boat captains licence??

To answer your original question. No, sorry, it is not feasible. Any more than it is feasible for me to take a fast track course in neurosurgery to operate on an eight year olds brain tumour. Lives are lives whether in an operating theatre or at sea.
 
There has been a lot of speculation as to what you intend to do. Just what is this boating opportunity that has arisen? Knowing that might skew people's judgement.

What boating experience have you got? I wouldn't recomend going into the marine industry, particularly some type of chartering, diving, type of thing, without being very experienced - well I wouldn't go out, and pay for doing so, with someone who wasn't proved to be.

Its a shame that there have been so many negative posts, but maybe you could tell us more and people might be a little more encouraging.

I definitely wouldn't give up immediately, but do consider the implications before parting with any money.
 
Ok.
So.
Lots of replies.
Some helpful.
Some not.
Some downright rude.

For those who are interested in giving any further advice I'll clarify things:
The boat in question is a 6m, 16 seater, Zodiac with a Suziki 115hp engine. It is used to carry 11 passengers on snorkelling trips in the Canary Islands. The 11 passengers satisfies insurance requirements I believe, but may also be a licence requirement, I don't know.
The business is for sale and I'm looking at various opportunities in the Canaries. This is one. I need to know if it is feasable to get myself qualified to run the boat in a "reasonable" timeframe.
ie would I be able to get myself licenced by next summer or would I need to employ a suitably licenced pilot until I become "qualified".
Or will it just take too long?
Thanks to those who took the time to reply and hope the above info can help if you fancy giving any more.
Cheers
 
Re: boat captains license??

[ QUOTE ]
if you are carrying more than 12 passengers, the vessel itself has to be licensed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Harry
I think that it now states that if you are "carrying passengers for hire or reward" the boat has to be licenced - even if it's only carrying 1 passenger.

In the posters original post he indicated that he wanted to carry 12-16, and has Solitaire has quite rightly already pointed out he won't get permission to carry that number on a 6 mtr rib but even if he stops at 12 he'll still have to get the boat coded for carrying passengers and coding any boat these days is not easy!!!

Peter.
 
[ QUOTE ]

The boat in question is a 6m, 16 seater, Zodiac with a Suziki 115hp engine.
It is used to carry 11 passengers on snorkelling trips in the Canary Islands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally underpowered! Well the boat's not, that's the maximum size engine on a boat that size, but for that number of people - it won't plane and god knowes where they put em all! Where do they currently take them? A few feet off shore? You don't say where you are going to operate and the seas around the Canaries are not the same as the Solent /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Mind you that can cut up rough in a 6 metre rib if you don't know what you are doing!


[ QUOTE ]
The 11 passengers satisfies insurance requirements I believe, but may also be a licence requirement, I don't know.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suggest you ask the local authorities - this rib will not be coded under MCA legislation - it would not be allowed - so it's most probably a "local" registered boat under Spanish (?) law. Dodgy!!! If so, then a UK qualification, such as PB2 with an ICC wouldn't cover you.

[ QUOTE ]
The business is for sale and I'm looking at various opportunities in the Canaries. This is one. I need to know if it is feasable to get myself qualified to run the boat in a "reasonable" timeframe.

[/ QUOTE ]

Walk away and look for something else. You could find yourself on a manslaughter charge! As "skipper"/operator you would be totally liable


If this appears rude, so be it. But you are walking into deep water here and you clearly can't swim.
 
Thanks Solitaire.

Straight forward words of advice were eactly what I was after and your posts were not rude.

Some, however, likening boating to brain surgery were rude and absurd.

For those who have welcomed me and given polite, constructive advice, Thankyou.

For those that haven't, can I suggest you give advice in the manner in which you would like to recieve it.
 
firstly the more extreme comments tend to happen on any forum when the original poster isn't there to maintain control - in this case the context that you have now delivered enables people to focus rather than widen the arguments - as an example if you had stayed away another day there would have been comments about much much less obscure uses of boats........

I think you have to get professional opinion about what appear to be 2 distinct alternative routes to follow -
1. register the craft as British and follow those rules regarding the coding of the vessel and operators licence then overlay the requirements for operating such in the Canaries.
2. establish the requirements for the operation as a whole based in the Canaries.

in boath cases you are going to have to establish the Canaries end so I would start with 2 and include the implications of 1 in my discussions. fwiw I wouldn't move without having it all laid out by the local authorities in writing and I wouldn't be skimping on my liability insurances etc either so establish the true premium situation well in advance. It may well be that the insurers have a different set of requirements from local regulations as well.

I wouldn't run a mile but I wouldn't expect to move quickly - you need to bottom out a lot of issues not skim them quickly to establish a decision in principle. The devil, as well as being in the deep blue sea, is in the detail of such operations. Even if you were the owner operator hiring in the skipper I would want to know the above details - I would certainly not be happy to work on the basis of what has been happening in the past. High profile incidents with holiday makers and water craft continue to influence this area which has gone from totally unregulated to the current diverse application of legislation at the moment.

there's good and bad news about not setting up in the US - the bad news is that it's unlikely someone will be able to give you a folder containg "the definitive guide to setting up a small boat business for snorkel diving within 3 miles of shore"; including all the forms and recomended insurances - the good news is that you might just be able to make it work from a standing start within your timescales if you are prepared to put in the effort and do not expect to actually make a living out of it!

All the best and do keep posting as you progress (or give up) the dream.

ps - still don't believe 16 in a 6m boat...............sorry if this seems rude.
 
"Some, however, likening boating to brain surgery were rude and absurd."

Agreed, very unusual for a Brain Surgeon to die/suffer injury whilst practicing his discipline!
A boat skipper/captain however--------- /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

To skipper a boat for commercial purposes, requires knowledge & skill. More importantly experience. Very similar requirements as for Brain Surgeons perhaps.

To the layman, both can make their trade look easy, cos they are professionals. It ain't.
Look at the many previous 'zero to hero' posts on these forums (or should this be fora), for more information.
 
Sorry if you find my comments rude. You asked if it was feasible and IMO, it is not. I merely used an analogy to support my view. Experts in this field have answered your questions politely and in great detail, I regret I am not qualified or experienced enough to give specific advice. I do, however, stand by my 'opinion'.

The fact that this business is in the Canaries makes it even more unfeasible (again IMO). I have a friend who has just returned from UK after running a very successful charter business in Spain. I say successful because he was ex MN, perfectly qualified, the boat was immaculate and coded for his activity, he had competent crew and he was never short of customers. However, the bureaucracy, language problems, taxes, local politics etc killed the business off.
 
Hi welcome to the forum. I have little to add to the advice above. Just a small point which could complicate things even more, I don't think the Canaries are in the EU. I seem to remember from my last trip there that they were a little like the Channel Islands. That is associated with an EU country but not part of it themselves.
If my memory has failed me again, please accept my apologies.
Allan
 
Duncan,

Thankyou for your help. It's exactly sort of advice I was after.

On balance, the whole thing, while not impossible, would seem to be fraught with problems.
While I am keen to "live the dream" I think this particular dream may be too much hassle!

As for the 6m 16 seater Zodiac, thats just what the paperwork said, whether or not it is, I have no idea!!!

I'll carry on searching for the "dream" but I think I'll steer clear of anything nautical from now on!!!
 
Hi Novicex

It all sound's great, the business and all.

May I ask why the business is for sale?

This may be a great thing to take on and I do wish you all the luck in the world, but if you really want to do this, I would suggest that you buy the vessel if it's available on its own. Get your own name, check with the local authorities and make sure they're satisfied. AND do it!

You are a new business which people will try as oppose to maybe taken on someone elses standard of customer service which may have already tainted their view.

Best of luck

Al /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

To skipper a boat for commercial purposes, requires knowledge & skill. More importantly experience. Very similar requirements as for Brain Surgeons perhaps.

To the layman, both can make their trade look easy, cos they are professionals. It ain't.


[/ QUOTE ]

I never questioned the need for knowledge and skill, all I wanted to know were the requirements for getting the appropriate licence. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Any trade requires skill and knowledge, however every tradesman started as an apprentice with none of either. Just because I'm (nearly) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif 40 doesn't mean I can't learn a new skill, it's just the timesacle that may be the problem. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Maybe I'll learn to fly instead: I'm sure EasyJet could do with pilots! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
It looks as if he isn't going to bother with it anymore.... I do hope that it isn't a direct result of this forum - he talks of not even bothering with boating.... what a shame - another one gone.
 
Aye!

Shame if he does, it's a great industry to work in.

If your still here please don't give up! You'll look back in two years time and thank yourself for sticking with it.

Rally round the guy peeps, that way next time your in the Can'ies you'll have some one to talk to who will know the local area. Someone who may take you out while your waiting for that window to scream across the pond. He may even shadow you with your family aboard so your goodbyes and photo opotunities are longer.

Support this guy with constructive help, we all started somewhere, so, head out of ar****, and play nicely with each other.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

Any trade requires skill and knowledge, however every tradesman started as an apprentice with none of either. Just because I'm (nearly) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif 40 doesn't mean I can't learn a new skill, it's just the timesacle that may be the problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's put somethings into perspective here! I didn't take up boating until I was in my 40's. I boated for around 7 years for pleasure and it was only after a good friend of mine died at the helm did I realise there was more to life than corporate stuff. It was at my friend's funeral that I decided to say heave ho to corporate world and started out on my new course.

It was not easy at first - it has taken time! I liken the boating world to being a bit like Casanova - ask enough times and while you may get a lot of smacks, you will eventually get a lot of .................

I'm not trying to put you off, but to introduce some realism into the situation. I'm now 54, I'm on the water most days, I love what I do and I work with a great guy who I learn from every day - even though he';s 10 years younger than me. But remember, don't try and run before you can walk, by all means follow the dream, but don't give up your day job just yet.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Aye!

Shame if he does, it's a great industry to work in.

If your still here please don't give up! You'll look back in two years time and thank yourself for sticking with it.

Rally round the guy peeps, that way next time your in the Can'ies you'll have some one to talk to who will know the local area. Someone who may take you out while your waiting for that window to scream across the pond. He may even shadow you with your family aboard so your goodbyes and photo opotunities are longer.

Support this guy with constructive help, we all started somewhere, so, head out of ar****, and play nicely with each other.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Best post yet. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I'm still looking for a new challenge and who's to say singlehandedly circumnavigating the globe in a cast iron bathtub isn't it. If it is, I'll need lot's of advice from you all. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm not closing the door on anything, I'm leaving it ajar just in case!

Cheers.
 
So it is possible, it just takes time.
Maybe I need to test the water, so to speak, and see if a life on the oceans wave is for me. Then I can decide whether or not that sort of business is something I would actually enjoy, and thats the whole point isn't it.

TBH I had no idea it would be so complicated. I knew that I would need to be trained & licenced (& insured) but I assumed (wrongly) that because I'd be in calm waters, in sight of the shore and in daylight it would be "simple"
PLEASE don't shoot me down in flames for being naive /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, I now know, which is exactly why I found this forum and asked for advice. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Cheers!!!
 
A totally diffeent side to this you may want to consider Novicex: I have visited most of the Islands a number of times. The Canaries have built an economy based largely on cheap mass tourism of the Cooks/Cosmos/Airtours type, and have largely abandoned much of the old agricultural economic infrastructure that kept them alive (just) pre the advent of cheap air travel. They do not seem to have seen the need to attract a more elite (i.e. wealthy) and stable market to underpin the industry. Perhaps there is a lower intial return from this sector and their foreign investors are only looking for fast short term gains.

My question is simple - when will the bubble burst? This will be when fuel prices and the increasingly strident environmental lobby finally pushes the cost of air travel prohibitively high for the average package tour holidaymaker. This looks to me to be in the not too distant future.

Do you want to speculate on a potentialy uncertain market? Yes its still boom time there now, but when the seemingly inevitable crash comes - the Islands will not be a good place to be living in (unemployment is already very high), nor will they be a good place to have any financial interests.

Just a thought.....
 
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