What boats need pilots?

Question

i also could not find this, after what tonneage does a boat need a pilot to get in a river?

Answer 1

Some larger vessels will request a pilot to help navigate a river, bay, harbor that has a narrow or shallow channel.  The pilot is there to help the vessels captain and is not in charge of the vessel, the captain is still in charge and responsible.  The pilot is a person that has local knowledge and knows the waterway very well.

Some harbor areas require vessels to hire a pilot to assist with the safe navigation and docking.

Answer 2

There is no fixed tonnage.  Small pleasure craft up to 250' normally don't need a pilot.  Ships and barges often use pilots, but here again some tugs captains pilot the barges, dock to dock.  If there is a harbor master for the port your interested in, contact him for the desirability of using a plot.