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Random Quote: Fishing is more than fish;it is the vitalizing lure to outdoor life. Herbert Hoover
The USCG Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV/Captain's) License allows the holder to carry up to six paying passengers on uninspected vessels up to 99 gross tons (about 75-90 feet long). These are usually smaller vessels that normally engage in charter fishing, SCUBA diving, or tour cruises. As such, these vessels are limited to six paying passengers plus crew-hence the term "Six-Pack." The OUPV License is issued in three forms: OUPV Inland License:The OUPV Inland license is restricted to operation shoreward of the boundary line, excluding the Great Lakes. This license is valid on uninspected vessels to 99 gross tons.
* This license requires at least 360 days of experience in the operation of vessels, with 90 of the 360 days occurring in the last three years. Experience gained prior to 15 years of age may not be counted.
* The OUPV Inland License can be upgraded to an OUPV Near Coastal License once 90 days experience seaward of the boundary line has been achieved.
OUPV Great Lakes & Inland: 360 total with at least 90 days service on the Great Lakes.
OUPV Near Coastal: This license is valid on vessels up to 100 gross tons and out to 100 nautical miles.
* The OUPV Near Coastal License also requires at least 360 days of documented experience in the operation of vessels, 90 of which must be gained seaward of the boundary line. Ninety of the 360 days must be in the last three years. Experience gained prior to the age of 15 will not be counted.
Note: Sea Service experience can be counted on your own vessel. A Sea Service Form and proof of ownership are required. Experience on other people's vessels can also be counted. In this instance, to verify experience claimed and vessel details, a completed Sea Service Form with the owner's signature must accompany the application.
Additional Requirements Include:
* Age 18 or over
* Physical, drug test and eye exam
* CPR/First Aid training
* Completion of Mariners School USCG-approved OUPV class
No testing at the USCG Regional Exam Centers is necessary. All testing is done at on of our Mariners Learning System™ facilities.
Upon successful completion of the Mariners Learning System™ OUPV/Six-Pack online course, the student makes an appointment online to take their final proctored exam at one of our Coast Guard approved locations. We offer testing locations throughout the United States. Once the student passes the multiple choice exam, he or she will receive a Mariners Learning System™ certificate recognized by the United States Coast Guard in lieu of taking their exam.
Simply submit, within one year, the original certificate along with your application package and applicable fees to the USCG Regional Exam Center. Upon their approval of your package, the Coast Guard will issue you your original License.
__________________ Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
Most CG REC's (Regional Exam Centers) will accept 4 hours to count as one day. However, in one twenty four hour period a person can claim just one day.
The sea service requirement is basically a best guess where you sit down and guesstimate the total number of days you have been on the water in any given month and year. The Coast Guard is not looking for log books they require you to fill out a Sea Service form which basically looks like a calendar. Here you record the number of days you have spent on the water in each month since your 15th birthday. As you are aware 90 of those days need to be completed within the last 3 years. All forms and documentation is provided witht he cost of our courses.
It is not unusuall for some of our students to be short on the required Sea Service time. Once you purchase our course you have one year to complete the program. The clock starts when you log into the program for the first time... Not when you purchase one of our MLS programs. Then once you have completed the course you have one additional year to meet the Coast Guard's requirements.
__________________ Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
I was on my fathers boat constantly when I was around 18-20 years old(I am 44 now). I had my own personal watercraft for close to 15 years. I bought my first "real" boat two years ago. How do I log time for time on the water from so long ago? It is impossible for me to remember dates and times from so long ago. Can the personal watercraft be used as time on water?
__________________ John
2006 World Cat 250DC
Twin Honda 150
You can count time on your own boat or on friends or families boats. You are not required to have any time on the water will on board a commercial vessel.
You are required to have a minimum of 360 days experience on board a boat since you were 15 years old. 90 of those days need to be in the last three years. As little as 4 hours on a boat can be considered one day. And in one
This is basically an honor system which the Coast Guard will accept your best guess... You are not required to submit log books. If you choose to use one of our courses Mariners School will provide you with a Sea Service form and guidance on how to properly fill it out. This is basically a form that looks like a calendar... In each month there are 5 slots... Each of these slots represent a month of your choice... You simply make a best guess as to how many days you were out on a boat for a particular month... Once the total of days is greater than 360 you have now met the Coast Guards time requirement for getting your Captain's License.
__________________ Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
Hi Bob. My question is this. I have been operating boats, well sence i was
about 11 when I was a boat boy up at the lake. So time running them is
not a problem. How do I go about getting the required paperwork and
is there a testing sites in oregon around Portland or. ??
And it this all done via computer and from My home...??
Herman
__________________ Tight Lines and Flat Sea's
So Many Tuna So Little Time.
HM
Mariners School will provide you with all the necessary paperwork and Sea Service forms with checklists and telephone support on how to properly fill them out. You can also go to our website and under the "Assist Me" tab download these documents for free.
We do offer testing sites in Portland and all course work is done online at your own pace on your own time schedule. There is more information on this site under OUPV/Six-pack course description. You can also view a demo of the classroom by going to the Mariners School website and selecting the "Guided Tour" tab.
__________________ Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
We use several different conference centers. That information will provided when you register for the course and are prepared to take the proctored exam.
__________________ Captain Bob Figular
President, Mariners School
Hi, I have the six pack near shore license. It lapsed 9/2010 so I'm in the grace period year. I don't have a twic yet. Twic's started during my last 5 year period. My question is, since I'm not utilizing this license at all and don't really have plans to (I'm a Physician Assistant), should I deactivate the thing?
go ahead and get the twic and reapply for a new 5 years? What would be the most efficient way to not let the whole thing lapse, and still have access to it if I ever do decide to use it? Thanks
The advice on the captain's license is helpful, but I am unsure what the boundary line means. Most of my boating has been in the San Francisco Bay area and in Puget Sound., on my own boat. Will thses hours count as coastal? Also, I have done many diving vacations in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean. Do these( documented) day and overnight trips on small vessels count towards my hours?
The reason I want a captains license is for my own educational purposes and also to decrease my insurance premium. I will be living aboard and traveling on my 52 ft trawler, offshore. Which is the best license for me? I will not be chartering or taking paying passengers.
im interested in obtaining a captains license in a few years. i live in Trinidad, in the caribbean and in 16 years old. i have spent my entire life on boats and around the sea.
i have read the other posts and i have a few questions,
do i need US citizenship to acquire a license?
can i work as a private captain for american families?
does the license allow me to captain the boat internationally?
im interested in boats about 80ft, fishing or leisure, what license do i need?
can i record my time on boats that are not US registered?
thanks so much for your help.
The advice on the captain's license is helpful, but I am unsure what the boundary line means. Most of my boating has been in the San Francisco Bay area and in Puget Sound., on my own boat. Will thses hours count as coastal? Also, I have done many diving vacations in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean. Do these( documented) day and overnight trips on small vessels count towards my hours?
The reason I want a captains license is for my own educational purposes and also to decrease my insurance premium. I will be living aboard and traveling on my 52 ft trawler, offshore. Which is the best license for me? I will not be chartering or taking paying passengers.
The Boundary Line is set by the USCG and is based on the geography of your boating area. Shoreward of this line means Inland, seaward of this line means Near Coastal. Call the USCG to find out where this line resides and compare that to your typical cruising area.
None of your boating experience on dive vacations counts. (Only time served as a crew member counts).
Good luck - it's a very worthwhile experience if you love boating and safety.
Do small boats count toward time earned toward the 6-pack?
I have a Dolphin Sr sailboat that I take out on the lake whenever I get the chance. I'm curious as to whether such a small boat counts toward the official time, or not. It's about 14 1/2 ft in length, with a lateen rig - I hope to eventually qualify for the 6pack on sailboats.
Do small boats count toward time earned toward the 6-pack?
I have a Dolphin Sr sailboat that I take out on the lake whenever I get the chance. I'm curious as to whether such a small boat counts toward the official time, or not. It's about 14 1/2 ft in length, with a lateen rig - I hope to eventually qualify for the 6pack on sailboats.
-Mathew
You can turn in your time on the boat that you own, but being you stated you use it on lakes and being small,you may only qualify for a inland license, with a low tonnage rating.which is fine it will get your foot in the door and you can upgrade as your experience takes you to new waters and possibly larger vessels.
Should never have let it lapse. A license can be renewed for "continuity" purposes only with very little trouble. Even though I know longer go to sea I keep mine in continuity.
Should never have let it lapse. A license can be renewed for "continuity" purposes only with very little trouble. Even though I know longer go to sea I keep mine in continuity.
Explain how that works im just curious..i take it you cant show "sea Time" but you are able to renew?? does your rating as far as tonnage,or boundries (Near coastal,inland,etc)stay the same as your original?? I have heard of this but not sure how it works . im just curious...
OUPV/Six-pack License Requirements 
