You Don't Need a License To Be A Captain - The absurdity of a Captain's License

Talking about Boat Captains and the boat captain license. The title of boat captain and the basic documentation required to be in charge of a boat are something most every adult can very easily acquire and is often referred to as a boat license. When can we call ourselves a boat captain and what does it really mean? The official credentials to manage a commercial vessel are much harder to obtain and oddly do not contain the name, title or moniker "Captain" anywhere in the documentation.

In this video I talk to two actual "Captains" who have official USCG Merchant Mariner Credentials which allow them to be in charge of certain commercial vessels. We discuss some of the absurdity of a "Captain's License" and how a person who has no credentials can do many things as long as they are not charging their passengers. YouTuber Saillocal has the USCG Captain's Licence 6 Pack or six pack licence which is an OUPV license and YouTuber Captain Boomies has a Master of Vessels not to exceed 200 tons USCG license.

☞ Captain Boomies YouTube Channel: @CaptainBoomies
☞ Sail Local YouTube Channel: @saillocal
☞ Funny Boat Podcast YouTube Channel: @funnyboatpodcast
☞ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: @WayneTheBoatGuy

As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

▶︎▶︎▶︎Playlists About Boats

▶︎▶︎▶︎Playlists About Boat Engines & Motors

▶︎▶︎▶︎ Playlists About Boat Repairs & Projects

▶︎▶︎▶︎Playlists For New Boaters

#captain #boatcaptain #boats

Sound effects and additional music is copyright free from iMovie

Strong Arm Image by daniel64 from Pixabay
Titanic Image by Đỗ Thiệp from Pixabay
Plane Image by stokpic from Pixabay
Shirtless Man Image by Deep Khicher from Pixabay
Jet Airplane Video by Ramon Stuckey from Pixabay 
Woman captain Image by Hebi B. from Pixabay 
Wall hanging Image by Angelika from Pixabay 
Captain hats Image by Alex Sky from Pixabay 
Pirate ships Image by Rujhan Basir from Pixabay

[barrywarren]

Great Video, Even got a few laughs out of it. So on my vessel I'm the captain as long as I'm not charging my guest. But if I am charging the guest, and don't have a orange book, I'm a Pirate.

[BaldJohnnyRhythm]

I love this video. I retired from a Fire Service career and wondered if I could get paid to drive other people’s boats. The only “scam” I observed in this process was that my EMT-Paramedic credential didn’t count as being trained in First Aid; I think the Coast Guard/Dept of Transportation/Dept of Homeland Security are in bed with the Red Cross.

After completing the process, it became very apparent to me just how many boat operators appear blissfully unaware of the COLREGS (“Rules of the Road”).

[stingray]

She put it best: hierarchy of blame. “Captain” is the person in charge of the vessel, regardless of any commercial license, or credential. Anyone can be a captain, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a hierarchy of Captains. You have average Joe skiff owner who is an unlicensed captain of his John boat who can be in charge of operating a vessel of any size but cannot be paid by guests, you have master licenses, who can have any number of passengers, but are limited by the size of the boat, then you have military naval captains. Anyone can be a captain, but not all captains are created equally. We can all drive a car, but we aren’t all commercial truck drivers, or professional race car drivers.

[TheBangBang]

This is a great idea to have this conversation and record it. Many people have so many questions about what you guys covered.

[MoneyPitBoating]

You have a ton of friends Wayne...We'll conn some vessels with you! (We're always learning stuff from your videos, so keep up the great edutainment!)

[Nobamaable]

No Captain license needed to drive a huge yacht and crash into another boat to say "hey, you scratched my anchor!" 😂😂🤣🤣

[capt.tylersfishing]

Hey Wayne! Been watching you and and you've inspired me to give this small project boat stuff a go at it. I found this 1986 polar craft 1651 for only 1 grand. Has no motor or anything but it comes with a trailer and a cover for the boat. No leaks he said and it looks great. Shoukd I go for it?

[CaptK-pyrq]

Fun and entertaining, thank you! Tight lines always!

[trcass]

this was a great segment and a lot of fun, not to mention informative. thanks for doing it.

[thedevilinthecircuit]

This was eye-opening. Thanks, Wayne the Boat Guy!

[bigglyguy]

No, we don't need any more laws thanks.

[capt]

Captain is misused these days. Captain is licensed. Skipper is unlicensed

[choimdachoim]

Lookit choo...turning into a legit channel! That was fun and interesting.

[DJEyeBee]

In the commercial world there is no "captain" designation. The bridge officers are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mate, and then the "captain" is called the Master.

In the Navy, you can have the rank of "Captain" but not be the captain of a ship. You can also be the captain of a ship but not have the rank of Captain.

[leadreviewer]

Great video at some point I'll get my captains license even if just for the cool factor you only live once

[PatrickHoodDaniel]

The unlimited is for space travel, maybe. Kirk!

[SD-ftgs]

I have not watched the whole video but I will say that: 1) there should be a real licensing process for ALL boaters (commercial/pleasure and otherwise) the same as there is for driving a car. (which cannot kill you, your passengers, your rescuers just because you did not service your boat properly; or because you decided to go into dangerous waters without the proper skills.) 2) I am not saying extend the "captain's" license system I am saying make a tiered system the same as we have for cars. Class I, Class 2, Class 3 and separately have the Captain system for any passenger/commercial vessel that matches the Airline/cargo pilot model and requires a few years of schooling/certification for you to get. There is never a time while on the water in either my kayak or boat in the Ocean, back bays and big lakes of the east coast when I have felt safe around other boaters. Most boaters are ignorant of the laws of the sea, are consistently in DIU situations and conduct themselves with reckless abandon/dangerous ignorance starting from the boat docks and on to their time on the water. 3) I know that the pleasure boat lobby is increasingly strong in boat local and national government and real regulation will probably not happen in my lifetime... which sucks because I would love to be on my kayak focused on fishing as opposed to being focused on whether the next power boat is going to run me over or just as carelessly create a dangerous wake that will flood me while in 30feet of water.

[tiara_richmarinadelrey]

I am a captain of a gorgeous million dollar 44 ft coup. But my wife is the Admiral.

[adamtedder]

Putting my 3 boats to work so im in the process of getting my captains license.

[MistiMoan]

So if you charter them you would need, otherwise if it's for pleasure you would not.