I am Captain...

BruceK

BruceK

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Curious George here.

Trawling through online boating vids everytime I come across an American video the owner/ helm of anything over 25 foot always introduces themselves as captain. Is this to do with their particular certification, example get yourself a day skipper cert and slap on the epaulettes, or is it informal?
 
The what would be in the U.K. “ skipper “ ie the one in command usually at the helm with any necessary qualifications , is also referred to as “ Captain “ in the Med .

Its a bit un nerving at first because as Bruce infers the mind imagines epaulets with 4 gold braids etc but nope every helmsman’s a “ Captain “
 
I get called Captain but It's more for comedy (Birdseye, Pugwash, Jack Sparrow...etc etc.) rather than because I have much credibility but I think boaties do like a title. :cool:
 
I was just wondering, the UK doesnt mandate you have any certification to be in control of a vessel but I believe America does. i.e. upon certification does that bestow the title Captain and if so how onerous is this certification. Being "captain" of a ship afterall comes with some extra-ordinary powers when out at sea / beyond territorial waters, disciplinary and otherwise, that without those privileged powers could land you behind bars.
 
BruceK said:
I was just wondering, the UK doesnt mandate you have any certification to be in control of a vessel but I believe America does. i.e. upon certification does that bestow the title Captain and if so how onerous is this certification. Being "captain" of a ship afterall comes with some extra-ordinary powers when out at sea / beyond territorial waters, disciplinary and otherwise, that without those privileged powers could land you behind bars.
Click to expand...
Suppose it’s the same in the Med my Fr permit d Mer says I can captain a vessel up to 24 M .
Every body well the big med sea states do have mandatory qualifications for leisure boat users .Fr inc jet skiers too .
So officialdom refers to you as captain .
” Captain can you move your boat to quay X “ etc .
They don’t say “ excuse me mister move the boat to quay X “ Or “ hey skipper berth port side on “ it’s always “ Captain “
 
They tend to wear blue shorts , white tops and my daughter bought me this cap.Stop laughing ?.
A kinda for the dad that has everything present .

Occasionally when entertaining guests and entering a port not known to us.
I have been known to look the part .
B6F185E5-B619-4FFD-975A-6DB923DE4B85.jpeg
Guests ^

B8EEC50A-E6B8-4D71-B905-1019AF235BE2.jpeg
Me .
Call me what you like .
Hard keeping up with the Italians , dress sense etc .
Remember no one’s bothered to pick up the VHF , so we just muscle our way in ( August high season ) and blag a berth .
 
When we were live aboards in Florida even the checkout girls at the local West Marine stores were 'Captains' I forget the qualification title or details but IIRC it was often called a '6 -pack' . There were other higher levels that related to the tonnage as in size of vessel you could 'command' and I think our broker was one such with a 25 ton certificate. I had a Florida boaters certificate and still have my licence card (valid in all States )as a result of passing my exam online answering multiple choice answer questions that often had me rolling on the floor laughing. my stern oif.:ROFLMAO:
 
Portofino said:
The what would be in the U.K. “ skipper “ ie the one in command usually at the helm with any necessary qualifications , is also referred to as “ Captain “ in the Med .

Its a bit un nerving at first because as Bruce infers the mind imagines epaulets with 4 gold braids etc but nope every helmsman’s a “ Captain “
Click to expand...
Even Google, on land.
 
Portofino said:
Suppose it’s the same in the Med my Fr permit d Mer says I can captain a vessel up to 24 M .
Every body well the big med sea states do have mandatory qualifications for leisure boat users .Fr inc jet skiers too .
So officialdom refers to you as captain .
” Captain can you move your boat to quay X “ etc .
They don’t say “ excuse me mister move the boat to quay X “ Or “ hey skipper berth port side on “ it’s always “ Captain “
Click to expand...
Don’t they call you porto
 
Portofino said:
They tend to wear blue shorts , white tops and my daughter bought me this cap.Stop laughing ?.
A kinda for the dad that has everything present .

Occasionally when entertaining guests and entering a port not known to us.
I have been known to look the part .
View attachment 133328
Guests ^

View attachment 133329
Me .
Call me what you like .
Hard keeping up with the Italians , dress sense etc .
Remember no one’s bothered to pick up the VHF , so we just muscle our way in ( August high season ) and blag a berth .
Click to expand...
 
The wife often reminds me that I am the captain...but only while the boat is in motion...as soon as the boat stops my rank and authority is rescinded
 
I dont know Bruce, but if i am at the helm i am the captain, if we are cruising along and i am not at helm i am captain, my boat :) , so what i says goes on my boat goes.
 
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