Certifications: Cdn Vs US Vs ???

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by newfdogs

Are there still insurance breaks available based on pleasure-level competancies like ISPA Coastal Skipper or ASA 103 (104?) or are they only available with higher level training or commercial designated endorsements?

Thanks again!!
C.J.

I have a number of Canadian Power Squadron courses under my belt and get a roughly 10% insurance premium discount for having those. Whether CYA courses get you the same, I don't know, but I know they are roughly equivalent and that neither "recreational" qualification carries any professional weight whatsoever, nor implies charter-skipper competencies.

I would go with Power Squadron as their 12-week Boat Course is pretty comprehensive. I would also suggest Coastal Pilotage as a second course. Obviously, at this point, you also need the PCOC card in Canada, but that test is part of the Boat Course (I got mine in 1999, long before it was mandatory). Combine that with crewing for a couple of seasons in the crappiest weather you can find and your skill set will likely be in the top 25th-percentile of all recreational boaters. At that stage, you can consider the "semi-pro" courses that lead to a charter-skipper licence, or some merchant marine equivalencies.

You should be aware that a lot of foreign countries want to see both insurance and some competency certificate or other qualifications before they will let you cruise in their waters. North America is fairly backward in this respect in that prior to very recently, any idiot over the age of 16 could drive any watercraft up to some ridiculous length without having any kind of proof of skills or instruction. Jetski morons, 30 knot power boat blow-bys in restricted waters and GPS-induced interactions with the shore are the result.

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

I think that the various RYA tickets are not only excellent indicators of learning levels but are also by far the most "international" -- both because of reputation and because they are in English.

This is my perception, too, and it's completely separate from any considerations about nationality and so on. Produce a "Yachtmaster" or particularly a "Yachtmaster Ocean" certificate, and it's liable to cause a port official's shoulders to relax, because they are hard, expensive and complex things to get, and you have to have authentic sea hours logged to even take the courses, unlike most of our North American "sit-down" exams.

Unless you're up for being a freighter's third mate, they are the way to go if you are crossing oceans.

[newfdogs]

Originally Posted by Valiente

I have a number of Canadian Power Squadron courses under my belt and get a roughly 10% insurance premium discount for having those.

I would go with Power Squadron as their 12-week Boat Course is pretty comprehensive. I would also suggest Coastal Pilotage as a second course.

Thanks Valiente...I've actually just completed the CPS Boating Course (including PCOC) this past fall, then I followed up with VHF/DSC Endorsed course, and then their Piloting program...that was my winter. CPSS offer some really good stuff and I've been fortunate to have really good instructors. The only downside to the CPS route seems to be that they only offer didactic courses, and if you want to hit the water you've got to go elsewhere...and hence this thread.
Apparently the US Power Squadron has just secured a joint association with someone (ASA?) so that they'll have a mutual cross-over curriculum. For my educational requirements it'd be nice to see CPS pursue the same.

I've heard CPS membership can facilitate insurance discounts, but I'm not clear on whether it's based on a minimum level of training or the particular insurer or ???

[Valiente]

The particular insurer. I use Skipper's Plan via Elite, and the brokers I have are strictly boat owner-oriented. I used to have the boat under the house insurance, but when I switched, I saved about 40%. Probably a quarter of that is producing certificates you now possess.

[Davidrogerson]

The RYA syllabus is very intense for the Yachtmaster course and the exam is a minimum of 8 hrs per person in one go. If you are a competent sailor but may lack in the theory or vice versa i would suggest the rya coastal skipper.

[jackdale]

newfdogs

If you still wish to challenge some CYA exams, send me a PM and I can arrange it. I am a CYA Advanced and ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore instructor located in Calgary.

Jack