The Ins & Outs of the Kinds

of Jobs We Captains Do

Capt. Iver Franzen, NA

Iver C. Franzen & Associates

Naval Architecture & Marine Consulting

409 Washington Street

Annapolis, MD 21403

Ph: 410-268-2105

Cell & Text: 410-279-7688

www.IverFranzen.com

The Kinds of Work We Do as Captains:(listed very loosely in order of my career)

(I’m also assuming this to be primarily a Subchapter “T” crowd.)

- Short local haul, captain only, no crew - water taxi, short tours

- Term charter - captain for bareboat, captain for fully crewed

(single client group, multiple clients by the cabin)

- Private Yacht

- Short local haul, captain with crew - larger tour boats

- Private Corporate & Event Charter (often on the larger tour boats)

- Commercial work –

Tugs, work boats, commercial-assist towing, research

- Deliveries

- Relief

I assume you’re all licensed, so I won’t get into that unless asked.

Kinds of Boats :

Power:

Small, Large - # of crew & pax, complexity of systems, difficulty of operation.

Single screw, Twin Screw (flankable – non-flankable?),

Outboard(s)

Slow, Fast

Sail:

Small, Large

Single screw, Twin Screw - additional operational complexities.

Rig – Sloop/Cutter, Various Split rigs – Ketch, Schooner,

Modern vs Traditional Rigs - Various rigs with squares

And now to . . . Memory Lane . . .

Somewhat earlier in my career . . .

. . . And a little bit later . . .

. . . And a lot later . . .

Early ‘80s, I think

Plus a lot of cruiser/racer racing during college & Vermont years.

While I haven’t seen it since

1973, I DO have a chin . . .

26‘ Monomoy sailing whaleboats – great program boats – sailing classrooms!

Short local haul, captain only, no crew - water taxi, short tours

Excellent starter job! You’re on your own, don’t have

to manage crew yet, you get to do your own man-

overboard drills, and, on water taxis especially, you

get to do dozens and dozens of dockings and landings

a day!

Term charter - Captain for bareboat, Captain for fully crewed

Single client group - Multiple clients by the cabin

A bit like running a B&B, but you also have to drive the

house, and you can’t get away from your guests! And,

you have to make everything look really easy!

Sailing term charter not quite as

goofy as “Below Decks,” but

occasionally can be.

Now you get to train and manage

Crew, and essentially run a business!

Twin screw

Twin screw

Private Yacht

Requires a fairly well-developed talent

for subservience. Also be ready for

instant schedule changes, and to act as

a therapist and marriage counselor.

Short local haul,

captain with crew –

larger tour boats.

More crew management

and training. Actually, one

of the aspects of this work

I enjoyed and miss the most.

USCG is watching these most closely.

SMS now required. Business concerns

can short-change training time.

All these are twin screws – flankable?

More Short local haul, captain

with crew – larger tour boats –

This time under Sail.

This is where crew teamwork is at times

critical, but also a lot of fun!

Tenders as push boats. MOB?

Commercial work - Tugs, work boats,

commercial-assist towing, research

Twin Outboards

Tugs – Twin screw, traditional running gear,

flankable even with a barge. Good crew

teamwork, including with other tugs and

workboats on a construction site.

Commercial assist towing – every situation

Is different, makes for interesting challenges.

Research – Your clients/bosses (usually

scientists) are usually aboard. Requires

good communication & working relation-

ship with them. You respect their work,

hopefully they respect yours.

Relief Captain

Now you have to learn a boat really

quickly (1st time aboard), the crew as

well, and establish a proper working

relationship with them, also really fast.

Last, but . . . also first - Deliveries

Boats are never as ready to go as you’ve been led to believe they are. Preparation is

key, so don’t be rushed by scheduling. A good contract is also paramount!

Beware engine

air intakes low

on hull sides.

These almost

sank us in a

storm off

Hatteras!

Final random thoughts:

- Always expect the unexpected, even when you’re not expecting it. Practice mental “what-ifs.”

- Don’t let front office force you into an unsafe situation. SMSs are supposed to help prevent this.

- Since you’re all licensed, I’ll assume you know the Rules of the Road really well.

- Assume most other boat drivers around you DON’T!

- Licensed operators are held to a higher standard – you’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent!

- In an accident, even if you had right-of-way, you will still be found at least partially at fault if:

- You didn’t properly signal (VHF may substitute, but signals prevail if agreement not reached).

- They think you didn’t have a proper lookout.

- You didn’t take timely & proper avoidance action – Rule 17.

- Just like world cruisers, you need to learn to be able to fix almost anything on the fly. Spares!

- You or your engineer MUST do your DAILY checks (or more often if running 24-7).

- If you’re not a sailor yourself, at least learn the basics so you can anticipate sailors’ actions.

- If you can, always go upwind first.

- Proper lookout, proper lookout, proper lookout!

- Electronics – be careful of information overload & malfunction, maintain “analogue” abilities.

- You're still in charge, but - Listen to crew, they often have good ideas. BOUNTY

- Separate personal feelings from JOB! Crew with whom you’re at odds may still have good ideas! EL FARO

Iver’s “Baltimore Fleet”Clipper City, Lady Baltimore, Bay Lady – Capt.

Pride of Baltimore II – design assist

Time now for me to retire & go sailing on . . .

. . . My boat!

G’bye!

Capt. Iver Franzen, NA

Iver C. Franzen & Associates

Naval Architecture & Marine Consulting

409 Washington Street

Annapolis, MD 21403

Ph: 410-268-2105

Cell & Text: 410-279-7688

www.IverFranzen.com

So, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Be safe!