don’t worry about other people’s OPINION, do what you can with what’s available to you... you have to clep/test any skill’s you have learned either from book’s/internet, it doesn’t matter EXPERIENCE takes precedence over academic’s anytime !!! TIP:- wether the vessel is sea worthy or not does NOT matter if it is REGISTERED to YOU counts as sea time....the size of the vessel is what count’s ! buy a derelict from the local boat yard(yeah they are everywhere) the biggest you can find,then register it ! if it floats thats a plus(for you)but it doesn’t have to. in this game SIZE MATTERS ! B T W the longer you have said registered vessel, and the capt’n lic, the cheaper the insurance on you’r private dream boat will be !