from people asking for more info, I decided to post the general info I have been giving everyone on the site.
here it is...
The license you are looking for is technically refered to as Operator of Uninspected Passanger Vessels (OUPV-NC), near costal endorsement. You will see a menu on the website, where you can DL the application. The application isn't easy to thumb through, as it is the same application for all CG licenses! But take your time and you will see all your necessary forms!
Next, I took my exam at my regional CG testing center...a list of these are also on that CG testing website. This is also where you will have to submit your application, in person! Can't do this by mail, too many forms of ID are required. This is all spelled out in the application packet, make sure you read everything so you are prepared, all you need to be missing is ONE document or signiture, and they will send you away.
In my case this was Battery Park in NYC. Since I took the test in May when I was in Jersey.
I believe this cost smewhere around 200 bucks for the applicaiton and test...
Things to remeber... whoever signs your seaservice form needs to have the signiture notorized! there isn't a space for it, but it is required. You will also need a thorough physical with drug test, there is a form in the application, need to also have your CPR and first aid updated within the last year....expect them to take somewhere around 1-2 months to process your application. So start it as quickly as possible, get it submitted then concern yourself with studying...you have a year from the date of your approval to when you have to take the exam, or you will have to reapply.
let me know if you have anymore questions
http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/
Note: All the applicaiton forms, test questions, acceptable forms of ID, etc are found on this website. For more specific info and your application, sheck out the menu titled "charter boat Captain".
justin
Canyon Runner Sportfishing

[greg1]

First and foremost you need to go back to your highschool and kick your teachers for not teaching you how to spell license.

Next, I'd follow the seaschool route. Home study will work, but the class will teach you what you need to know for the test among other important info.

3rd, your days can be estimated if you have info on the boat or boats you logged it on. i.e. Registration papers and a signatures from the owners. That held me up. Then while I was getting my paperwork together I got a DUI (Roll Tide U), and they increased my days needed to like 800 or something.

[hannaman]

Looks like you guys both had the same teacher. It is spelled : liscense.

[FinalPoint]

Or license :lol: but who is checking

[Canyon Runner]

first off, no spell check on here so speaking for myself and others on here...mistakes will be made, as long as people get the point of my response my job is done.....HOWEVER...I never have known anyone to kill another person or themselves by misspelling the word license, but drunk drivers do it quite often, misspell the word license i mean!

Justin
Canyon Runner Sportfishing

[greg1]

A) It is license

B) There is a difference between a type-o and a misspelling

C) Ole Miss and Alabama are both in the SEC and this type of ball busting is normal. Relax.

[gsniffen]

I'm set to go for a 6 pack license but cannot pass the required color blind test (even though my 35+ years of boating obviously prove I can navigate through and around nav aids).

Can anybody render a solution or some advice??

[greg1]

How do they test you for color blindness?

[Canyon Runner]

Talk to your eye doc and explain to him whats going on and i am sure he would sign off on your color test!
i didn't say that!
justin
Canyon Runner Sportfishing

[RiskTaker]

Yeah that color blindness issue certainly pops up from time to time and I imagine that it is enforced at times, where appropriate. A doctor may not necessarily just sign-off. But if you really didn't hear that, it may be worth a try.

It may not just be the Navigation aids that are so important: many of them are shaped and numbered to distinguish them uniquely. But I know that I need to distinguish between green and red lights at night to be able to determine whether that freighter over there, is coming or going. And if it is coming, to know which way it will cross my path. I am not a certified Captain but I would imagine that is the critical skill that must be consistently demonstrated for qualification.

I had my first experience a number of years ago where color vision was important. We hired a part time guy to help out on Printed Circuit Designs. It turned out that he was asking which pen to put in our old "single pen" plotter. I said, when the plotter prompts for pen1 to put in the red one and prompt for #2 is the green one, etc. "Which one is the red one" he asked? The pens themselves were not numbered but plainly colored for those that could distinguish the sprectrum. Oh, that one caught me by surprise... it turned out that he was never assigned to the task to check the paper plots. That was not a good job assignment for him based upon his abilities.

I recall going through vision tests at Homestead Air Force Base a number of years back. The color vision tests involved holding up cards, usually with a large number or letter blended into an array of dots. You did not have to guess the color, per se; but you did have to successfully distinguish the pattern that was on the card. Some cards were so subtle in contrast that I could imagine that with a color vision deficiency that character would be invisible.

One suggestion that may help is too practice with the testing mechanism. I worked with another colleague that was also color blind in some areas but he was still able to distinguish "a difference" between two choices. You may just need to develop a bit more sensitivity to distinguish and perhaps can overcome this requirement. Good luck with the next go round.

[kai akua]

i am color blind also. was told thier was no way for my to aquire my 6 pack becuse of it. if you find away let me know, i will be interested. i can distinguish very easily betwwn grren and red. but i see them in diffrent ones. i have a real hard time reading those "faint" numbers/letters on the cards.

keep me posted.

Thanx

Robbie

[RiskTaker]

Kai Akua:

Can you spot a Wahoo swimming in the water from a bridge perspective?

[kai akua]

heck yah!


ask me tell you the color of the bouy out in the distant.....um it looks... well maybe its........ Gray, no green, maybe red.....

thats where my problem is. i was running the boat out of Provo one day, and well i had a hard time figuring out which bouy was what, however provo is a pain to go in and out if you dont know the cut very well. i fiugured it out, it just took longer than normal.