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

[captmello]

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

Should I change my name? I'm no Captain.

However I borrowed the name from my late father who used it as a name on old compuserv in the 80s.

I would happily change it.

 

[hubbard53]

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

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

right. I wasn't really thinking about temporary "pilots". I was meaning more along the lines of "who is in charge" of the vessel. . . Who is in command. Navy COs arent necessarily piloting the vessel; they're leading those who are.

 

[Mark42]

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

Should I change my name? I'm no Captain.

However I borrowed the name from my late father who used it as a name on old compuserv in the 80s.

I would happily change it.

Nah, don't bother unless you want to. Lots of handles of Captxxx on this board.

BTW, just to show how different things were in the 1950's, my Grandfather Captian Dentz took a test to get a licence to push barges up and down the Hudson River by Tug. The test was administered over a 3 day period. The amazing part is he had to draw by hand, using colored pencils, the Hudson River from the NY bay north a few miles, listing depth, bouys, bridges, clearances, rocks, tributaries, etc, all from memory. Its quite amazing to see, done on plain graph paper, all taped end to end, it stretches about 5 feet. He had a real nack for sketching, so it looks very professional.

Wonder if that same test is still given today with all the GPS, etc available to navagate by?

 

[Captain Caveman]

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

I only go by "captain" on this forum

 

[Fishstick]

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

Then we have the celeb designations like: Captain and Tennille, Captain Kangaroo and my personal favorite, Captain Morgan.....

 

[hubbard53]

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

Then we have the celeb designations like: Captain and Tennille, Captain Kangaroo and my personal favorite, Captain Morgan.....

And who commands them all?

Admiral Nelson and his mistress, Lady Bligh

 

[ebry710]

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

Should I change my name? I'm no Captain.

However I borrowed the name from my late father who used it as a name on old compuserv in the 80s.

I would happily change it.

When I motor along side a Navy ship in my whaler I just a guy on a boat, but when I give assistants to fellow boater, wave to kids on the beach or just docking my boat without bouncing of the rubber I get that feeling of a vessel captain. I like the name skipper, but I wouldn't fault anyone for using the name captain.

 

[Nandy]

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

I got a license form both the DNR and the Power Squadron. I still get called "hey you, head that way" or "get back in the boat and get me a beer"...

 

[AZSenza]

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

While not a "Licensed" Captain, I prefer to be called one or Skipper, both as a title of leadership and respect. My last job I was an engineer. While I did not have a degree in engineering, what I was doing was engineering. Same thing applies, wheather you know it or not, when you assume the responsibility of piloting a water craft, you are assuming the role of a Captain. You are supposed to know, understand and abide by the same laws, regulations and rules as a licensed Captain. The only real difference is pay!!! (I was paid more than our degreed engineers by the way, I had more expirience) So, Captain of the boat it is....or Skipper for short.


p.s. I fly a pirate flag, low while under way and raise it to full staff while anchored.

 

[hubbard53]

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

p.s. I fly a pirate flag, low while under way and raise it to full staff while anchored.

my wife wanted to get me a pirate flag for christmas but I wouldn't let her since I am not a pirate. And if I were, I wouldnt want to advertise it

i thought about giving piracy a shot but when I thought more about it I realize that ohio inland lakes do not give any routes of escape . . .

SO for now, I guess I must settle for being a simple Captain

 

[AZSenza]

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

Not to hijack (LOL) the thread, but a few weeks ago I wanted to board a local tour boat and raid the tourists, then the wife reminded me there was no where to escape too... the raid was on and over before I ever loaded a single cannon...
Thats what good first mates are for...

 

[hubbard53]

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

Not to hijack (LOL) the thread, but a few weeks ago I wanted to board a local tour boat and raid the tourists, then the wife reminded me there was no where to escape too... the raid was on and over before I ever loaded a single cannon...
Thats what good first mates are for...

hijacking threads is OK - if they moved faster, they wouldn't be hijacked!

Yeah, my #1 (trekkie) keeps me out of trouble, too. I would be nice pirate too...i would only take their rum - and only if its Top Shelf rum...

(psst....that's the name of my boat)

 

[ebry710]

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

my wife wanted to get me a pirate flag for christmas but I wouldn't let her since I am not a pirate. And if I were, I wouldnt want to advertise it

i thought about giving piracy a shot but when I thought more about it I realize that ohio inland lakes do not give any routes of escape . . .

SO for now, I guess I must settle for being a simple Captain

I don't think I'd want to be a captain of a pirate ship. One eye, one leg and a hook would make me have to trade in my manual downrigger for an electric one. If that was my lot in life I would do that, but to trade in my manual downrigger for a bottle of rum that I can't even drink on my boat seems silly.

So I am going to settle for being the skipper of my whaler.

 

[mthieme]

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

For me it's Captain...at least for the 1,000 posts.

 

[phwrd]

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

Based upon my navy background, and my current lack on experience on my boat, i like to think of myself as the Chief of the Boat.

Chief bottle washer, deck scrubber, navigator, safety.. responsible for everything on the boat, but also answering to a higher authority.