They want to show you a good time out on the water, but there's more to it than just buying a big boat and finding people to take on a trip.
"You hear the story, he's buying $20 in gas and bringing the beer, and that's fine. But it's breaking the law, and breaking the rules," Dan Tebo, charter boat captain said.
Dan Tebo has been a charter boat captain for the last 26 years. He owns a 6-pack boat, which means it fits 6 passengers, plus the crew members. He`s paid his fees to run a charter boat operation, but is frustrated with people that don`t.
"I'm sure there are some that know, but I'm sure there are a lot that don`t have a clue. There is also a lot of customers that have no idea what they might be getting themselves into," Tebo said.
Lt. Commander Sean Brady says any time money or goods are exchanged for a boat ride, even if it`s to buy gas, the ride is considered a charter. If the boater doesn't have the licenses, you, as a passenger, are breaking the law. Brady says their biggest concerns are people looking to make a quick buck. Boat owners will rent out their boat without having the proper charter boat licensing and training.
"There is no active enforcement right now, there are some people that are operating unaware of the regulations and are unable to talk to the Coast Guard. We are going out and reaching out to them," Brady said
Brady says this is an issue, because it creates some safety concerns. If a boater hasn't had proper training, and something happens to a passenger, they need to know what to do.
"It's more of them getting in trouble. They could get in some serious trouble if they were to get into an accident. They would lose everything. When the lawsuits start coming down, the law won`t be on their side," Tebo said.
