CTAG Demystified!!!!
- Thread starter El Capitan
- Start date
wolf
Well-Known Member
WHAT is the itinerary of this so called "assessment" if we have an idea of what this all entails then maybe we would have a better understanding and dont go on about how its free money .... we have covered that I WANT to know what the thing is about. cause 500 bones is a lot of money for 3 hours of time at 166.00 bucks and hour it better be damn GOOD....
Thanks Wolf
Thanks Wolf
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
Basically very simple Wolf.
You will have no issue challenging or attaining the "CTAG".
Here's what I remember from when I got it when I could challenge for like $100 fee.
you already have your Med A2, SVOP, ROC-MC, Marine First Aid. You will have to provide copies of the documents for your challenge. You will have to prove you have 750 hours of experience and/or Sea time---self declare I guess for you...fill out that paperwork!!! lol.
Then you will fill out a dummy multiple choice test, and some written answers. Then you will go through an oral exam and answer their questions. They are "what if" questions and test the most basic questions. In my case, I knew more than half the assessors personally and they knew my history/experience..so they assigned someone I didn't "know". They make you sign a declaration that you are not in a conflict of interest with the assessor.
At the end of it all they send you a "Red Seal" which promotes the SFI and you get in their records as a CTAG.
You then get the benefits of the CTAG perks if they are of use to you.
Oh yeah, you get to use the seal as a marketing tool so somehow some uneducated client perhaps thinks they are booking with a "professional" who is going to catch them fish, show them a good time and get them back to the dock alive.
Take the tax credit and buy some beer to drink by the fire in the winter when you're tying up the seasons supply of leaders.
Otherwise the CTAG doesn't do a whole lotta nothing for many guides, owner-operators and clients on this coast.
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
Yup, $1000 tax credit, it cost me $100 for the challenge, so I made $900 in less than 3 hours.
That's my admission.
If there hadn't been the $1000 tax credit, I would not have bothered.
searun
Well-Known Member
For CTAG challengers there is no course you participate in. Essentially to qualify to challenge you first must verify that you have all the TC qualifications as well as documented 750 hours guiding experience. Challengers then will be assessed on their knowledge using 2 assessment tools. First is a written exam. This will take approximately an hour and helps assess knowledge and competency of standards within the program. The second element is an oral assessment to determine if the challenger can demonstrate competency against 18 performance standards. Those will be things like marine first aid, responding to emergencies, planning near coastal trips, applying marine regulations, catch handling hygiene, knowledge of stewardship over fishery resources etc.
ideally industry embraces the program. We certainly would not want TC to step in and develop something that is mandatory and linked to licensing as a first choice, but if that happens I'll deal with that too. The whole concept was for the guiding industry to transition voluntarily toward professional standards of competency as opposed to something imposed. I think it is the right thing to do, not to mention it helps shed misconceptions that guides are just a bunch of cowboys. I would prefer to think the majority have a strong desire to operate professionally and safely, and that is what CTAG is all about.
My 2 cents.
ideally industry embraces the program. We certainly would not want TC to step in and develop something that is mandatory and linked to licensing as a first choice, but if that happens I'll deal with that too. The whole concept was for the guiding industry to transition voluntarily toward professional standards of competency as opposed to something imposed. I think it is the right thing to do, not to mention it helps shed misconceptions that guides are just a bunch of cowboys. I would prefer to think the majority have a strong desire to operate professionally and safely, and that is what CTAG is all about.
My 2 cents.
SerengetiGuide
Well-Known Member
They are already planning on capping the number of charter and lodge operators on the coast like in Alaska....that is already in the works.
Doug
Well-Known Member
The ones that do not get in joint the others fishing under the table guys just like what goes on to day.
From what i read alaska based it on tax return for 7 years and if you were a new operator or a low income operator you did not qualify . Alaska also had a condensed location to police.Tc has no funds to travel and with more cut backs coming for feds I cannot see capping charter operator.
In sooke I see dfo 1 a yr on the water and 5 times at the dock but I do not fish much so there maybe more policing than I see.
Peahead
Well-Known Member
So you did find something positive about CTAG then? ....good for you. Your choice to slam it here then is because you feel you will get no more benefit from it than that 900 bucks ? I suppose being a freelance guide your right, unless all the charter operations that want to hire you insist on you having a CTAG then its only going to be a $900 benefit for you ...... gees man, yeah, what a useless 3 hours.
SerengetiGuide
Well-Known Member
From my understanding it would be based on logbook participation in years prior (how long prior I'm not sure), not CTAG or anything like that.
searun
Well-Known Member
That's an interesting rumour. Been hearing that for years but seen nothing official anywhere on that. While I think log books are great, I rather doubt that will be the criteria used to evaluate who might qualify or not. Not everyone has bought into the log books and they are not as yet mandatory so again, doubtful this would pass the sniff test as a go/no go decision tool. Do you have something official you are basing that comment on or is it rumour?
BearCove
Crew Member
I happily got mine a few years ago, not only to start legitimizing our industry but for all the benefits that come along with the program. I have lost track of the savings in insurance on my two boats over the last three years. For that reason along it has been worth it for my company. I am not sure if it will become a mandatory program to have but I have seen it go from a free program to now a $500 program to challenge. Seems to me like it is something you may want to have under your belt if you are planning on moving forward in the guiding industry.
Just me thoughts,
Just me thoughts,
searun
Well-Known Member
Bearcove I have to agree with you on all points. This is the right thing to do unless we are happy to accept whatever might be dreamed up to replace it. Good insurance savings to be had each and every year....that adds up. Plus we start building consumer confidence that not all guides are cowboys. Where is the downside?
wolf
Well-Known Member
Well for a 100 bucks id consider it then still havent heard form the powers above what exactly the are going to do for the money im going to give them????
But i will say if you go to a restaurant and you get great tasting food and service im sure we will always go back..... ill use the little whole in the wall breaky joint in campbell river id stop in everytime id go up to knights to the IDEAL cafe,,,,they served the best EGGS BENNY and im fussy, always soft poached cooked perfectly shreeded hashbrowns golden. it got to be they see me come in and she knew what i wanted it was consistent and good that why i returned.
AND I WILL add i got estimates on insurance this year and only one asked if I had CTAG all the othere were worried about DOT papers etc the one that did ask for CTAG i asked would it make a difference I was told NO just like Doug had said earlier so again how is this benefiting me???
and in the last 4 years and hundreds of clients later NOT one has asked if I was CTAG, have had a quite a few ask what the blue decal program is though....
Wolf
But i will say if you go to a restaurant and you get great tasting food and service im sure we will always go back..... ill use the little whole in the wall breaky joint in campbell river id stop in everytime id go up to knights to the IDEAL cafe,,,,they served the best EGGS BENNY and im fussy, always soft poached cooked perfectly shreeded hashbrowns golden. it got to be they see me come in and she knew what i wanted it was consistent and good that why i returned.
AND I WILL add i got estimates on insurance this year and only one asked if I had CTAG all the othere were worried about DOT papers etc the one that did ask for CTAG i asked would it make a difference I was told NO just like Doug had said earlier so again how is this benefiting me???
and in the last 4 years and hundreds of clients later NOT one has asked if I was CTAG, have had a quite a few ask what the blue decal program is though....
Wolf
Doug
Well-Known Member
AND I WILL add i got estimates on insurance this year and only one asked if I had CTAG all the othere were worried about DOT papers etc the one that did ask for CTAG i asked would it make a difference I was told NO just like Doug had said earlier so again how is this benefiting me???
and in the last 4 years and hundreds of clients later NOT one has asked if I was CTAG, have had a quite a few ask what the blue decal program is though....
Wolf[/QUOTE]
Bear Cove Cabins, nice web site. I note that you do not advertise CTAG? did I miss it?
With over 60% + of my business return customers and 40% new clients we have developed an excellent tracking package to confirm where we should place our limited advertising $$$. Everyone that calls (booking or not) we always try to get some answers to key questions for tracking.
I have found, the first thing people want to see is, “catches fish and a nice boat”. Anyone can post on their web site catches fish, a nice boat picture and fish photos, and I have even seen pictures taken back in the 1980s. You then have the client hooked because most of them don’t know any better. I would say that maybe two clients a year’s ask me about my experience but most just ask “will I catch fish and will you clean them” and only once in my entire fishing has a person wanted a hard copy of something and that was my insurance.
Once clients arrive at my boat I go through a safety check list prior to departing and one of the items is I point out the blue decal. I’d say 99% of all new clients don’t even know what the blue decal means and I inform everyone about it and I also reminded them every time I’m passing other charter boats without decals.
I agree with Wolf, and I would take the course for free or $100.
I keep hearing about insurance savings (30%) but no one is willing to provide me a insurance firms name . I did check with Coast underwriters and they cannot match my Eagle's underwriters price or the coverage they provide. I’m carrying 100k value and 2 mill.
Can someone please supply me a name and I will get a quote.
I don't what to hear my friend, my friend..... Give me a name.......I want to follow up and justify taking the course.
Here again is what I got from the broker
"I have dealt with Coast Underwriters since 1994 and I assure you the information he is giving you is not correct. Coast is a great company, great products etc but there is no way they give a 30% discount for CTAG."
and in the last 4 years and hundreds of clients later NOT one has asked if I was CTAG, have had a quite a few ask what the blue decal program is though....
Wolf[/QUOTE]
Bear Cove Cabins, nice web site. I note that you do not advertise CTAG? did I miss it?
With over 60% + of my business return customers and 40% new clients we have developed an excellent tracking package to confirm where we should place our limited advertising $$$. Everyone that calls (booking or not) we always try to get some answers to key questions for tracking.
I have found, the first thing people want to see is, “catches fish and a nice boat”. Anyone can post on their web site catches fish, a nice boat picture and fish photos, and I have even seen pictures taken back in the 1980s. You then have the client hooked because most of them don’t know any better. I would say that maybe two clients a year’s ask me about my experience but most just ask “will I catch fish and will you clean them” and only once in my entire fishing has a person wanted a hard copy of something and that was my insurance.
Once clients arrive at my boat I go through a safety check list prior to departing and one of the items is I point out the blue decal. I’d say 99% of all new clients don’t even know what the blue decal means and I inform everyone about it and I also reminded them every time I’m passing other charter boats without decals.
I agree with Wolf, and I would take the course for free or $100.
I keep hearing about insurance savings (30%) but no one is willing to provide me a insurance firms name . I did check with Coast underwriters and they cannot match my Eagle's underwriters price or the coverage they provide. I’m carrying 100k value and 2 mill.
Can someone please supply me a name and I will get a quote.
I don't what to hear my friend, my friend..... Give me a name.......I want to follow up and justify taking the course.
Here again is what I got from the broker
"I have dealt with Coast Underwriters since 1994 and I assure you the information he is giving you is not correct. Coast is a great company, great products etc but there is no way they give a 30% discount for CTAG."
searun
Well-Known Member
Roger that. Even the guy that we deal with through Guide Association is providing members with a CTAG discount and that is after applying a discount for WCFGA members.
