Charter Sail Boat Captain Assessment Tool
Non-Subjective Tool
This week I was tasked with determining if a prospective captain was ready to start taking charters for the company for which I work most often; St. Augustine Sailing. I realized I needed a measurable, non-subjective means to determine if someone is ready to take passengers for hire.
So, I set out to establish a list to determine captain ability. My goal was for any prospective captain to score at least 80% on a basic checklist with special attention to USCG required safety equipment.
Boat Specific Details
Anything specific to the boat, it would be acceptable for the captain candidate to say something like, “I want to check the expiration on the flares, but am not sure where they are located.”
Boat-specific details would not “count against” the candidate, but would be covered in a captains’ familiarization session on specific vessels.
Local knowledge is another area to be covered in a check-out sail.
However, basics of adherence to federal regulations and boat handling were not to be taught, but observed.
Expectation
Although items are simply in a list format, the expectation would be for a prospective captain to check items as if their and the lives of their passengers depended on them.
For example, they should not just locate, but actually check fire extinguisher expiration dates, check if an anchor windlass is operable with or without the engine running, test the bilge pump.
Additionally, it would not be an assessment if I gave the list to a prospective captain to run through – I wouldn’t actually know if they knew to check these things, or only followed my list.
Passenger Comfort
A few of the items I want to observe have to do with passenger comfort. These are more subjective measurements.
Does the prospective captain raise the sails in a controlled, efficient, and calm process, or in a way that would alarm passengers.
Are they able to operate the throttle and controls in a quiet, composed method.
Please Comment with Additions!
Here’s what I came up with, and if you notice anything I should have included, please tell me in the comments below. I want the assessment tool to be as comprehensive as possible.
New Captain Assessment:
- Above Decks
- Anchor locker
- Windlass
- Emergency tiller
- Emergency bilge pump
- Shore power cord
- Docklines
- Running rigging
- Below Decks
- Through hulls
- Bilge pump(s)
- Radio(s)
- Fire extinguishers
- Flares
- Fuel shutoff
- Fire port
- Oil
- Coolant
- Belts
- First aid kit
- Trash, ice box
- Electric panel
- Documents, registration, tow
- Speed/depth inducer
- Safety Brief
- Name
- Boat name
- Radio
- Sound producing device
- Fire extinguishers
- Pfd’s
- Type IV throwable
- Flares
- Toilet
- Steps, companionway, hatch
- Black soled shoes
- Getting Underway
- Line handling
- Wind
- Wheel
- Lines
- People
- Traffic
- Electric
- Stern (lines/manatees/exhaust)
- Horn
- Cushions
- Flag
- Throttle control
- Transit Marina
- Traffic
- Speed
- Control
- Current
- Tidy cockpit
- Sit for low tide
- Sail Raising
- Comfort
- Control
- Line handling
- Dousing Sails
- Comfort
- Control
- Line handling
- Emergencies
- Anchoring
- Time
- Control
- Efficiency
- Anchoring
I Don’t Go Anywhere Without:
- North American Rescue CAT tourniquets.
- PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
- BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”
- Thank you Bill for being the Best Sailing Partner EVER!
