What's the best way to accrue days-at-sea toward the 360 required for a USCG captain OUPV 6-pack license?

Question

I have no boating experience whatsoever.

I've been thinking of finding work as a Deckhand for a cruise line that goes out to sea for days at time, where each day is 12+ hours of work. This way I should be able to attain it faster. Is my logic in the right direction or are there better ways that I'm not seeing?

For example, if I buy my own boat and own it for a year, would that work too? And is there a minimum boat size limit in order for it to qualify? And how do I prove that I actually used that boat for the required hours per day, if at all necessary?

Lastly, if anyone knows of a Deckhand position in the New England area, let me know :) Long hours and hard work don't bother me.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The best way to get documented time is to find a local ferry company, or dayboat tug company.  for anything other than inland ferrys you will need at least an ordinary seamans document from the US Coast Guard. To obtain this, contact the nearest coast guard regional exam center, probably boston for you. boston has alot of ferry work, try boston harbor cruises, harbor express, mass bay lines or bay state cruises. For tugs, in new england, there is belfast towing in maine, portland towboat/ Mcallister, Boston fuel, Foss(boston), Acushnet (boston), Canal towing on the cape,  and some other mom and pop companies in new bedford.