What is everyone's experience with having a Captain's (6-pack for now) license? Does anyone use it either for Sea Tow, Sunset Cruises, High Speed Charters, Fishing?? I went out with a guy several years ago in Boca that had a 33 Powerplay, a Motion, and some sailboats, that seemed to be doing pretty damn well selling rides - the first offshore boat I was on. I'm sure insurance is a killer, but besides that, are there any real positives, negatives??

I got mine a couple of years ago...I learned a bunch in the classes, definitely worth it...

As far as charters go, my insurance said forget about it...

I definately want to take the class for the knowlede alone. Also, though, how does this seriously affect your insurance? Is this one of those rediculous cases where you get the license and your insurance goes up (even though you know that much more?) How does this affect you recreationally? If you want to get paid for cruising people around, and trying to make money commercially, how bad is it? Does insurance double, triple?

Yeah... I want to know about the insurance angle too. !

I would guess that the insurance increase varies a lot depending on horsepower, cat vs vee, size of boat etc...

For me, with twin 950's, it would have been tough to even get insurance.

Probably best to call your agent and check it out for your boat.

Getting your Captain's license will not affect your insurance much at all. I got my 50-ton master's license several years ago and told the insurance company about it - their reply was "That doesn't mean anything to us - show us your safe boating certificate". Considering the degree of difficulty and knowledge requirements between a license and the safe boating class, it didn't make much sense to me then, and still doesn't now, but that's how it played out.

I haven't had the occasion to use the license, but it's nice to have it as a "career option", not to mention what you'll learn in a well run class.

I've been thinking about it also. More for a career option.
I would like to transport boats for people. Like taking a boat from Florida to Michigan , things like that.

Getting the license definitely won't hurt your insurance rate. Chartering a high speed offshore boat sure might!

J - Dave (DJD) has his license and might chime in here, or you could PM him if he doesn't see the thread. If you go for it, I'll take the classes with ya if they're local to us.

STUDY - STUDY - STUDY - www.seaschool.com The hardest thing I've been through in a long time! BH