Can a QE on a QE mission also be coxswain-of-record?
Simply, no. When a QE is on a scheduled QE mission for a check ride or for a 3-year currency ride, the QE must focus on the mission of evaluating a candidate and overseeing safety during evolutions. This attention cannot be split with simultaneous duties and responsibilities required of the coxswain-of-record. The QE can offer his/her own vessel for this type of mission, but some other authorized coxswain must be coxswain-of-record (and there must be total delegation of the coxswain responsibility from the owner/QE to the coxswain-of-record, as there must be anytime a vessel owner is aboard but is not coxswain-of-record themselves.