How to keep your Skipper's ticket.

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Attaining and keeping your Skipper's ticket is essential for a successful maritime career.  
Its also true that learning doesn't stop because we have our Skipper's ticket.

 Here's five lessons I learnt - on my first trip:
Before I'd even sat my Skipper's ticket I was asked to take a boat out to the Barrier if the owner (also in the class) didn't pass the exam.   Sure enough, he failed and I passed.
Lesson 1 - NEVER let anyone 'use your Skipper's ticket' if they don't have one.



So we depart Marsden Wharf on a Friday night for a 3 day fishing charter.  The fumes were terrible and we arrived at Nagles Cove at 2am.

Lesson 2 - Check the maintenance is up to date & survey current.  


After a couple of days, the weather turned bad and we were hold up in Whangaparapara.
Lesson 3 - Check all listed safety equipment & spare parts are on board. 



The ice started melting, the fish (& men) started to stink, food was running out and it was time to go home.  So the owner puts all the smelly fishos & me on flights back to Auckland. 

Then brings his boat back five days later when the weather cleared. 
Lesson 4 - have a Plan B - just in case & 'What if...    ?"


It would've been fine, except he lost money & somehow it became my fault.

Lesson 5 - Have a written contract and expect 50% payment before you depart.


I never did get paid, but boy did I learn some important lessons that weekend...  


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