# 50 Ton master to 3rd Mate Unlimited **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Training & Licensing\ **Created:** [February 22, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003 "2012-02-22T12:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slick\_Cam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f475e1/32.png) [@Slick\_Cam](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Slick_Cam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/1 "2012-02-22T12:19:41Z")
My 50 ton master license is coming due for renewal soon enough. I am currently in school to get my 3rd Mate Unlimited. Should I bother renewing my 50 ton? Im not using it in school right now. Can I still run charter boats when I get back home with my 3rd Mate license, if I let my 50 ton master license lapse? Might be a stupid question, but thanks for any info! Jason ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/2 "2012-02-22T14:42:23Z")
Any holder of a mate license over 200 grt is allowed to be master of vessels less than 100 grt, within the restrictions of their mate license (inland, nc, oceans). ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Capt\_Leigh](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/3 "2012-02-22T14:56:35Z")
If there is any doubt that you will pass soon, I wouldn’t let the license expire, too cheap to renew,could be expensive not to have it if something goes wrong with the class, testing,issuance etc. Just my advice, YMMV… ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/4 "2012-02-22T17:06:47Z")
Agreed. You never know what will happen, plan for the worst. I keep my CDL even though I haven’t used it in 7 years (and moving to 4 different states in that time). ---
**Author:** ![rwells78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@rwells78](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/rwells78)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/5 "2012-02-25T14:24:43Z")
Yes keep the Master, but bump the tonnage up to at least 100 tons (no test) or to 150 tons (test required). While the USCG will let a 3rd Mate “serve as” a Master 100, many companies will NOT let you sail without the USCG paper in hand. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/50-ton-master-to-3rd-mate-unlimited/7003/6 "2012-02-25T16:44:43Z")
> [@"rwells78"](#): > > Yes keep the Master, but bump the tonnage up to at least 100 tons (no test) or to 150 tons (test required). While the USCG will let a 3rd Mate “serve as” a Master 100, many companies will NOT let you sail without the USCG paper in hand. It is not a matter of them “letting” anything. It is in the CFR and the coast guard can’t stop you if they wanted to. Legally a 3m is a master “less than 100 tons”. And they didn’t like to print on your license 100 ton master if you had a 500 ton mate or higher (unless your 100 ton was a superior route to the 500 ton). When I upgraded to 500 ton mate nc my 100 ton master disappeared.