CG-719S Small Vessel Sea Service

[Petesharbor Rat]

Does anyone have an idea as to how the evaluators convert the time spent on small vessels to actual sea service?

Any help you could provide would be great, and appreciated.

[Azimuth]

The days you list should consist of at least 4 hours away from the dock. They are supposed to be 8 hours but 4 will suffice. If you happen to live on your boat you are only supposed to list the days spent underway. If it is your boat you will need to provide proof of ownership during the time you are claiming. If it is not your boat you will need something from the owner verifying your time.

My understanding is that the evaluators take the info you provide at face value. They are giving you the benefit of the doubt as to the time you report. How far you stretch that, if at all, is up to you. In other words, they don't spend their time investigating or verifying the information you provide, it is on the honor system.

[water]

A very knowledgeable and reliable instructor at a marine training facility advised not to use the CG-719S form if you had 12 hour days and need to get 1.5 day credit per day. It was his experience that the USCG would only allow 1 day credit for 1 day worked when using that form.

You need your time on a service letter written on company letterhead to get the 1.5 day credit for 12 hr days.

[Capt. Lee]

I used three hundred and something 8 hour days on a small 21 foot center console in addition to days on crewboats and utility boats to get my time for 100 ton master. You can go back to the time when you were 16 years old. I used summer days and weekends on the boat. As long as the boat has a valid registration you can use it. If you did not own the boat then the service letter must be notarized. Saved me almost a year of cleaning toilets.

[Petesharbor Rat]

Thank you all for the very valuable information. I figure that, because I have lived on my 37' for over five years, have crewed informally on too many boats to count, that it should count for something. Besides, entering as an OS, I could use anything that would reduce my time in the head and bilge! LOL Hell...I have to do that enough on my own boat.

Thanks again you guys(gals), and any other info would be greatly appreciated!

Wiley

[NAUTICART]

The days you list should consist of at least 4 hours away from the dock. They are supposed to be 8 hours but 4 will suffice. <-- I remember "8 hrs" underway/making way... when did 4 = 8 ? If you happen to live on your boat you are only supposed to list the days spent underway. If it is your boat you will need to provide proof of ownership during the time you are claiming. If it is not your boat you will need something from the owner verifying your time.

My understanding from CG? training school? .... is that the evaluators take the info you provide at face value. They are giving you the benefit of the doubt as to the time you report. How far you stretch that, if at all, is up to you. In other words, they don't spend their time investigating or verifying the information you provide, it is on the honor system.

A very knowledgeable and reliable instructor at a marine training facility advised not to use the CG-719S form if you had 12 hour days and need to get 1.5 day credit per day. It was his experience that the USCG would only allow 1 day credit for 1 day worked when using that form.

You need your time on a service letter written on company letterhead to get the 1.5 day credit for 12 hr days <--- didn't remember that either, thought 8 hrs was max. .

I suppose I could do the homework on it , just being lazy. Thanks, as always, to everyone.

[Azimuth]

I suppose I could do the homework on it , just being lazy. Thanks, as always, to everyone.

I used this form for some sea service to get my "Master of Sail" and to answer you questions, that information came from the evaluator himself. With regard to the 4 vs. 8 hours, there is no place to list hours on the form only days, and the evaluator's advice was to use your best judgement in remembering how many hours you were away from the dock on that particular day.

[Shellback]

I used this form for some sea service to get my "Master of Sail" and to answer you questions, that information came from the evaluator himself. With regard to the 4 vs. 8 hours, there is no place to list hours on the form only days, and the evaluator's advice was to use your best judgement in remembering how many hours you were away from the dock on that particular day.

Here is the form and as Azimuth, pointed out, it only asks for the amount days,however it also asks for an average of hours that were underway but it is not seeking hours for each and every day...I remember reading something about 4 hours before but couldn't locate it, I guess I am getting lazy these days too...http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_719S.pdf

[seadog!]

If ya gotta lie, you don't qualify.

Why cheapen the ticket?

Cap'n Lee- wouldn't another year on deck make you a better mariner?
I learn something new every day.

Shortcuts, shortcuts...you'll be sorry.

[bob]

"Another year on deck" ......... I have a ton of deck time from the 70s and 80s on commercial fishing boats and on OSV/utility boats as a diver. Of course the REC didnt counted any of it when applying for my AB. Either I couldnt find past employeers or the REC didnt think a diver did anything on deck worth while because the boat had to at anchor and wasnt udnerway!

Now nearly a year into working as a GOM AB I can say with out a doubt I have masterd:
sweeping
moping
taking out bridge trash
carrying cases of soda to the bridge
cleaning heads
chipping rust
painting

Trust me it aint brain surgery and Im way ready to move on.
Yes, the small vessel sea service form made my time in the GOM much shorter.

Use it!
Bob

[NAUTICART]

If ya gotta lie, you don't qualify.

Why cheapen the ticket?

Shortcuts, shortcuts...you'll be sorry.

I'm with you,.... when I got the big 100 t masters,.... I just did it to be prudent, my time on water never "required" it.

[Diesel]

If ya gotta lie, you don't qualify.

Why cheapen the ticket?

Cap'n Lee- wouldn't another year on deck make you a better mariner?
I learn something new every day.

Shortcuts, shortcuts...you'll be sorry.

I don't remember Capt. Lee saying anything about lying?

[Capt. Lee]

If ya gotta lie, you don't qualify.

Why cheapen the ticket?

Cap'n Lee- wouldn't another year on deck make you a better mariner?
I learn something new every day.

Shortcuts, shortcuts...you'll be sorry.

The sea time I had was legimate time, so why not use it. At that time it made the difference of my making 87 bucks a day to 160 bucks a day. So live in poverty for the sake of building experience on deck or have a future. I don't have to tell you my choice.


I can not see where cleaning toilets will make me a better mariner. I had one captain that would piss on that damn toilet seat every morning first thing. It used to piss me off so bad. Once I got my 100 ton my learning did not stop there. On the boats I worked on the crews were so small that the captains helped out with everything. Painting, cleaning, maintenance, cooking, everything. Every step of the way I am continually learning. I am not above any task what so ever and have never said I am not doing that. I have always participated in all projects. The learning never stops and if you think you can get to a point in your career and just hit the cruise control you are wrong. Using legimate time on a vessel is not a shortcut, it is sea time. Just like on other vessels.

[Petesharbor Rat]

I would like to thank each, and every one of you for your thoughtful responses. I think it's important for me to note that; I'm not looking for an easy way up the ladder. But, I do think that my time aboard my own vessel and countless crewing aboard sail and power vessels shouldn't be "overlooked," or "cheapened."

This is the most knowledgeable and informed group that I have ever come across. I never hesitate to forward this link to fellow mariners with questions.

Again, my most sincere thanks...for all points of view.

Wiley