Online Captains License course

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folieadeux

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Anybody know much about the online Captains training courses? The Admiral wants us to pursue chartering sunset and cocktail cruises since we live on the water in a beautiful location and the boat sits at the dock 75% of the time.

I have found the Mariners Learning Systems, any comments or suggestions ?

http://www.marinerslearningsystem.com/home.php
 
Neal,
Great program that is the one I am currently working on for my 6 pack. I have no complaints.
 
I find it interesting that only the people selling you the course call a OUPV license a "Captain's License", the USCG certainly doesn't use that term. It is further telling that the company produces a Video that states "Can't document your sea time? That's OK, just write down your time spent on the water AS BEST AS YOU CAN REMEMBER". Troubling in my opinion.

The only folks that never loose their title are "Captains and Whores".
 
When it comes to just reading the ROR I suppose doing it online would be OK. But there are several areas covered almost require an active Q&A capability.

When I got both my OUPV and my 100 Ton Master I did it all with an instructors in a classroom and really glad I did. We were able to go into a "simulator" mode and discuss various situations. Rules interpretaion and application as it were.

Also, when you get into plotting, set & drift an instructor is a very good thing to have.

IMHO

I do have a couple of questions though, 1) When it comes to "Sea Time" what proof do you have to offer? Or do they just take your word for it now? 2) How does the online service handle getting your TWIC? As far as I know the USCG no longer issues a Mariner Certificate without a TWIC at the same time.

Bob
 
I think that you will find that you wasted your money and time if you pursue and get this licemse.

These licenses are many throughout the US and very very few are making any money with them.

In NY I had an opportunity to make about 85 dollars a day to take a crew out to repair a bridge. No thanks.
 
quote:
Originally posted by L. Keith

As of December 29,2011 OUPV and others are no longer required to have a TWIC card.

http://www.workboat.com/Online-Feat...-TWIC-requirements-for-thousands-of-mariners/

Click to expand...


As with all things government, there seems to be a lot of confusion about this. I just called a friend of mine who is a Coastie in JAX. He says, as far as he knows right now, this only applies to renewals. new applicants still need the TWIC so USCG can get prints, ets., from the TSA.

Personally, I don't know. Just repeating what I was told.

Bob
 
I took the OUPV as well as the Master's course this fall. You are required to have a twic.

ms
 
unless it has changed since I got my 6 pack, you must have "x" hours of class time, by a certified instructor plus the physical before you can even visit the CG with a proof of time on the water. I think the class was
10 days, BUT worth every bit of the time and money, was not cheap
 
The exceptions only apply to certain USCG Merchant Mariner Documents (license holders). It has nothing to do with port visitors. See section 5(a) of the letter, it delineates the exceptions. To enter a port or any other "secure" area you must have a valid TWIC to proceed without an escort.
 
I think this document makes it pretty clear that it is no longer required to "acquire and renew". It only took them2 or 3 years to realize it was not needed for those Of us who run private yachts and never go into secure facilities!

As to the benefits of in classroom interaction it depends of your experience level and on the instructor. I can see how a boater with limited experience could benefit from a good instructor but this is rarely the case. It s usually all about learning the minimum to pass the test and nothing more. I did mine a few years ago and didn't learn a thing, the instructor would often tell people asking question not to worry that was not one if the questions on the test

And yes, if your sea time is on your own boat, it s pretty much an honor system
 
Doesn't matter weather you do an online (Mariners)or classroom. sea time is what you right down and certify to be correct Honor system as Pascal said. I took the Msriners course and enjoyed it. The video demonstrations were enough of a ateaching aid for me to learn plotting etc,
 
Funny my employees have TWIC cards but I don't because I don't have to work at the Port of Newark. It's nothing to do with boating we installed and maintain an old Nextel system there.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Laissez-Faire

unless it has changed since I got my 6 pack, you must have "x" hours of class time, by a certified instructor plus the physical before you can even visit the CG with a proof of time on the water. I think the class was
10 days, BUT worth every bit of the time and money, was not cheap

Click to expand...


It seems that the USCG has authorized certain schools to offer the classroom time "online" so the students do not have to travel or try to balance a class schedule. In my case the closest classroom school in 2012 is located an hour away and sessions are 6-10PM four nights a week, add the 2 hours of travel and that takes a lot of time out of a week, then the final weekend, the classroom time is all day Saturday and Sunday.

Even with the online course, you still must pass a physical exam, pass ad drug test, take a CPR course, get a TWIX card and submit "hours on water" through the honor system (btw, the USCG counts any 4-hours spent on the water as a "day", but you can not count more than one 4-hour period in one day, for example many days we will cruise 100 miles in 8 hours but that can not be counted as 2 days). After meeting those items then you must pass the USCG test.
 
Neal and Barbara, If you plan on just running your boat as a 6-Pack, uninspected vessel, you are no longer required to hold a valid TWIC (TWIXs are for Kids). You go to the TWIC center, get fingerprinted and pay your fee. At license renewal time if your situation (type of boat you run) has not changed you just go to the Regional Center and renew. But if you already have a TWIC all of that should be a non-issue.

Concerning the drug test, yes you have to pass a test at license issue time, but you also must stay under a plan that subjects you to "Random Drug Screens" during the year. Many part timers/yacht operators are in violation of this requirement and failure to comply with that provision will come back to bite you if a situation develops that results in your license being reviewed.
 
I have looked at getting my Captain's license now for years. The hours always held me back.
This is a interesting alternative, but I have the attention span of a 2 year old.
If I had to do this at home on my own, not sure I would get it done!
Either way, seems like a ok idea to me as long as you still have to take the test.
The test is what counts and the class is just prep work.
Probably if your focused, you will learn more this way as their will be no distractions in class!
 
Acquired my 100 ton masters USCG ticket with Mariners Learning Systems 2 years ago. Son Matt (21 yoa) just passed his test using the same course. Highly recommended.

Tom Dogan
Hot Tomolly
76' Lazzara MY
Michigan City, IN
 
1974 I wanted a Sixpac license. The Coastie said I had to verify all my Sea time.

"How the heck...."
He said: "Passengers etc! might verify for you!"
My sense of humor jumped right in there with; "the Dead ones too?"

To verify, you'd need some responsible people to make statements.
That was in 74 though. It may be different now!

Bob Benton is correct when he says Classroom full of people with different questions and an instructor with instant answers" is the best way to learn.
You cannot beat a classroom with an instructor.

The worst part for me was Drift n' Tides and charting.
There are "Tidal books" that show you the tides and water flows around Rocks etc.
They always managed to ask a question that involved looking up the Tidal movement in one of those books.
To this day I wonder if anybody ever had to know any of that stuff!?
 
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