The Ins & Outs of the Kinds of Jobs We Captains Do · -Short local haul, captain only, no crew...
Transcript of The Ins & Outs of the Kinds of Jobs We Captains Do · -Short local haul, captain only, no crew...
The Ins & Outs of the Kinds
of Jobs We Captains Do
Capt. Iver Franzen, NA
Iver C. Franzen & Associates
Naval Architecture & Marine Consulting
409 Washington Street
Annapolis, MD 21403
Ph: 410-268-2105
Cell & Text: 410-279-7688
www.IverFranzen.com
The Kinds of Work We Do as Captains:(listed very loosely in order of my career)
(I’m also assuming this to be primarily a Subchapter “T” crowd.)
- Short local haul, captain only, no crew - water taxi, short tours
- Term charter - captain for bareboat, captain for fully crewed
(single client group, multiple clients by the cabin)
- Private Yacht
- Short local haul, captain with crew - larger tour boats
- Private Corporate & Event Charter (often on the larger tour boats)
- Commercial work –
Tugs, work boats, commercial-assist towing, research
- Deliveries
- Relief
I assume you’re all licensed, so I won’t get into that unless asked.
Kinds of Boats :
Power:
Small, Large - # of crew & pax, complexity of systems, difficulty of operation.
Single screw, Twin Screw (flankable – non-flankable?),
Outboard(s)
Slow, Fast
Sail:
Small, Large
Single screw, Twin Screw - additional operational complexities.
Rig – Sloop/Cutter, Various Split rigs – Ketch, Schooner,
Modern vs Traditional Rigs - Various rigs with squares
And now to . . . Memory Lane . . .
Somewhat earlier in my career . . .
. . . And a little bit later . . .
. . . And a lot later . . .
Early ‘80s, I think
Plus a lot of cruiser/racer racing during college & Vermont years.
While I haven’t seen it since
1973, I DO have a chin . . .
26‘ Monomoy sailing whaleboats – great program boats – sailing classrooms!
Short local haul, captain only, no crew - water taxi, short tours
Excellent starter job! You’re on your own, don’t have
to manage crew yet, you get to do your own man-
overboard drills, and, on water taxis especially, you
get to do dozens and dozens of dockings and landings
a day!
Term charter - Captain for bareboat, Captain for fully crewed
Single client group - Multiple clients by the cabin
A bit like running a B&B, but you also have to drive the
house, and you can’t get away from your guests! And,
you have to make everything look really easy!
Sailing term charter not quite as
goofy as “Below Decks,” but
occasionally can be.
Now you get to train and manage
Crew, and essentially run a business!
Twin screw
Twin screw
Private Yacht
Requires a fairly well-developed talent
for subservience. Also be ready for
instant schedule changes, and to act as
a therapist and marriage counselor.
Short local haul,
captain with crew –
larger tour boats.
More crew management
and training. Actually, one
of the aspects of this work
I enjoyed and miss the most.
USCG is watching these most closely.
SMS now required. Business concerns
can short-change training time.
All these are twin screws – flankable?
More Short local haul, captain
with crew – larger tour boats –
This time under Sail.
This is where crew teamwork is at times
critical, but also a lot of fun!
Tenders as push boats. MOB?
Commercial work - Tugs, work boats,
commercial-assist towing, research
Twin Outboards
Tugs – Twin screw, traditional running gear,
flankable even with a barge. Good crew
teamwork, including with other tugs and
workboats on a construction site.
Commercial assist towing – every situation
Is different, makes for interesting challenges.
Research – Your clients/bosses (usually
scientists) are usually aboard. Requires
good communication & working relation-
ship with them. You respect their work,
hopefully they respect yours.
Relief Captain
Now you have to learn a boat really
quickly (1st time aboard), the crew as
well, and establish a proper working
relationship with them, also really fast.
Last, but . . . also first - Deliveries
Boats are never as ready to go as you’ve been led to believe they are. Preparation is
key, so don’t be rushed by scheduling. A good contract is also paramount!
Beware engine
air intakes low
on hull sides.
These almost
sank us in a
storm off
Hatteras!
Final random thoughts:
- Always expect the unexpected, even when you’re not expecting it. Practice mental “what-ifs.”
- Don’t let front office force you into an unsafe situation. SMSs are supposed to help prevent this.
- Since you’re all licensed, I’ll assume you know the Rules of the Road really well.
- Assume most other boat drivers around you DON’T!
- Licensed operators are held to a higher standard – you’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent!
- In an accident, even if you had right-of-way, you will still be found at least partially at fault if:
- You didn’t properly signal (VHF may substitute, but signals prevail if agreement not reached).
- They think you didn’t have a proper lookout.
- You didn’t take timely & proper avoidance action – Rule 17.
- Just like world cruisers, you need to learn to be able to fix almost anything on the fly. Spares!
- You or your engineer MUST do your DAILY checks (or more often if running 24-7).
- If you’re not a sailor yourself, at least learn the basics so you can anticipate sailors’ actions.
- If you can, always go upwind first.
- Proper lookout, proper lookout, proper lookout!
- Electronics – be careful of information overload & malfunction, maintain “analogue” abilities.
- You're still in charge, but - Listen to crew, they often have good ideas. BOUNTY
- Separate personal feelings from JOB! Crew with whom you’re at odds may still have good ideas! EL FARO
Iver’s “Baltimore Fleet”Clipper City, Lady Baltimore, Bay Lady – Capt.
Pride of Baltimore II – design assist
Time now for me to retire & go sailing on . . .
. . . My boat!
G’bye!
Capt. Iver Franzen, NA
Iver C. Franzen & Associates
Naval Architecture & Marine Consulting
409 Washington Street
Annapolis, MD 21403
Ph: 410-268-2105
Cell & Text: 410-279-7688
www.IverFranzen.com
So, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Be safe!