Diary of a PMI/Workboat Academy Cadet

[Ordinaryseaman]

I hope you realize that the college kids are stealing the hawsepiper's jobs??? The days of starting on deck & working your way up will be gone if the USCG has something to do with it. Those college kids are needing jobs & ship jobs aren't there for them.

Ted- I respect your opinion- and I agree- to an extent. Just not sure if "stealing" is the right word. I'm a former hawsepiper- I've worked on 10 boats/ships over the last 5 years. And.. never really got anywhere.

I'm also frustrated that it's tough, and getting tougher, to ascend the hawse.

The reality is this- the USCG and employers both prefer that you have as much training/licensure as possible.

I finally got tired of not getting jobs- and decided to get a license.

It doesn't guarantee me anything- but it helps.

And a degree from CMA/Mass/TAMUG et al would help even more.

Employers have a right to hire whomever they feel best represents their company.

As much as many people hate it- that often means "college" kids.

[Ordinaryseaman]

I know 2 girls here in the Bay area (both CMAers) whom work shoreside. CMA has, I believe, a program just for this. There's nothing wrong with having the option of coming ashore- especially if you get married/have kids- or just want to have options... oh- thanks for the idea! :-)

Tugted, It was my experience that those college kids didn't last long, especially when they get in a serious relationship, or worse, get married. Good shore jobs await them with their college degrees and "sea time".
Anthony, marbles in the overhead are good.

[Ordinaryseaman]

LMAO! l LOTS of good ideas- but that ketchup one is just... wrong. Which means I have to try it! I hope none of the other cadets are reading this.. don't want to warn them!

Got any of those little ketchup packets onboard? Fold them (gently) in half and tape two of them to the underside of the toilet seat. Pranking a chick with this stunt is a hellavu lot easier than a guy, but if you can get the timing right, one of my favorites.

I've also been known to open the hvac vent in the pilothouse, tape a uhf in there and then in the middle of the night, make devil is getting you sounds on it from another uhf, all the while safely ensconced in my rack. The shorter and quieter the sounds you make are, the better this prank turns out.

[Ordinaryseaman]

Google Annoy-a-tron . I think thinkgeek.com sells them? It'll cost you a couple bucks but it's undetectable. It's a little computer chip that lets out a beep at random intervals between 2-6 minutes. Small enough you can fit it anywhere, I took the face plate off my roommate's doorknob and slid it in.

It's funny you mention that.. I've seen something similar in a law enforcement catalog. I guess the premise was that sleep deprivation would make a suspect slip up- and therefor easier to prosecute?

[Ordinaryseaman]

Long 3 days here! Lots of hours-not much sleep I've been on 3 different boats- some more than once. It's hard to move everyday- but the upside is that I'm learning all the different boats here.

Today was pretty slack- no jobs-so I got to catch up on sleep! (many sailors' favorite hobby when on a boat)

Today we went shopping,dropped off Beano at the airport, then came back.. and I PASSED OUT!

Just woke up a few hours ago- and feel a lot better.

Tomorrow I go to my first conventional tug. Everything I've been on thus far has been a z drive/tractor tug.

Tomorrow I head to the "Royal Melbourne" which handles most of our barge moves here in the bay.

I'm excited to be learning something new. I've done a few barge moves with z tugs- but nothing with regular props...

I suppose that's an advantage of being new.. I don't have to "unlearn" anything. Both Z's and conventionals are fairly new to me- so I don't have to "unlearn" anything. I'm told the Z drives are really hard to learn- especially if you've been operating a single screwed boat forever...

I think it's great- I will have been on 4 tractor tugs- and 1 conventional- all in my 1st sea phase!

[seadawg]

I suppose that's an advantage of being new.. I don't have to "unlearn" anything. Both Z's and conventionals are fairly new to me- so I don't have to "unlearn" anything. I'm told the Z drives are really hard to learn- especially if you've been operating a single screwed boat forever...

try not to "unlearn" anything..rather add to your "bag of tricks"!!

[Ordinaryseaman]

Aloha! Only have a minute online but wanted to let everyone know I'm doing well:-) Two 1sts for me this week- working on a bunker barge- and doing 6 on/6off... now I know why people don't like the schedule-haha! :-)

[jdcavo]

**easier yet..a shorten pencil in an empty locker or drawer..most won't become aware until after their in the bunk and should have a hell of a time finding it as it rolls around intermittently!!BAD DAWG!!BAD DAWG!!

Even better, tie a large nut into a bight of line and hang it against the outside bulkhead of their room.
Dark green trash bags can't be seen on the deck of a darkened bridge, and are as slick as banana peels.
If there'sdisposable coffee cups on the bridge, punch a hole in one with dividers, and cut the entire bottom out of the next one in the dispenser.
If the boat has black toilet seats, black shoe polish.

[Capt Brian]

Even better, tie a large nut into a bight of line and hang it against the outside bulkhead of their room. Dark green trash bags can't be seen on the deck of a darkened bridge, and are as slick as banana peels. If there's disposable coffee cups on the bridge, punch a hole in one with dividers, and cut the entire bottom out of the next one in the dispenser. If the boat has black toilet seats, black shoe polish.

Damn - That is some harsh s&^%, glad you are behind a desk and not on board...lol

[Ordinaryseaman]

Howdy Everyone.! Sorry for not posting in a while. I wanted to let everyone know I'm in school- and doing well- although a little overwhelmed with classwork- haha!

I had some financial problems back home and ended up with a lot less money than I expected. I only had enough for tuition- or living expenses- and chose tuition. So I've been camping out for a while. It's not that bad- it's warm- and I have a sleeping bag- a place to shower, and places to eat.

Alas - between school and walking all over Seattle- I don't get online much

Will try to post as much as I can though

What's new with me?

The cadets have completed their chart plotting assessment. Right now we're doing azimuths and voyage planning. Both are tough- they really force you to study, pay attention, and do homework. At first it seems like you'll never get the concepts- but by the end of the week you've absorbed that week's lessons.

I particularly enjoyed doing the azimuths in the simulator.

I had a tough time- but Majah was patient and I got through it. It was definitelt challenging for me though.

It seems whenever life wants to give us a gift it comes disguised as a challenge...

[RkyMtn Paul]

Anybody hear anything from Anthony lately? Hope is still doing well and plugging away. All newbies should read his posts and threads.

[dougpine]

I saw him at PMI last week. It looked like he was doing well and he's just finished TC Nav, Radar, and some other stuff. I think he's left to go back to his boat now. I don't think he has had much spare time to post!

[Ordinaryseaman]

Howdy all! I'm good- though frustrated by my lack of internet access :-)

As Doug said- I've knocked out- radar, TC Nav/Compasses (hard), Lifeboatman,Cargo, Search and Rescue... I have Emergency Procedures for the rest of the week- then 2 days of simulator. I fly back to Oakland on Wednesday :-)

Anthony

[CaptAndrew]

Helloooo Anthony are you out there?

It's over 2 months since he checked in. Anybody know anything?

[GLMASailor]

Anyone heard or seen Anthony? Wondering how the programs going.

[Kevin]

Just read this thread, WOW great stuff!!!
Will look at other posts from you when I get home.
Thanks for taking the time to do this for us wannabes.

[dougpine]

Anthony left the industry and is off on another adventure. I'll be closing this thread.

Sent from my iPad using gCaptain