Piloting a yacht?

Question

is the the correct term? What is a person in charge of a yacht called? Do yachts have pilots at all?

I only ask, because a lad I work with says he is training to pilot a yacht and something just doesnt add up - my customers also go about it so i would like to be able to settle it once and for all!!!

Answer 1

Plenty of good answers....

Piloting in generic terms= navigating a vessel.

So anyone can be piloting a boat.

A Pilot in Official terms = Professional Commercial Guide for Ships in Harbours. He comes aboard your ship from the Pilot Boat and takes a position of guidance in the steering room. This may be the Helm...the Pilot House...the Bridge...etc. He is relied upon for his local knowledge and expertise...he does not drive...he guides the Skipper/Helmsman/Captain/whatever and maintaines radio contact with the Harbour Master or Local Marine Traffic Control.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The way I understand it the term 'Piloting' in terms of ships and boats describes the art of navigating/maneuvering in channels, rivers, harbors, or other areas where prudent skills in boat handling are necessary.  

Now, Ocean going ships do take a 'pilot', as mentioned above, a person who is a member of a local pilot association who has the local knowledge to guide these big vessels into port, rivers, channels, canals, etc.

The Master of an ocean going vessel is ultimately in command is often called the Captain or the 'Old Man' behind his back.  When pilots are onboard and navigating/berthing a ship they give commands to the helmsman (the AB steering the ship) and to the deck officer on duty (often working the engine order telegraph) to guide the ship in.  The Master, can at any time override the pilots command if he feels his vessel is in jeopardy.  EXCEPT in the Panama Canal, where the Pilots are legally responsible for the vessel temporarily under is command.

So, to answer your question, this young man could be training to pilot yachts.  Maybe he will get a license and do yacht deliveries or work on a yacht, or a work boat.  

Also it is good to remember that in different parts of the world, different words and phrases are often used.  

Cheers!

Answer 3

Piloting can mean a couple of things regarding boats or ships. A person that is operating a boat is "piloting" that boat  and that applies to ships as well. A "Harbor Pilot" is a specialist in a particular harbor that boards a ship offshore and "pilots" the ship in using his local knowledge.

That lad may be taking a course to learn basic boating knowledge and earn a "certificate". Unless he has sea time he will not be able to get a captains license.

Answer 4

There is a course in piloting. It involves charting and plotting courses, Also involved are tides, currents, sextants and GPS, radar and right of way.

Answer 5

On very large ships the person in charge is called the Captain or sometimes the Ship's "Master".  On yacht sized vessels the usual term is Captain.  The confusion may come from the fact that a person called the "Pilot" will assist the Captain in bringing his ship into a harbour or in navigating a complicated stretch of water. The Pilot works in only one place and because of this can develop very detailed knowledge of the local conditions whereas a Captain may only visit a particular port once in a while.  If this person is training to work at one harbour (usually for the port authority) to assist any vessel that needs to enter or exit the area then he could become a "Pilot", if he is just learning to handle one boat in particular then he is training to be the Captain.

Answer 6

Ask him about the RYA and what do the initials mean, if he can not answer that (Royal Yachting Association) he is just scamming you. Any way you don't pilot a yacht you sail one and the certificate that you get is called Yacht Masters.

Answer 7

When I think of piloting, I think of a helmsman who comes about a boat or ship to take it thru a particular stretch of water. Like a pilot who takes the helm for one stretch of the Mississippi River, or the Columbia.

If you are in charge, you are the captain. If you are taking your orders from somebody else you are the helmsman.

Answer 8

Yachts have a Captain (or Skipper) and all the crew are sailors. You don't pilot yachts!

When very large ships come into some ports they may use a 'pilot' to help them in. These are guys in very powerful tug type boats that know local currents, depths etc. They don't use yachts!

Answer 9

He may be doing a day skipper's course at night-school or a helmsman course through a local sailing club.The local library will put you on to who does one in your area.Piloting is a term more commonly used for manouvering in smaller spaces like estuaries,rivers, and harbours. A' Pilot' is employed by the local marine authority to guide ships and boats into and out of harbours. They are normally highly qualified mariners with a lot of experience. Normally on a yacht  or small sailing boat the person in charge is called the skipper.

Answer 10

Technically a Pilot is a professional who takes over the helm, and maneuvers a ship into and out of a particular harbor.  He belongs to a powerful union, and he is a well educated individual who has studied many years to acquire his status.  I believe he would be employed by the Harbor or Port Authority that he works in.

One who is regularly "in charge" of a boat, is usually called the Captain.  He may, or may not be the owner nor take the helm.  A licensed captain who takes charge of a commercial vessel must have an approved Coast Guard License of either the 6 pack status (typically for charter boat captains) or a Masters License which authorizes him to operate it by the  tonnage of the vessel.

One who simply takes the helm, typically in the US Navy, is called a Cockswain.  He is not usually a Captain, nor the owner of the boat.

Your friend should probably simply refer to taking a boating course...unless he is an apprentice in a pilot training program.

Answer 11

They would be captain or Helmsman you see the steering position of a yacht would be called the helm!!

But most just refer to the man/woman in charge as the Captain!

General non comercial courses are called sea master or sea skipper or even the yacht master course. However I do belive the word Pilot does mean someone who is qaulified to steer a ship into or out of a harbour via a pilot boat. you know the tug like boats that steer big ships in and out of port.

Why'd I get thumbs down?? The lad is talking S**t either way and what I wrote is true!