A few elements needed to become a charter captain: commitment, time, money, and an understanding spouse.

To get your Merchant Mariners Document; you must first contact the U.S.C.G. for an application form. It can be downloaded from the internet at: http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/m-pers.htm

The U.S.C.G. will notify you of your eligibility for either the OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel License) or Masters License. Then are two ways to take the test.

The first is by what I call "the three day wonder." Numerous companies are approved to administer the test. Most can be found on the internet. In addition, they will also do most of the leg work for you - such as obtaining the correct forms, CPR and first aid test, and training materials. These companies charge a fee (usually around $1,000) and cram you for three or four days. After which, you take this test. Little is learned, but most people generally pass. And if you don't, they allow you to retake the course until you pass.

The other way is take the test on your own. By studying, it can be done. But this is where an understanding spouse helps. The test is hard. I would recommend that you spend at least six months preparing for the test and having someone quiz you at every possible moment.

The U.S.C.G. will assist in locating a test center near you. I took my test in Toledo, Ohio and found that the U.S.C.G. was very helpful in both scheduling and administering the test.

The test consists of four parts covering five subjects:

Rules of the Road: Questions include: right-of-way rules, lights, dayshapes, fog and maneuvering signals. Navigation General: Questions include: tides, buoys, weather, compass use. Plotting: This part of the test uses a chart to plot problems such as set and drift, dead reckoning, and bearing fixes. Deck General and Deck Safety: Questions include: fire fighting, ship handling, ship construction, towing, lines, knots, and the Code of Federal Regulations.

On your question about number of poles - With a 21-foot boat you could easily run eight poles at once. I would suggest two poles on the downriggers, two poles equipped with #1 dipsies running from each side, and four poles running from the planer boards. Or you could run as many as six poles from the planer boards, and stack two poles on each downrigger. But without a good first mate, this could get messy.

I would recommend that you add two more down riggers. With this, 10 poles would not be a problem.

Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams