Guy lying about his "master " rating?

[JKPAO]

Some guy I know promotes himself as a master capt. I know for a fact that he just got
a cert for a USCG captain less than a year ago. Is it posible for him to go right to Master level?
See you topside John

 

[Wookie]

Yes. 6 pack captains are Operators. Tonnage based licenses are issued to "Masters". He has a 25, 50, 100, or 200 ton ticket.

Still doesn't mean he can drive a boat for squat. In fact, calling himself a "Master Captain" to me means he really doesn't understand how the system works. When he gets to issue 5 or 6, and has had the crap scared out of him 10 or 20 times, he'll stop referring to himself as a Master Captain.

 

[JKPAO]

I think he holds his ticket so the other capt can jump. I have never seen him pilot! Not even a skiff! Thanks!
See you topside John

 

[Tortuga James]

I think he holds his ticket so the other capt can jump.

There are plenty of "paper captains" that meet USCG regs to get a ticket, OUPV or Masters who have no idea how to run a boat. So if you carry a paper captain so you can dive, and as Master of the Vessel, you know your 2nd Captain is incompetent at the wheel, then I think the responsibility falls on the vessel's master, not the paper Captain. So, as Captain and master of the vessel, and you get in the water and get swept off by current, or even worse get bent and can't skipper your boat (and paying passengers) to safety, then the Captain that gets fried by the USCG is going to be the master of the vessel, even if your 2nd captain has a golden ticket.

Having said all that, I wish that there was a little more attention paid to experience at the helm and not the abitity to memorize flags and light configurations.

 

[Capt Scotty]

Amen Brother James, I see paper tickets all the time. I know of one paper ticket holder that had never been at the helm of a vessel until they got their ticket and went to work as a captain for a state park.

 

[SkipperJohn]

perhaps, but like all other "captains" be it a 6-pack or a master, you need the "hours" and must validate this every 5 years. The 5 or 6 guys I knw with the masters license are great pilots.
When I got my masters license I had a friend who got his 6-pack at the same time. I didn't understand why he didn't go for the masters. Yeah there's a lot of material you need to know that if you never work on a ship or a tug boat you'll never need, but heck, I never intended to use anything I needed to pass my test. I just wanted the license. (there are 2 stories to that, 1 being that year the CG was cracking down on everyone even saying that if someone brought you lunch when you took them out fishing this was compensation and you therefore needed a license, #2 was I had a friend who always called me captain and wanted me to go for it, he passed suddenly so I did it in his honor)

 

[JKPAO]

I don't know that the guy in question ever had a throttle or wheel in his hand!
He is a little too braggadocio for me and a few others.
see you topside! John

 

[Captain Bil]

...

Having said all that, I wish that there was a little more attention paid to experience at the helm and not the abitity to memorize flags and light configurations.

Amen. I've been driving diveboats professionally for 6 years now, and spent many years prior at the helm of my own boats and under the tutelage of a great old Captain. That being said, I have always been amazed that the requirements to be a Captain do not include actually having driven a boat!

 

[Wil]

I hear ya and I know what you mean. It's unfortunate to find (and know of) someone who's gone through the licensing process rather than learn the business. Eventually, it will catch up to them. I only hope it's not as a result of a mishap.

I was once approached by an individual who asked why I have the light configuration (Red-White-Red) on my light mast. I explained that at night showing only those lights is required for diving at night and means the same as dive flags in the day. I was stunned to hear him tell me that he was a licensed USCG 100Ton Captain, a diver, and he worked in the towing business.

I was only allowed to credit half of my 720hr requirement from my Navy time at sea. The other half came from my time as a Navigator on ocean sailing vessels and a 48GRT Dive vessel. Didn't understand it at the time, but I was glad my former (civilian) Skippers documented my watch duties underway.

From what I've gathered from some USCG friends and others, about 70% of the non-licensed boaters have no education or real knowledge of the rules. Any guess to the number of "paper captains" out there?

Will