Get Your Captain's License, 5th

Update: after taking the OUPV exam, I’m still very impressed with the quality of this book. The one caveat that I’d say is that this book is very detailed and most appropriate for the higher level exams. It’s a bit of overkill for the OUPV. Nevertheless it’s a great book with tons of appropriate information and amazingly cost effective. Study this book thoroughly and you’ll do well on any exam for Captain’s License. Previous feedback: I’m very impressed with this study guide. It has thousands of practice questions plus great information to prepare yourself to take the practice exams. I’ll add to this review after taking the official exam, letting you know if it helped as much as I think it will.

Great information for being on the waterways

It is for my husband and he likes it and finds it informative

Easy to read and understand, also offers some tips to help you memorize some information. Definitely recommend if you’re going after your Captain’s License or if you just want to know what you’re doing while boating

...but I haven't ploughed through it all yet, and have not dared apply for the license. I will almost definitely need to attend a course. It is a large amount of material. I am not trying to become a captain in order to charge people. I just want to be a better (safer) sailor.

I bought this as a supplementary review. Its OK for that, if you already are familiar with the material. Its pretty lousy as a primer though. If you don't already have some experience with plotting current vectors or intercepts, advance and transfer problems etc. you won't find a good explanation of the material here. The stability section is about as clear as mud. You can figure most of it out, but there are probably other better texts. I sure hope so. The question sections are also cumbersome. You have to flip back and forth to the answer page to check. I wound up just cutting mine out of the book so i could refer to them more quickly. Plus you have to flip to the back every time a question refers to a diagram. Way too much time wasted flipping back and forth. The CFR is bad enough, you don't need even more energy wasted on such. Oh, and one answer section had about half of the answers missing altogether. Then there is the plotting sheet.Be careful with it, since it is a misprint ( I think 130 degrees is listed twice on the compass rose) I would check, but i'd have to go and fetch my magnifying glass. That reminds me... the print is hard to read. Pretty lousy book actually. I give it three stars for just existing. Ah, heck... two and a half. If I had to do it again though, Id probably do the same thing. Buy a book like this one and find an online source of current coast guard questions (try googling "questions cost guard" or some such)

If you're starting out from scratch, this isn't probably the best way for you to learn. But, if what you really need is an in-depth refresher on stuff that you "think" you already know, then this is the most cost effective way for you to prepare for the exam.

Hundres of questions and answers for 6pack exam. Many colored diagrams as well.