How to Get Sea Time if You Don’t Own a Boat

There’s a reason so many people ask me how to get sea time for a captain’s license if they don’t own a boat. 

The sea time requirement is daunting enough even when you own a boat. For those who don’t, it can seem impossible.

But not owning a boat doesn’t disqualify you from earning your captain’s license. In fact, plenty of successful captains got their start without ever owning a vessel. The key is understanding how to get sea time through alternative routes.

Understanding the Sea Time Requirement

Before we dive into how to get sea time without a boat, let’s quickly cover what the Coast Guard actually requires.

To earn your captain’s license, you need a minimum of 360 days of boating experience. A “day” means at least four hours underway on the water — not docked, anchored, or moored. You can only count one day per 24-hour period, even if you spend 12 hours on the water.

Of those 360 days, 90 must be within the last seven years to meet the Coast Guard’s recency requirement. They want to make sure you’re still active on the water when you apply.

If you go out on your own vessel, you can sign off on your time yourself. If you go out on someone else’s vessel, the owner must sign off on your time. 

The person who signs for you doesn’t need to be a licensed captain. If you’re on someone else’s boat and the owner is willing to verify your time, that’s perfectly acceptable to the Coast Guard.

How to Get Sea Time Without Your Own Boat

Work as a Mate on Charter or Commercial Boats

One of the best ways to gain experience is by working as a mate on a charter, fishing, or head boat. These captains need crew, and finding good crew can be difficult.

The trade is simple: They give you time on their boat, and you provide labor. Your “pay” is in sea time and experience. Some other operations — like dinner cruises and larger commercial vessels — also offer this arrangement. You might not get a paycheck, but you get something even more valuable for your licensing goals.

Even for those who already have a Six-Pack license, working as a mate on larger boats can be incredibly valuable. It gives you experience on vessels bigger than what you might be able to qualify for on your own, which can help you upgrade to a higher license level later.

Look for Boat Delivery Opportunities

If you’re a sailor, job boards are full of people looking to move boats. One of the most difficult things for me when I was moving boats was finding crew. However, I learned that plenty of people are looking for boating experience and are willing to work hard for it.

In exchange, I was able to take them out on trips they would never get experience on otherwise. As I progressed in my career, these folks got experience on boats larger than they would ever have access to on their own.

This is a fantastic way to rack up sea time quickly while also networking with experienced captains and learning the ropes of boat delivery — a lucrative career path in itself.

Join a Boat Club

Boat clubs like Freedom Boat Club and similar organizations allow you to pay a monthly or yearly fee for access to their fleet. You don’t have to own the boat to use it.

This is an excellent option if you’re specifically looking to build sea time for your captain’s license without the commitment and expense of boat ownership. You can take boats out regularly, gain varied experience on different vessel types, and accumulate days toward your 360-day requirement.

The variety of boats available through these clubs also means you can get experience with both power and sail, which adds versatility to your skill set.

Volunteer on Fishing Boats and Commercial Operations

Don’t underestimate the power of simply asking. Charter boat captains, fishing operations, and even commercial passenger vessels often need extra hands. Look for local dinner cruises, too. These operations frequently need crew and can provide steady opportunities to build your days on the water.

Reach out to captains in your area and express your interest in gaining sea time. Many will be happy to have reliable help, especially if you’re willing to work hard and learn. Yes, it’s a trade — you provide labor, they provide sea time — but it’s absolutely worth it.

Use Friends’ and Family’s Boats

If you have friends or family members who own boats, ask if you can join them regularly. As long as you’re actively participating — helping with docking, anchoring, navigating, or other operational tasks — that time counts toward your days on the water.

The boat owner can sign off on your time, and (again) they don’t need to be a licensed captain to do so. 

Pro Tip: Fill out the Coast Guard sea service form yourself before sending it to anyone to sign. Just leave the signature blank. If you make it easy for them, you’re a lot more likely to get what you need in a timely manner.

The Bottom Line: You Don’t Need to Own a Boat to Get Sea Time

The biggest barrier to getting your captain’s license isn’t boat ownership — it’s initiative. If you’re serious about earning your license, there are plenty of ways to accumulate the required 360 days of sea time without ever owning your own vessel. You just have to be willing to seek them out and put in the work.

So if you’ve been holding back on pursuing your captain’s license because you don’t own a boat, it’s time to let that concern go. Focus instead on how to get sea time through these alternative routes. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your time on the water adds up.