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One picture of your last outing.

Got my Public Vessel license this spring, and one of my "retired guy" activities is piloting boat tours of a section of the Erie Canal. This two-mile section has a restored and fully functioning aqueduct we go over. We toured a few thousand second graders the last six weeks (Erie Canal is in the 4th grade curriculum), and now we'll do public tours two days a week through the summer. This class was belting out a solid version of Low Bridge, Everybody Down this morning...

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That is awesome! How do you obtain a “Public vessel license”? Anything like a 6-pack as far as requirements?
 
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Very nice day for a cruise yesterday. Water was as smooth as could be.

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That is awesome! How do you obtain a “Public vessel license”? Anything like a 6-pack as far as requirements?
A 6-pack, stunning good looks, and a razor sharp wit are the automatic qualifiers. Lacking those, I had to take an approved NYS boater safety course, perform 30+ hours of practical operation of boats comparable to the tour boats we use (25' to 35' traditional hull and pontoon boats with passenger capacities up to 30) and pass the NYS Public Vessel Operator License test. A little more robust than standard boater safety requirements, but pretty solid knowledge for any boater. The 100 page study guide is linked below, and the test covers pretty much everything in that guide.

 
A 6-pack, stunning good looks, and a razor sharp wit are the automatic qualifiers. Lacking those, I had to take an approved NYS boater safety course, perform 30+ hours of practical operation of boats comparable to the tour boats we use (25' to 35' traditional hull and pontoon boats with passenger capacities up to 30) and pass the NYS Public Vessel Operator License test. A little more robust than standard boater safety requirements, but pretty solid knowledge for any boater. The 100 page study guide is linked below, and the test covers pretty much everything in that guide.


I just spit my beer, laughing at your first sentence +. Otherwise, Love that.
 
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Decided to brave the high winds today, and got on the lake early when the wind was around 10mph. Our oldest wanted to tube since we don’t trust tubing on LOTO. Getting off the lake was dicy in the late afternoon, trailered against a sustained 20-25mph crosswind, did just fine though. Everyone took a nap on the way home (how most trips go lol), so I’d say it was a good day!
 
Hey Franco!

Would love to run that with you one day! The ramp was very easy, water was calm and was a fun ride. If we put in South of there, we could do a bit better on fuel. It is a lot of running. I used about 50% fuel and my top speed for the day may have been 32mph with 4 adults and 2 kids. . . There is a cove that everyone rafts up at- Tullytown Cove and there is a sandbar that everyone anchors at just north of this ramp at lower tides. I'd like to get to the C&D canal but may have to wait until the kids get a little older and drop in South of there. I don't think my 2 year old is quite ready for that yet. She's still in the unhunged phase and thinks she can constantly drive the boat, walk around while underway and just drop snacks in every crevice that our boats have. . . But shes cute so I keep her.

And yes, boat back from Quakertown, steering cable replaced under warranty. I asked the service rep if he's seen much of that. I couldn't believe after one year that a cable was getting stiff. He said they don't last forever!!! Ok well I'd like to get more than a year out of it. I asked if lubricating the cable would help during winterization and he added that lube would attract dirt and particles to cause more issues. I don't necessarily agree with him on this since it is a closed cable but nonetheless. I may have a chance to opt in for YES warranty which i'm still contemplating at like $2700 for 3 years. IDK. I'm never into extended warranties but time is precious these days.
 
Hey Franco!

Would love to run that with you one day! The ramp was very easy, water was calm and was a fun ride. If we put in South of there, we could do a bit better on fuel. It is a lot of running. I used about 50% fuel and my top speed for the day may have been 32mph with 4 adults and 2 kids. . . There is a cove that everyone rafts up at- Tullytown Cove and there is a sandbar that everyone anchors at just north of this ramp at lower tides. I'd like to get to the C&D canal but may have to wait until the kids get a little older and drop in South of there. I don't think my 2 year old is quite ready for that yet. She's still in the unhunged phase and thinks she can constantly drive the boat, walk around while underway and just drop snacks in every crevice that our boats have. . . But shes cute so I keep her.

And yes, boat back from Quakertown, steering cable replaced under warranty. I asked the service rep if he's seen much of that. I couldn't believe after one year that a cable was getting stiff. He said they don't last forever!!! Ok well I'd like to get more than a year out of it. I asked if lubricating the cable would help during winterization and he added that lube would attract dirt and particles to cause more issues. I don't necessarily agree with him on this since it is a closed cable but nonetheless. I may have a chance to opt in for YES warranty which i'm still contemplating at like $2700 for 3 years. IDK. I'm never into extended warranties but time is precious these days.

Next time you are on the Delaware make sure you head up the Schuylkill. Great views of the city.

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Awesome, I will do that. How far up can you go from the mouth of the river into the Delaware?

All the way to Water Works behind the Art Museum. We have anchored there a few times for lunch and drinks. The dam near boat house row is the limit.
 
Lake Cushman. When summer finally hits there is no prettier boating than in Washington.IMG_1338.jpegIMG_1332.jpegIMG_1339.jpeg
 
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@Emptytemples @Stealth If you guys can give me like a weeks notice before next trip I can get the boat out of Ironwood and home. I would love to get a group from the club to come down and take this trip. Especially if we can hit the Water Works, my wife and I were supposed to get married there. I love Kelly Drive Park, Fairmount Park and the PMA. I lived on Spring Garden and N34th for years. Would love to anchor out there and snag some lunch.
 
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Aluminum can took us down on Sunday
I am so sorry to hear this, we do clean ups on the islands and the public spaces as much as possible. Not all of the privately owned marinas will let us in to clean. This sucks, we are there every weekend at Ironwood, the camper and boat, If you want send a message ill shoot you some of our cell numbers just in case, we will always come out and help
 
I am so sorry to hear this, we do clean ups on the islands and the public spaces as much as possible. Not all of the privately owned marinas will let us in to clean. This sucks, we are there every weekend at Ironwood, the camper and boat, If you want send a message ill shoot you some of our cell numbers just in case, we will always come out and help
I appreciate it! It’s our main place we go to every summer. I’ll shoot you a message
 
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