Captain a Demise boat or not

[captcaseB]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to the forum and have a question.
For the past year i have been working for a guy being the captain of a 30 foot sailing catamaran running it as a 6 pack vessel with a 6 pack license. The owner has been wanting to get a COI for it and try to run it as an inspected vessel which means i would need my Masters.
But now he is talking about running it as a Demise Charter vessel. Which means i think i would work for the charterer or even if they would want to hire me? I know i would need my masters as well for this.
What is your thoughts of working for a Demise charter boat?
Thanks

[captain58sailin]

The times, I have done this, the owner of the vessel stipulated that I was hired as the captain, which is not strickly by the book, but the charter clients were okay with that. I expect that if the client had another captain lined up, there might be an issue. Essentially the vessel is signed over to the client and it is up to them to choose the captain.

[captcaseB]

Thanks Capt.
All the reading i have done on this that is what i thought. He has to turn over complete control of the boat just short of giving up the title.
Im just not sure if i want to get involved with this because he does not want to spend thousands and get a COI for it or not just be happy with it to be a 6 pack vessel.

[captain58sailin]

It shouldn't be that expensive to go above six pack, the last time I went after that which was many years ago, we got denied due to no fire retardent in the resin of the fiberglass, I don't know if that rule is still in place, but that shut us down.

[captcaseB]

From what my boss tells me its expensive, he got a COI for our 41 foot Cat and cost almost 25 grand. He said the 30 footer would be just a little less by the time you upgrade bilge pumps, fire extinguishers, life lines, EPIRB, blue prints, and the list goes on.
I think he is set on going the Demise route to get out of the expense, and telling me they have to use me and a rate of pay they must pay me.
I just dont know.

[captain58sailin]

CYA you can always get a new job, not so with your license.

[sailronin]

A demise charter (bare boat charter) is often used to allow a foreign flagged vessel to charter in US water. To my knowledge it will not allow the boat to carry more than six pax if she is less than 100 GRT.
A COI is difficult to get as mentioned above but allows a vessel to carry more passengers up to a limit determined by the stability of the boat.
If the boat does get a COI you will need to get a license greater than your current 6 pax. A 100 ton ticket will not be too difficult, some classes and your seatime requirements, STCW BST and you should be good to go.