Tour Boat Captain

If being at the helm of a boat is your idea of a great day at the office and the smell of salty air is a treat for your nostrils then you may very well be the right candidate for a career as a tour boat captain. A strong stomach and sea legs are a requirement for this job. If you truly love boating then you’ll feel right at home at sea whether you provide dolphin/whale watching tours, host fishing parties or captain the boat of sunset dinner cruises.

How do you break into this watery career? A good place to start is to gain some experience by mating on party boats. This is a great way to see if boating for a living is right for you. You may enjoy your fishing or water ski excursions with friends every summer but to see if this is really something you would enjoy doing on a regular basis I suggest getting hands on experience.

After you’ve learned the ropes and you have your sea legs intact your next step would be to obtain a captain’s license. You would need to check out your particular state requirements for schooling and licensing. If you go to Boat Owner’s Association of the United States on the web you will find information about each state’s requirements, locate boating schools and safety courses, join their association and receive discounts and more.

Once you have your license you can begin running party boats for other people or you could purchase your own boat and begin your new business venture right away. The same rules that apply to starting a small business in your state apply to this venture as well so do your homework, obtain the necessary licensing and insurance, become legal with the state and begin your career on the open seas.