Renew a USCG 100 ton ticket..Test or no test?

Hi,

That seems like a lot of experience to only have a 100 ton ticket.

Sorry my friend. Really didn't mean you in particular. Anybody who brings a snailboat up the New River obviously knows a bit. In general though I've seen some pretty bad boathandlers who got a ticket by being on board to watch someone do it. Imagine if they didn't even have to be on board to see it done but could just sit in a classrom for a few hours.

Yeah it does. Especially when you consider that to "helm" a tanker or bulker all over the planet requires one to hold an AB unlimited ticket which takes 1080 days at sea ... enough to sit for a 500 ton license.

This is one of those CV claims that has red flags plastered all over it.

Maybe/Maybe not. There are many captains out here who stay at 100GT so they can work the small boats. When people see big tonnage they tend to feel the person is too 'rough' for handling small boats and close quarters with the wife and kiddies. 100 ton is seen as ideal experience for coastal and island running on boats around 60' or so. 6 pack to 50 ton is for water taxi's and over 100 ton you're expected to be on a large yacht or commercial ship. Personally, I enjoy the small boat work and wouldn't move up my tonnage.

That's a good one Cap. I have heard a lot of reasons why people don't climb the ladder but that one earns a place in the hall of shame.

Like I said, that CV has enough red on it to make the bulls of Pamplona take a detour.

Especially when the original post stated getting enough seatime to upgrade from 50 ton. Someone who has been in the business long enough to get an AB wouldn't ask that kind of question and wouldn't have jumped through the hoops just to get a 50 ton ticket when a 500 is there for the asking. Think about the timeline on this one for a moment ... it just doesn't wash.

Although I figured it out on my own I won't take credit for it as that sentiment was actually put forth in Yachting Magazine back in the 90's when someone asked about finding a captain to move their boat. Being overqualified is as bad as being underqualified when looking for work.
Some people would rather be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond. When I changed careers (20+ years ago) I remember seeing a captained 60' yacht filled with bikinis cruising on Miami Vice and saying 'that's what I want to do'. There was never any desire to run a 200' yacht, just make a living, be good at what I do and enjoy life. So far it's worked out pretty well.
BTW, before anybody starts talking about 'fun & games' I have paid a lot of dues along the way and take my responsibilities very seriously, but that's another story.

Just because you don't want to run a big boat is no reason to avoid education and training. Having had a good run at both aviation and the maritime industry I can tell you I have met few professionals in either area who have not worked very hard to improve their skills and qualifications. most of us clawed our way to the highest tickets available as a matter of professional pride and personal satisfaction as well as to increase our earning potential. I simply don't buy the "overqualified" fairy tale.

Do you go to a PA rather than a board certified physician? Do you prefer to have a private pilot fly you around rather than an ATP? Do you look for a legal aid when you need a lawyer? I doubt there are many owners or underwriters who think a 100 ton beats an unlimited master in way of qualifications, knowledge, or training. The "too rough" story comes from a bunch of poseurs on a waterfront barstool and should remain there ... it has no validity in real life.

Your reasons for not upgrading are your own, and my guess is lack of tonnage or funds. This doesn't raise the kind of flags that the original poster is waving and this discussion is not about you or your choices.

Actually, if I need stitches, blood drawn, a broken bone set, etc. I do indeed prefer a PA or RN. MD's rarely consider it important enough to practice the lower ends of their craft (personal experience-the job's not done til I bleed plus my wife spent many years in the field). For a lawyer I would generally prefer a legal aid and direct the action myself. Get a big lawyer for a small matter and you just get a big bill, but seldom a good result unless he's a relative. It's just not worth their time to care. I'd really wonder what a pilot certified to fly 747's was doing at the controls of a small charter plane and I'd be giving him a breathalizer for sure. So yes indeed there is such a thing as over-qualified. As for my tonnage sea time and funds, both have been adequate to upgrade, but not to open ocean unlimited. Basically, I could run 60' bikini filled boats and go home most nights or I can work deck or helmsman on a 150' or 200'. If I were 18 and starting out I might make a different choice, but I like where I've taken my life.
If you read back on the original poster you'll see that he doesn't make his living on boats although he may or may not have once. Now this seems to be a sideline; more just a matter of holding a license for personal satisfaction and picking up a little work here and there.

And I can attest to that, as we have a friend in common who is a captain for United. A darn good Extra 300S pilot as well.

That's un-true. I know of a Captain that held a 1600 ton unlimited master and downgraded to a 500 ton master, because he was running yachts and the extra expense and classes needed to renew his license the last time were way too costly to justify the expense. Keep in mind to upgrade to a 200 ton or 500 ton master you need a certain amount of seatime OVER 100 gross tons in the last 3 years, as well as spending a lot of money in various classes. So sometimes older Captains do downgrade their license because they no longer wish to Captain yachts over 100' and don't want to incur the expense of carrying the license with all of the additional courses that are now needed.

Why are you always questioning other people? Are you that insecure?

American? I thought he flew United, but it's been 10 years since I flew with Dag. Give him my best next time you're solving the world's problems. BTW... did he ever finish building that RV-4 (RV-6?) he was partners in?

Norseman, your last post was removed. It wasn't necessary. Let's all return to our regularly scheduled thread...

That would be????? Oh yeah, has anybody actually been able to renew their license without sea time?