How Do I Become A Yacht Captain

SeaMaster · 11-29-2004, 07:22 PM

Hi I am new to this site. I live in Key West and have been around boats all my life. I am now in 9th grade. But i want to become a Mega-Yacht Captain. I was wondering what I should do to become one. Also what steps should i take to becoming one. I am not sure if going in the Coast Guard is a good idea or what. I know i am young but I want to start looking into things I should do. If you could give me any direction on anything I would appreciate it. Also is there a special college i should go to. Thank You for all your help.

CaptPKilbride · 11-29-2004, 08:31 PM

You live in Key West, you have a real advantage. The best thing you can do is get a deckhand job aboard one of the daysail boats there, as a start. The advantage of this type of vessel is that they are on the move alot, several docking evolutions per day, and though you may repeat the same route the underway experience should give you lots of practical experience in a very short time. And, you will get good exposure to a great variety of guest personalities. Strive to figure out how to make each guest's day on the water with you a memorable experience they will want to repeat.

Work for different captains, and remember what you like and dislike about their skills/management style/attitude. Work your way up from the bottom, and learn about every task aboard. This can range from changing oil to varnish work to how to make a bed perfectly, and serve a cocktail with charm and grace.

Any time that you get aboard should get documented with a small vessel sea service form. Start logging the days, and get licensed in some form or another as soon as you possibly can.

A college degree may or may not serve you well, thats more of a personal decision.Attending a merchant marine academy may help you more than enlisting in the Coast Guard, as far as how far along you will be towards a big ticket license after giving either institution 4 years of your time.

I a sure there is plenty of advice other here can give you, but those are my thought as a start... Good luck!

SeaMaster · 11-29-2004, 08:48 PM

Thank You, i am very good friends with Robert Trosset, which is a famous fisherman. Also my parents own a print shop and they do printing for all the boats in Key West. So i can talk to some of them about getting a job for the summer. Also what is a small vessel sea service forum? Now i guess i will go hang out at the docks and talk to some Captains. Thank alot for the advice.

YachtForums · 11-29-2004, 09:02 PM

Hi Patrick,

Long time, no post! Hope your holidays were good. It was nice of you to take the time to give a young guy some guidance. For what it's worth, I appreciate it!

I'll be floating around the ditch during the holidays, taking some pics and generally... getting away from the monitor. Let's get a beer!

CaptPKilbride · 11-29-2004, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaMaster

Also what is a small vessel sea service forum? .

When you want to go get a license, they will ask you to show proof of your time abaord vessels. The sea service form is how you do that. Any time you work on a boat for someone, make sure you get them to fill one out for you, and put it away in a safe place. I think these days they even want it notarized with a letter from the woner as well.... though I am not completely sure about that. When you turn 18 I think you can apply for a Operator of Uninspected Vessels License, and you will be happy that you already have all the sea service forms in your possession. There is nothing worse than not being able to get credit for your time because you could no longer find the captain or owner.

SeaMaster · 11-29-2004, 09:23 PM

Thank You for the info. Do you know where i can find some of them, or will the boat owner have some. Also I think i might be able to get a job on the boat that goes to Dry Tortugas daily. Thank you again.

SeaMaster · 11-30-2004, 06:46 PM

Now that I have been looking around on the site, I have found out that i worded myself wrong. I actually want to caotain a superyacht.

Norseman · 02-24-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

I think these days they even want it notarized with a letter from the woner as well...

Well, they wanted them notarized last time I renewed my ticket, but nowadays the current forms are back to the old "self-certified" type.

Down loaded the forms from the USCG site a few weeks ago for the third issue and noted that notary was not required any more...?

Do I need new reading glasses, or....?

Cadet · 03-26-2005, 03:29 PM

Another option is to go and do a cadetship, which means you have experience on ships and this is more direct, then you should try and get a job in the yacht sector. you also get accomadation and training paid for and it is a laugh to.

ErinLisa77 · 04-21-2006, 11:13 PM

Hello

As a sophmore in highschool i have been looking into alot of different areas of what i might want to do after I graduate. I am planing on finding a college in Southern California being from Maine and because my sister is in the Navy and stationed in San Diego.
The other day i thought about getting my captains license so i could go to Ireland from Maine. I think that would be the coolest thing ever! This brought me to another thought. I would love to become a captain as a job. Preferably a captain of a Yacht were i could bring people to islands and just on nice tropical cruises.
I have never been on a yacht or have any type of experience manuevering a boat. I was wondering if you could tell me what i would have to do or if there is a school that i can go to to learn how to become a captain. I imagine you start out at a certain rank.
Either way. Does this sound realistic? Should i have had more experience as a kid?

-Erin Lisa, (Trying to figure out a career)

Cadet · 04-24-2006, 03:41 AM

As I said above, if you contact shipping companies they may pay for your training, this allows you to gain an OOW certificate so you can not only captain yachts but any ship of any size. This is better as it allows you to take work when you can find it. I myself am an engine cadet and once I gain the OOW (AKA ticket, COC, Cetificate Of Comptency) can work on any ship. Obviously for a yacht owner the attraction of having a captain that has moved 300m ships is that 60ft yacht wont be a problem. Hope that helps, and if you want industry and you work hard you will have no problems.

CaptPKilbride · 04-27-2006, 06:48 PM

Erin Lisa,
The best thing you can do is get around boats. Look for a summer job in a local marina, just to get exposure. Try to get out on boats. Consider Maine Maritime in Castine, they have a program that can lead you down the yacht path, or the commercial shipping path.
Best of luck !

ErinLisa77 · 04-27-2006, 08:54 PM

Hey thanks!!

I checked out the Maine Maritime College online and it looks great!