Do you need a captain’s license for a personal boat in Florida?
Recreational Boating If you are operating a boat for personal, recreational use with family and friends and are not charging for the service, a captain’s license is generally not required. However, you must still comply with Florida’s boater education requirements, which may involve completing a boater safety course. The average salary for a boat captain is $27. Florida. Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 10, 2025).
How much does a pilot boat cost?
How much do Pilot boats cost? Pilot boats for sale on YachtWorld are offered at a swath of prices from £229,921 on the lower-cost segment, with costs up to £522,548 for the more sophisticated, luxurious yachts. The “10% Rule” is a common guideline that suggests you budget around 10% of your yacht’s purchase price per year for running costs and maintenance . In plain English: a yacht that cost $500,000 might cost roughly $50,000 each year to own and operate.If you want to roughly estimate what your boat payment will be, calculate 1 to 1. For example, if you buy a boat worth $100,000, expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 per month.The “10% Rule” is a common guideline that suggests you budget around 10% of your yacht’s purchase price per year for running costs and maintenance .Buying a yacht is a bad financial idea. From a financial perspective, you will almost always lose money on a boat. You should never approach buying a boat as a money-making or investment growth opportunity. Even on a business purchase, a break-even is difficult, and operating expenses are high.