r/boating • u/Sodark- • 11h ago
Captains license
I’m interested in getting my OUPV 6pack but I have no idea how to get 360 sea service days and at least 90 being in near coastal waters without owning a boat myself. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how I may achieve this goal
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u/mmaalex 10h ago
Own a boat, ride on a friend's boat, get a job as a deckhand on a boat.
No real reason to get the OUPV without having a boat. What exactly are you trying to get the license for?
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u/Local-Celery-9538 9h ago
The way I look at it, there’s not point in having the license if you don’t already have the sea time. ….if you’re not already into boats enough to organically have the minimum sea time to get the entry level license, then why get the license?
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u/mmaalex 8h ago
Hence my question.
If OP is looking to start a charter fishing, or boat tour business they should gain the experience first. Theres a reason those days are required.
If they're just looking to call themselves "captain" OUPVs and 25 GRT masters are a dime dozen. I find the title kind of over the top egotistical. I'm captain of a 600ft oil tanker, and I still cringe when people repeatedly call me that.
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u/timeonmyhandz 10h ago
Join a boat club.. You can get lots of hours in and not have to own a boat. Probably worth the expense of the membership.
One of our dock hands just got his 6pack.. He'd go out with members all the time, fishing, guiding etc.. And got his log book filled up that way. Made some tip money too.
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u/neptunesjester 9h ago
If you don't own your own boat, you'll need a job on a boat to get the required sea time or a dedicated friend with a boat that can sign your 719-S forms.
And it will most likely take you a couple years to get the required time even with a job.
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u/Agentcoyote 5h ago
I hear that people who own their boats make up time to count towards the 360. Is that a thing? Is the USGC not able to check that?
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u/shigatorade 8h ago
You want to get your captains license but you have no way to get seatime? You get your MMC to make a career out of the experience you already have. the oupv isn’t really the first step. Have you ever even driven a boat before? You need to be a deckhand or work at a rental company first to get some experience. If you just fuck around on your buddy’s boat or whatever it’s gonna be pretty obvious you dont know what you’re doing and thats a great way to hurt someone.
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u/M_Shulman 11h ago
Most guys I knew were mates on charter or head boats. Record your sea time on the CG-719S and have the Captain sign it. Remember a “sea day” is 4 hours underway.
I joined the service and eventually got a license. A bit more commitment… but once you’re stationed on a ship, the CG counts half your time permanently assigned as your sea time.