Requirements checked against the NMC OUPV and Master less than 100 GRT checklists · September 2026
Does my boating time count?
Often, yes. The Coast Guard can credit time you spent operating or working aboard a vessel, including your own recreational boat, when it is properly documented.
- Use the Small Vessel Sea Service Form (CG-719S). If it's your own boat, attach proof of ownership, such as the state registration or Coast Guard documentation.
- Shorter days can count on small boats. On vessels under 100 GRT, a day of service can be as little as 4 hours underway. Check the NMC's sea-service guidance for how it applies to you.
- Record the details. Vessel name, length and tonnage, the waters you were on, and the dates of each trip.
- Riding along doesn't count. You need to have been operating the boat or working aboard as crew.
Three credential paths
| Credential | What it lets you do | Sea service | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUPV (“Six-Pack”) | Carry up to six passengers for hire on uninspected vessels, such as fishing and small charter boats. | 360 days, 90 of them in the past 3 years. Near coastal needs 90 days on ocean, near-coastal, or Great Lakes waters. | 18 |
| Master 25 / 50 GRT | Command smaller inspected passenger vessels and other vessels up to the tonnage on your license, within your route. | Inland: 360 days. Near coastal: 720 days, at least 360 on ocean or near-coastal waters. | 19 |
| Master 100 GRT | Command larger qualifying passenger and commercial vessels up to 100 GRT, within your route. | Same as above, with more of your time on larger boats. | 19 |
The tonnage on a Master license (25, 50, or 100 GRT) is set by the size of the boats in your sea service. If most of your time is on small recreational boats, expect a lower tonnage limit; time on larger vessels raises it. How to find a boat's tonnage →
What else you'll need
Optional endorsements can widen your options: Auxiliary Sail for sailing vessels, and Assistance Towing for towing disabled boats.
Where it can take you
Charter Captain
Fishing, sightseeing, and sailing charters.
Water Taxi & Tour Boats
Harbor, lake, and river passenger operations.
Yacht Captain
Running a private or charter yacht for an owner. Larger yachts often sail under foreign flags and also expect STCW training and flag-state certificates.
Yacht Delivery
Moving boats between ports and seasons.
Assistance Towing
Helping disabled boats, with the Assistance Towing endorsement.
Launch & Tender Operator
Marinas, yacht clubs, and anchorages.
Six steps from boater to captain
Gather your records
Registrations, logbooks, fuel receipts, and photos that show when and where you were underway.
Fill out a CG-719S for each boat
One form per vessel, with honest day counts. Sea-service tools →
Pick the credential
Match your days, waters, and boat sizes to the NMC checklist for OUPV or Master.
Take the exam or an approved course
An approved course can substitute for the Coast Guard exam. Verify the course →
Medical, drug test, first aid & CPR
Schedule these close to your application date so nothing expires.
Apply to the National Maritime Center
Submit through Navita, the Coast Guard's online credentialing system.
Traps that slow boaters down
- Trying to rebuild years of trips from memory at application time.
- Overstating days or tonnage. The NMC checks, and a rejected form costs months.
- Assuming a course certificate is a license. It only replaces the exam; you still apply to the NMC.
Start logging now. A simple notebook of dates, hours, vessel, and waters, kept honestly, is worth more at application time than any memory.
Ready to count your days?
Start with the tools and guides built for this path.
Sources
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