Ask Captain Kent: What’s On the Horizon for Summer 2025?
Answer: Choppy seas might be ahead, but we have to tools to help you weather the storm! None of this is meant to scare you – it’s meant to prepare you. This Dispatch is your call to batten down and get ready. The outlook may be clouded, but a skilled captain can navigate even the roughest […]
Ask Captain Kent: How Do I Document Sea Time from My Personal Boat?
Answer: If you’re applying for a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License, such as the OUPV Six-Pack License or Master License, you’ll need to document your sea time. The process is simpler than you might think! The USCG does not require ship logs, receipts, or witness statements—they rely on your honesty and self-certification through the Small […]
Ask Captain Kent: What Happens If I Don’t Pass My Captain’s Exam?
Don’t Worry – You’ve Got This! At Confident Captain, we understand that taking your captain’s exam can be a big deal. It’s the culmination of your training, preparation, and hard work. And while we see success every day, we also know that sometimes, things don’t go quite as planned. If you don’t pass one of […]
No License, No Passengers: How Illegal Charters Lead to Fines, Prison, and Tragedy
Operating a vessel carrying passengers for hire without a licensed U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) captain is not only illegal but also poses significant safety risks. This article delves into the definition of a paying passenger, the necessity of proper licensing, compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs), and real-world consequences faced by individuals caught […]
Top 5 Mistakes You’re Making in Your Captain’s Course (and How to Fix Them)
Photo: Micah Sittig There’s a right way to earn your captain’s license—and there’s a long, frustrating way. At Confident Captain, we’ve seen thousands of mariners go through our program. The successful ones have a few things in common… and the ones who struggle? They usually make one (or more) of these five mistakes. If you […]
The 6-Pack Rule: What’s Really Limiting Your Passenger Count
At Confident Captain, we often hear the same question from new charter operators and pleasure boaters looking to offset fuel costs or start a side business on the water: “My boat has 12 seats, 3 bunks, and plenty of deck space — why can’t I take more than 6 passengers for hire without jumping through […]
Book Review: Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish by G. Bruce Knecht
Reviewed by Captain Kent In Hooked, G. Bruce Knecht drops us into the cold, chaotic waters of the Southern Ocean, where a ragtag crew of poachers aboard the Viarsa 1 are on the run—4,000 miles of cat-and-mouse with Australian fisheries officers hot on their wake. The target? The elusive and lucrative Patagonian toothfish—rebranded for fine […]
Blast From the Past: Stability Basics by Capt. Erica
Here at Confident Captain, we are all about lifetime learning and returning to material when necessary. With that in mind, let’s revisit a blog post from 2020, when Confident Captain instructor Capt. Erica Bartos gave a breakdown of boat stability basics: Hello! Capt. Erica here with a brief overview of stability. For my off-season job, […]
Who’s Who at Confident Captain: Meet Captain Kent
If you’re new to Confident Captain, welcome aboard. You might be wondering who I am and who is behind the Confident Captain brand. My name is Captain Kent Dresser, and I’ve spent the last 30 years navigating the waters—both literally and professionally—to help mariners like you build successful careers at sea. Like many of you, […]
Book Review: The Confessions of a Rum-Runner by Eric Sherbrooke Walker
A Captain’s Take on a Classic Smuggling Tale I knew I was in for a good read when I hit the first chapter and found out that Walker’s career in rum-running started at a nautical training center for captains. As the owner of a legitimate training facility for the past 20+ years, I had to […]