What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

[jpmurphy]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

I wasn't in the USN so chief of the boat won't do. But,,,,, Boat Boss kinda has a kool ring to it.

 

[JB]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

In the "International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea" there is no such designation as "right of way". There are only "give way" and "stand on" vessels and even if your vessel is the "stand on" vessel you are still obligated to take action to avoid a collision if it becomes apparent that a collision can not be avoided by the "give way" vessel alone.

Sorry I'll get off my soap box now I just feel it's important to make this distinction.

To get back to the subject I feel skipper is probably the best title for a small boat operator.

You are absolutely correct, Mike. I burned a lot of fuel just dodging those "Get out of my way, pipsqueak." helmsmen.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

this is what Websters says: i think they kind of missed something.
1 a (1): a military leader : the commander of a unit or a body of troops (2): a subordinate officer commanding under a sovereign or general (3): a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a first lieutenant and below a major b (1): a naval officer who is master or commander of a ship (2): a commissioned officer in the navy ranking above a commander and below a commodore and in the coast guard ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral c: a senior pilot who commands the crew of an airplane d: an officer in a police department or fire department in charge of a unit (as a precinct or company) and usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Hear the captain thing a lot, same as I should have a pirate flag.

But I'm not a captain or a pirate.

I'll stick with Craig.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

In any case, since I "operate" a 12' aluminum boat on small lakes, someone calling me "Captain" would probably have to fish me out of the water after I fell overboard from laughing so hard.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Having monitored vhf ch 16 for many a year, I have always heard USCG reply to boat operators as "Captain".
Any radio check done to BoatUS, Sea Tow, etc. and they will respond to you also as "Captain".
This is what I hear where I run, so "Captain" it is...
Note: Capitalization has no direct effect on importance..done for informative purposes only.......

 

[Floatsum]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Having skippered a 72' dragger for a few years, amoung other things, I seem to picked up the title "Cappy". I get called other things by the wife from time to time, but rather not get into that.

 

[ebry710]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

from being in the navy for so many years i can't imagine someone being called skipper unless there's a lot of crew members on board. capt. for a small vessel, and anything used personally. . . call yourself an amateur

Here's a thought from Wikipedia:

"The word "skipper" is used more than "captain" for some types of craft, for example fishing boats.

It is also more frequently used than captain with privately-owned noncommercial vessels, such as small yachts and other recreational boats. Mostly in cases where the person in command of the boat is likely not a licensed or professional captain, suggesting the term is less formal.

In Navy/Marine Corps and merchant naval slang, it is a term used in reference to the commanding officer of any Ship, base or command regardless of rank. It is generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker's respect.


Skipper RNR was an actual rank used in the British Royal Naval Reserve for skippers of fishing boats who were members of the service. It was equivalent to Warrant Officer. Skippers could also be promoted to Chief Skipper RNR (equivalent to Commissioned Warrant Officer) and Skipper Lieutenant RNR."

 

[mthieme]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Frank View Post
Well Your Eminence

So far that is the best title I have heard. Thanks for the suggestion.

I like that one too. I'll have to see if I can fit that one somehow in this season.
Let everyone else worry about capt., skipper, etc.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

I think I'll insist on "Milord." That has a nice ring to it. "May I come aboard, Milord?" "May I cast my lure on the starboard side, Milord?" "May I kick in something for gas, Milord?" Yes...that does have a nice ring to it, indeed.

 

[Fishstick]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Having monitored vhf ch 16 for many a year, I have always heard USCG reply to boat operators as "Captain".
Any radio check done to BoatUS, Sea Tow, etc. and they will respond to you also as "Captain".
This is what I hear where I run, so "Captain" it is...
Note: Capitalization has no direct effect on importance..done for informative purposes only.......

Having sat watch in a CG radio room for several years in Alaska, it was standard practice to refer to all as Captain. Given the amount of radio traffic, both commerical and private, you don't know who or what size vessel you are speaking with at the initial call. No disrespect to those who are licensed Captains intended, it just a matter of expediting radio traffic.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

My friends refer to me as "Designated Driver", not Skipper or Captain or Helmsman... I think I need to teach them how to drive the boat so I can be called "the drunken guy on the boat with a killer tan"...

 

[hubbard53]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

I think I'll insist on "Milord." That has a nice ring to it. "May I come aboard, Milord?" "May I cast my lure on the starboard side, Milord?" "May I kick in something for gas, Milord?" Yes...that does have a nice ring to it, indeed.

M'lord is what I call my wife when she is being overly bossy

I think Captain applies to everyone who is piloting a craft. If you are piloting a yacht, wheter commercial or private, are you not the captain of the vessel?

I don't call myself anything and would blush if anyone called me captain. However, my nephew gets a kick out of sitting in "the captain's chair" while anchored.

 

[chicknwing]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

I think Captain applies to everyone who is piloting a craft. If you are piloting a yacht, whether commercial or private, are you not the captain of the vessel?

Exactly what I was saying, while not formally a Captain, you are the master of the vessel. To expound upon that point, while I was in the USN the "Captain" did not carry the rank of Captain, rather the rank of Commander, despite that he was the master of the vessel so he carried the title of "Captain", I believe the same to be true in other instances whether you are piloting a 14 foot jon boat or a 40 foot sailing yacht. Someone on board must be the "Captain" a person who is ultimately the final word when it comes to matters of the vessel and her safety. The desire of one to be called such by others while aboard is as stated in another post a need for an ego boost.

you shouldn't have to worry about the manner in which you are described, unless you need the ego-boost that might accrue from an important-sounding sobriquet.

Surely a title is the last thing any recreational boater is looking for. I tend to hit the water to get away from society and all of our "labels", every notice how on a resume your work experience is listed with a "title" first and foremost.

TC

 

[Tinman57]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

The coast guard hailed me on channel 16 a couple of years back, and they addressed me as captain. I was in my 22 foot power dory and they were worried I had engine trouble, which I didn't, but I did appreciate the call.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

...I think Captain applies to everyone who is piloting a craft. If you are piloting a yacht, wheter commercial or private, are you not the captain of the vessel? ...

Not necessarily. Ships coming into a foreign port have a Marine Pilot come aboard to guide the ship into their berth but the Captain does not hand over command of the vessel to the Pilot.

 

[ebry710]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

Not necessarily. Ships coming into a foreign port have a Marine Pilot come aboard to guide the ship into their berth but the Captain does not hand over command of the vessel to the Pilot.

I agree. The Captain of the Valdez was not on watch when the tanker hit what ever it hit, but the captain was charged.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

As a little kid, maybe 5 or 6 years old, I remember every where I went with my Grandpa, they called him "Captian", or "Captian Dentz". His neighbors, the man in the hardware store, the mechanic at the service station, they all called him Captian. I thought it odd, I didn't get it. Later, I realized the respect they were showing a man who operated ships hundreds of feet long in the New York Harbor.

My Mom has his licenses. They are many, from tug boats, to container ships to the New York Circle Line. Many are for specific ships and for specific waters. From North of the GW bridge, To the lower bay to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

I intend to frame a few and display them in my home.

 

[david_r]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

im just an operator i guess.

i didnt see "king" in there........when im out on the water my boat is my own little country--i rule--what i say goes............you have to with some people....you know the people who dont like safety rules.....i just tell them "if you dont like the rules --- right out there is the bank -- get to swimin".

when im in someone elses boat i will call them anything they want ......maybe a few names under my breath----as i have heard a few times.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: What's in a Name....Captain, skipper, operator

As a little kid, maybe 5 or 6 years old, I remember every where I went with my Grandpa, they called him "Captian", or "Captian Dentz". His neighbors, the man in the hardware store, the mechanic at the service station, they all called him Captian. I thought it odd, I didn't get it. Later, I realized the respect they were showing a man who operated ships hundreds of feet long in the New York Harbor.

My Mom has his licenses. They are many, from tug boats, to container ships to the New York Circle Line. Many are for specific ships and for specific waters. From North of the GW bridge, To the lower bay to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

I intend to frame a few and display them in my home.

And this would typify my meaning of "Captain".....
Those seem like big shoes to fill..