OK...rant a little on this.

[yellowpages]

So there is a post on 'tother board. Guy offers $200/day for 3 days for a Capt./guide to go out with on his boat, show him the waters and etc.
Gets an answer from someone who is, let's make the assumption, not a Bahamian. If so he is not allowed to work or earn money in the Bahamas without permission which he would not get if a Bahamian was available who could do the job. Now maybe the answer did come from a Bahamian who has a USCG Capt. license but if not...whatcha think? I couldn't give a hoot but just stirring up a little holiday eggnog.

[syd]

Hello YP At least you can a rant on this board.
Most of the foreign captains work without work permits because they can be issued Bahamian captains permits without Immigration approval, $30. is all it takes. Bahamians are excluded from USCG licenses.

[yellowpages]

Always glad to learn something new. Happy New Year!

YP

[SamFamAustin]

That actually happens to be a very good question. Boats and captains come in all different flavors as to documentation, license, and restrictions. For US rec/mairne boats less than 25 tons or 63 feet I would suggest hiring a deck hand or "friend" rather than advertising for a true commercial captain.

You out there to weigh-in on this Pellucid?
Sammie

[PELLUCID]

Most charter operations require their captains to have a license appropriate to their citizenship and line of work. Since I'm a US citizen and operate a small boat, mine is a USCG 50-ton license.

In general, a foriegn captain operating a small boat in the Bahamas must be working for an business licensed in the Bahamas, must have a Bahamas Class A permit for the boat, and must have a Bahamas Form IV Boat Master's License for himself. The only charters you can do under this arrangement must originate outside of the country.

In short, it is quite difficult for a non-Bahamian to come here and legally solicit charter business locally.

Don't ask me how to fill out the paperwork, or how much it costs! The boy scout program administrators handle all that. I do think, from the stories they tell, that the process would be a nightmare for the newbie to navigate.

[SamFamAustin]

I thought it would be nearly impossible ... this is good information. There is the Jones Act in the US which says only US-made boats and crews and captains can do that kind of thing in the States (domestic chartering). I don't blame the Bahamians a bit.

As to the Boy Scouts, they have a nice facility down here on South Padre Island with a large camp ground and a few kayaks, rowboats, and small sailboats - us locals have protected that fiercely because a casino gambler outfit wanted the land real bad. I bet the best riff is getting selected for the Bahamas, though, on your boat. Me? I'm still 14 at heart!

Thank you for keeping some kids interested in the ocean, sailing, and safety. Not too many people do that anymore. One would hope if that if some local Abaco kids could participate, a few of them, that would be very, very cool. :)
Sammie

[PELLUCID]

There aren't that many boy scouts in the Bahamas... but the program does take a boatload of them out every year. Mostly from Nassau of course, but from some of the other islands as well.

Three years ago I had a scout from the Marsh Harbour troop come along with some scouts from St. Louis. He swam like a bathtub toy, but could snorkel circles around the midwesterners. Everyone enjoyed his comedy routines. The only problem was getting him to leave the boat when the week was over!

I'd like to have more local kids involved. I think it would be great for them, and great for the US troops they would interact with. The only problem seems to be that most of the boys locally drop out of the troop by age 14, and that is the minimum age we take on the sailing trips.

[BahamaAngie]

I think it is great that you are involved with scouting. I was involved with cub scouts for 8 years and have to say it was some of the best years of my life! I think it makes the boys better people.