six pack license

Mark Mc · 04-29-2003, 12:10 PM

Well Denali, I'll give you my answer but no matter what I or anyone else on this board says, don't you think you should get the answer straight from the CG Licensing office? I'd hate to see you spend years getting sea time & going through all the hoops, only to have your documentation rejected.

I believe that sea time can be validated by just about anyone as long as they can swear / attest to the days they are signing for. It can be the guy at the fuel dock, a fish buyer, the bait shop owner. Their statement has to be on "company letterhead." The more common route is that one serves as a crewmember / deckhand for a licensed skipper, and that skipper signs for the time. But that is by no means the only way. Just be sure you really have the time. In the rare case when someone has part of their time falsified (known as "pushing the pencil"), it generally becomes known and that reputation sticks forever.

Good luck......Mark

edit/p.s. - Commercial fishing is also a valid way of getting sea time. Some charterboat skippers have gotten a good share of their original time doing this.

[ 04-29-2003, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]

CAPT KUJO · 04-29-2003, 04:30 PM

Yes...If you own a boat...and you have hours on the ocean....You can document yourself

CAPT KUJO

Miss B Haven · 04-29-2003, 05:31 PM

Keep a log - makes it easy to document your hours on the water. Just don't let your wife see it! :grin:

Albacore Tuna Captain · 04-29-2003, 07:39 PM

Just remember one thing. Any time you document should be factual. Like it was said, if you falsify your time, someone will know and you will get a bad reputation. There is no substitute for true "sea time". It's where the wanna bees and real professionals are seperated. Do your time and "earn" your license. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] When you get that license and you know you earned it, there is no greater feeling. You falsify your time and you will always know what you are.

Salmonator · 04-29-2003, 09:49 PM

If I remember correctly they requested some pics of boats I owned and operated (personal fishing trips with friends and family) in the required waters. If I had to do it all over again I would just take the course at Clatsop C.C. instead of self study. I passed the first two phases of the test in the C.G. testing office but had to finish with one day at Clatsop. I'm no Einstien but normally do well testing. That last one kicked my hiney once, and I came up just one question short in the next two attempts which I believe requires 90% to pass.

Denali · 04-29-2003, 11:39 PM

Was wondering if any of you Salty dogs have the Coast Guard "six pack" license. I printed out the requirements and the testing looks pretty staightforward. The "service" requirements I have a question about. The 360 day requirement of deck service, does this time have to be documented by another licensed captain? Was wondering how a guy goes about getting 360 days of deck service. Any insights?

Denali · 04-30-2003, 09:50 AM

Thanks for the replys. The one I'm looking at is Inland not coastal. I have about 20 yrs behind the wheel, about 1/3 in the salt (Atlantic), 1/3 on the Great Lakes (Michigan), and 1/3 on rivers and lakes. I only get to the salt now 3x a year, Sekiu, Astoria, and 1 week in the Fla Keys. I wouldn't fudge any deck time. Again thanks for the help.

Ken, USCG FV Safety · 04-30-2003, 10:17 AM

You really, REALLY want to contact the Coast Guard Licensing folks before you spend much time or money. Having both a deepdraft license myself, and a year's experience working in Coast Guard licensing, I can tell you that it pays to find out directly. The Seattle Regional Examination Center's number is 360-217-6115, and the number in Portland is 503-240-9347. BTW, Portland has perhaps the finest, most user-friendly office in the country!

skein · 04-30-2003, 12:02 PM

I went up a year ago (in October) and took the week-long course at Clatsop. We spent one day in the classroom then were out on the river for most of the other four. Great fun and I learned a lot. Cost? About $285 if I remember.

Gene, the instructor on the boat, quickly picked up on the fact that I was serious and spent a lot of time giving me tips and showing me electronics, etc. I felt that he went out of his way to answer questions and suggest things I might like to look at or try. It's really nice to see the display in the cockpit, then look out and see what it looks like in the real world.

I've had vacations I didn't enjoy as much.

PS. I passed the test first try, and I'm not sure I would have just studying on my own.

Skein