Is there any money on private yachts ?

[nicanica123]

So I asked about becoming a deckhand on another thread. A more specific question that I have at this point is, can you make any money on a private yacht? I don't want to make a killing... just something to get by with. I have an income source on the mainland if I ever need some real money.

I really don't want to work for a huge vessel either. Some people recommended that I work on a cruise ship but that definitely doesn't sound way appealing. Could I find a job after getting experience working with a private yacht? Where would I want to live to get the experience and possible job? Some of my goal; see as much of the world as possible, learn to SCUBA dive, walk on every continent, and learn a couple of languages.

I know that it would take a lot of hard work but I'm willing to put it in. Let me know if you have questions about my question or advice. Thanks

[Ex-Calif]

I have a friend who worked on a yacht. He was part of the engineering crew not a "servant."

He basically described working as a job. You work six days a week. When the fabulously wealthy owner is not there you are either repositioning the boat to where the FWO wants it or you are polishing and servicing things. There is no way he described it in terms of getting wealthy or even seeing the world. He wanted to build sea time and he did.

For the servants it was basically the same. They are maids and cooks on a floating house. Most folks have multiple jobs on board.

Rich folks probably aren't interested in overpaying or giving one too much time off.

I interviewed to be crew on a FWO's corporate jet. The job was to be cabin crew in flight and maintenance engineer / caterring manager on the ground. So a 3-person crew including the pilots. I applied for the job as supervisor of the cabin boys but was offered a job as one of the boys.

I turned it down for 2 reasons. There is a crapload of stress catering to FWOs who have no tolerance for mistakes - You're fired for spilling whiskey on some Saudi prince or the caviar is the wrong brand. And second I couldn't see where the job went after that.

So long winded short - I would not go looking for a crew position unless you hae a strong service mentality.

[Richard5]

Short answer, yes.

One friend based in Florida travels the world on other people's money. He has never maxed out a credit card he has been given...if that gives you a hint. Basically the more certifications you have the more valuable you become.

My friend is sitting on his own high net worth and never touches it except to add to it. He has solid contacts all over the world. He commands-and gets-an absurdly high daily rate. And when the yacht is parked he freelances on deliveries whereever he has a hanking to go.

Get every marine cert you care to have then go outside marine and perhaps into dual rating aircraft (rotor and fixed wing), rigger, avionics, electronics, SCUBA, mixed gas, etc. The more you have the more value.

Another friend works as delivery for several boat brokers and insurance salvage. He does fairly well although he is much more on a short leash (pager).

[Richard5]

To add to Ex-Calif, yes it does happen. Aircraft crew fired because the caterer royally screwed the order? Yes. Completely witchy (with a B) snot nosed petulant FWO's hellspawn...have to deal with it. Don't even talk about many celebrities. But after a while you will form a solid network which will keep you busy and happy. I have met many FWOs who are so nice and genuinely concerned about the crew.

[BriaF]

working on any comercial vessel
requires a (STCW95)
this is an international standard
it costs 2-3 thousand $ in oz
the exception might be
1/ fishing boats
2/ private vessels that you are not being paid

have a friend that worked on rich mens toys
he earned fairly good money in Europe

[goboatingnow]

I've a buddy in a crew recruitment agency in Nice. On the larger private yachts, especially motor boats the pay is very good indeed, 40k all found tax free for deckhands , stewards etc . Certified engineers are on very big money. There's a good career path etc.

The route to deckhand is first to have a RYA or equivalent yacht master then do the 5 stwc95 basic courses. That's the minimum to get into the deckhand areana. Keep your bib clean and you can rise to mate quickly . Once the owner is away there is good socialising ( the crew are generally easy on the eye )


Today it's a much more career orientated certified path. Yes it can be a zero error career and its is subject to the whims of rich owners. But it certainly pays well


Dave

[skipmac]

My cousin married a guy who dropped out of high school to work on boats. Started out doing maintenance and crewing on delivery for charter boats, worked his way up to mate then captain on a 50' motoryacht. Moved up to a larger motor yacht, hooked up with a FWO that was a good boss and rising star who started buying and then building a bigger boat every few years. Captain ended up working with builders in designing and planning the engines, engineering systems and all the related parts while my cousin managed the household staff and interior decorating on the new boats. The last boat was a large Feadship, around 200'

The downside, they frequently worked seven days a week for months when the owners or guests were on board, also when moving the boat. For years they had no home of their own which meant limited privacy, personal life, no kids and other hassles that come from basically living in a floating hotel.

Now he has his own consulting and megayacht charter business in S FL and doing quite well. So yes, this could be a very successful career path.

On the other hand, I have known many, many people over the years that worked in boating for more or less subsistence living. No benefits, no savings, no retirement so when you are too old to work or injured or sick you are SOL.

[GordMay]

➥ Let me google that for you

[cookwithgas]

"Is there money on private yachts?" - Sounds like a question a PIRATE would ask!

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by GordMay

➥ Let me google that for you

[maytrix]

might be similar to asking if there's money in acting. We all know there is, but for every success, there's probably a hundred failures. I'd guess boating has even more failures per success.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by nicanica123

(...) Some of my goal; see as much of the world as possible, learn to SCUBA dive, walk on every continent, and learn a couple of languages. (...)

Hi,

None of your targets links directly with crewing on a private yacht.

SCUBA is easy - just take a basic PADI (or any other certified school) course and then go and dive.

LANGUAGES - start at home, get a teach-it-yourself book, download a course, listen to online radio/TV, get to know foreigners in your neighbourhood. Inexpensive and efficient.

SEE as much world as possible - definitely NOT by boat then. Get a cheap flight, pack your rucksack, keep on going Eastwards or Westwards.

WALK on every continent - doh, Antarctic may be hard to reach.

Crewing on a yacht is about CREWING and YACHTS. If you want this, I would do the scuba and languages parts up front - you may have very little time left for yourself and your pursuits when you are working.

b.

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Hi,

None of your targets links directly with crewing on a private yacht.

SCUBA is easy - just take a basic PADI (or any other certified school) course and then go and dive.

LANGUAGES - start at home, get a teach-it-yourself book, download a course, listen to online radio/TV, get to know foreigners in your neighbourhood. Inexpensive and efficient.

SEE as much world as possible - definitely NOT by boat then. Get a cheap flight, pack your rucksack, keep on going Eastwards or Westwards.

WALK on every continent - doh, Antarctic may be hard to reach.

Crewing on a yacht is about CREWING and YACHTS. If you want this, I would do the scuba and languages parts up front - you may have very little time left for yourself and your pursuits when you are working.

b.

I agree. A cruise ship more closely meets your stated objectives. Some ships have PADI certifications onboard, and you can complete a cert in a single cruise (if you can get the time off). Otherwise, you can dive when you are in Cozumel, Cancun, Bahamas, etc.

You will get offship time. if you are in Europe, you'll be exposed to multiple languages in every port.

The offship time is often short, and not suitable for seeing much of the world beyond a lot of major ports, but then that itself constitutes a good part of the world.

I don't know of a cruise route that offers both good Scuba, and exposure to many languages though. In Cozumel and Cancun, there is so much English speaking you might never get to practice your Spanish!

[cookwithgas]

After years of research and much blood, sweat and tears I have determined that there is one sure-fire way to make a small fortune in boating.....................

Start with a large fortune.

[zboss]

I had xmas eve dinner with the megayacht crew of a very very wealthy entrepreneur that will go unnamed (cause I like him). They said that xmas eve and xmas day was the only time off they got every year. They worked 7 days a week the rest of the year.

If you take that additional time into consideration, the pay isn't really that good.