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It is interesting that it is believed that an individual with a USCG (OUPV) license is somehow more experienced than an operator holding a NH issued commercial license.

You can obtain the OUPV license by shelling out about a thousand dollars and a week of your time to a variety of private entities and a number of local community colleges. You enroll in their OUPV course and receive your license upon successful completion of their course, no test before the CG is necessary.

And the log you need submit to the CG (along with completion of the necessary first aid course, three letters of recommendation and the fee) to obtain your license, along with your diploma? That log is filled out by you!

So it is just as possible that an individual can take the CG approved course, create his own log (no verification is required or done by the CG) and get his license without ever stepping foot in a boat, as it is likely that someone would do so in obtaining the NH license!

In reality, the Marina in question is a reputable business. When they employ an individual to act as a captain on thier behalf, do we really believe that they have employed an individual with absolutely no experience, given their level of liability exposure in such a business venture?

I don't think so.....

By the way, if anyone does not believe it is that easy to obtain an OUPV license, e-mail me off-line. I will be happy to relate to you the sad story of a weekend "captain" on the seacoast that did indeed do so, and quickly went out of business in part due to the constant damage he inflicted to his tour boat by running it aground on inland coastal waters he claimed to have logged his hours in.

I won't embarass him by posting the tale publicly, but I was shocked at how easy it was for him & his partner to secure the CG approved OUPV certification!

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