A Captain with a higher gross tonage license is a more qualified mariner.
When choosing a yacht delivery captain bigger is always better. A bigger license equals more seatime on larger boats with more complex systems experience. A captain with a large license is a committed professional mariner they have made a substantial investment in time and money to obtain that license.
Here’s something I pulled of a competitors website:
“When looking for a yacht delivery captain, bigger tonnage licence is not always better.
Find a captain that knows how to properly sail your yacht.
Many captain's got their sea service time for the USCG licence on tug boats, barges or tankers.
All of my time has been on boats and yachts 90' or less, and 95% of that time has been on sailboats.
It is very important to find a delivery captain that knows, understands and loves sailing yachts.”
Geese . . . It would be nice if the could even spell “License”
Think about it, who would actually be more qualified on any particular voyage and vessel? A working career professional mariner who has made his living and depends on his license and seamanship to earn a living. 99% of the people doing yacht deliveries on the internet these days are guys with 50 or 100 masters licenses they hold themselves out to be Yacht Captains or “Licensed Master Captains” The question I have is who appointed them such a lofty title? A real merchant you are familiar with the term “Master Mariner” Master Mariner refers to an officer who holds an Unlimited Deck and Engine License. Not many captains are Master Mariners.
Among professional mariners, the title "Captain" is always reserved for someone who has served in command of a merchant vessel, and not for someone who may hold a command license but has never been appointed to a command position. Wet ink 100 tonners are called bozos.
Realize this fact: Limited licenses less than 500 Gross Tons are only valid on domestic voyages within 200 miles of the Contiguous US Coast. Voyages to Puerto Rico and the USVI are considered international voyages; these limited near coastal licenses become invalid once you leave the US coast. These limited licenses are intended for domestic coast wise voyages only. The insurance companies know this and will use it not to pay a claim should one arise.
Look it up in the CFR’s or ask a maritime attorney if you don’t believe me.
It’s your yacht making the wrong decision in choosing a Yacht Delivery Captain could be more costly in the end by choosing the wrong person to deliver it.
