G'Day all,
A couple of considerations:
First, are you talking about within your country of origin or "going foreign"? If foreign, there are restrictions on working ashore... the equivalent of the "green card" in the
USA is required essentially everywhere in the world. Some places police this rigorously, others not so. Cruisers sometimes manage "under the table"
employment but there is risk involved for both parties. Others work for other cruisers for cash and generally escape the local work restrictions.
If you only consider local cruising, I suspect that one needs to look at the specific areas in question. Dive instructors are likely more employable in
Florida than in
Alaska, for instance!
When Ann and I started out cruising our finances were such that we planned to work along the way. I have a background that lends itself to doing work on others boats, and I thought I'd pick up a few bucks doing such things. What I found is that in the tightly knit cruising community the other cruisers are your friends, and I found that I couldn't face
charging them for help. Ann is a psychologist and counselor by
training, and she also thought of helping out with those sorts of issues within the fleet. Turns out that one should be licensed for such practices in each state (US) or country, and that the ethical issues involved made her forgo the work.
So, deciding on a skill to develop for cruising
employment is tricky! One universally acceptable is writing. Doesn't seem to step on any toes, the necessary tools can be carried about even in small yachts, and the customers are accessible via the
internet. We know several yotties who augment their kitties this way.
Anyway, good luck with your plans...
Cheers,
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Towlers Bay, NSW Oz southbound