Mega Yacht Crewing . . .

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by atoll

don't forget the docksiders,oakleys,polo shirt with yacht picture,and race week/harken cap.........

look the part,nobody will ever know yr a wannabee.........

Thought that was the uniform that came with the job... after the interview...

[atoll]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Thought that was the uniform that came with the job... after the interview...

it's surprising how many people get jobs,just pounding the docks,by looking the part, as delivery crew or just (s)crew........

[goboatingnow]

Seriously though , I had a long talk with a superyacht specialist employment agency in the south of France the owner turned out to be from my home town.

Firstly it's now a serious career. Deck crew need to go through RYA yachtmaster and STCW95. Chefs earn very good money indeed and there is a number of schools teaching superyacht catering , but you need good referenced and experience. Stews need to go through hospitality training ( hotel catering management etc) Engineering is about qualifications ( typical marine engineering) plus specific training by manufactures on engine ( MTU for example). ( plus STCW 95).

Pay and conditions are better then shoreside often way better. Experienced crew with good track records are much sought after as there is a crew shortage.

You really need to use an specialist agency. Most big boats , the capitan contracts with a particular agency to ensure crew positions are filled. ( especially at junior stew level as turnover is quite high). Social life is often very good especially during non owner aboard layovers. ( in fact this is the main
Drain on the money )

Conditions are good , twin same sex cabins are common work is hard when owners aboard as it then a 24/7 job. But often there's lots of layover time.

My advice is tie up with a specialist employment agency. Talk to them and see what they want it could take some time to build the qualifications.

It's not an industry that you can walk into any more.

Dave

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by atoll

it's surprising how many people get jobs,just pounding the docks,by looking the part, as delivery crew or just (s)crew........

LOL.... thats the trouble with us 'Wrinkleys'....
we still think experience beats paper... slow learners I guess... but definitely not 'Wreckers'....
But wot the hell... I know my value.... but lets face it... push comes to shove... its the man with the money decides... the likes of you and I aint really gotta say....
Anyway... wot you still doing up... I been out for a dinner party, disco and just got in... wots your excuse...lmao

[atoll]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Seriously though , I had a long talk with a superyacht specialist employment agency in the south of France the owner turned out to be from my home town.

Firstly it's now a serious career. Deck crew need to go through RYA yachtmaster and STCW95. Chefs earn very good money indeed and there is a number of schools teaching superyacht catering , but you need good referenced and experience. Stews need to go through hospitality training ( hotel catering management etc) Engineering is about qualifications ( typical marine engineering) plus specific training by manufactures on engine ( MTU for example). ( plus STCW 95).

Pay and conditions are better then shoreside often way better. Experienced crew with good track records are much sought after as there is a crew shortage.

You really need to use an specialist agency. Most big boats , the capitan contracts with a particular agency to ensure crew positions are filled. ( especially at junior stew level as turnover is quite high). Social life is often very good especially during non owner aboard layovers. ( in fact this is the main
Drain on the money )

Conditions are good , twin same sex cabins are common work is hard when owners aboard as it then a 24/7 job. But often there's lots of layover time.

My advice is tie up with a specialist employment agency. Talk to them and see what they want it could take some time to build the qualifications.

It's not an industry that you can walk into any more.

Dave

agree on the stcw etc,but in respect of the op,during the winter,if one is a bit mechanical,and hangs out a bit, refit and boatyard work on supa yots can be a good earner,for which the stwc doesnt apply

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Seriously though , I had a long talk with a superyacht specialist employment agency in the south of France the owner turned out to be from my home town.

Firstly it's now a serious career. Deck crew need to go through RYA yachtmaster and STCW95. Chefs earn very good money indeed and there is a number of schools teaching superyacht catering , but you need good referenced and experience. Stews need to go through hospitality training ( hotel catering management etc) Engineering is about qualifications ( typical marine engineering) plus specific training by manufactures on engine ( MTU for example). ( plus STCW 95).

Pay and conditions are better then shoreside often way better. Experienced crew with good track records are much sought after as there is a crew shortage.

You really need to use an specialist agency. Most big boats , the capitan contracts with a particular agency to ensure crew positions are filled. ( especially at junior stew level as turnover is quite high). Social life is often very good especially during non owner aboard layovers. ( in fact this is the main
Drain on the money )

Conditions are good , twin same sex cabins are common work is hard when owners aboard as it then a 24/7 job. But often there's lots of layover time.

My advice is tie up with a specialist employment agency. Talk to them and see what they want it could take some time to build the qualifications.

It's not an industry that you can walk into any more.

Dave

Dave... there's the difference mate... your talking 'Young Dudes .. Dudettes'...
I'm an old buga... no chance so I bottom feed... the boats the YM's wont take.. the guys who are borderline broke so I negotiate to make life better for them and scrape through for me...
Its a different world out there than 25yrs ago... shoot.. I got tons of skills that would get me a job yesteryear... and a happy employer...
Today... man you got to be an undergraduate.. and take a course to be a Binman...

[Pelagic]

I really have to laugh at some of your cynical and ignorant stereotyping of the Superyacht business.

Like any other business, it fits some, not all and for many different reasons.

Work conditions, immediate supervisor, yacht’s mission and the ability to grow usually take precedence before the money, in keeping good crew.

If you are on an adventure yacht travelling the world it is very much “give and take” as a team

For those crew who spend way too much time at the dock…What you guys hear in the bar is usually ******** bravado or sour grapes because they have been spoiled by other bar room experts and ridiculous expectations.

Mark, hallway romances are not encouraged by captains because it usually means you loose one maybe both and it is disruptive to the rest of the crew.

Whining SY crew seem to be a growing commodity and what I am hearing from many SY owners now is that they are getting fed up with the mostly British Commonwealth and US Crew and are switching to Asian crew because they act more professionally both on board and in port.

I think that is a good move for the Owners and a wake up call for the multi billion euro industry

To the OP… It is a good profession…. Good and dedicated engineers are scarce, so if you have what it takes, get in their first and prove yourself first before worrying about tickets. If the job fits well, then focus on getting the tickets.

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=Pelagic;628861]
Whining SY crew seem to be a growing commodity and what I am hearing from many SY owners now is that they are getting fed up with the mostly British Commonwealth and US Crew and are switching to Asian crew because they act more professionally both on board and in port.
QUOTE]

Theres a lot of truth there... went the length of the Med last summer and 80% of the crews I saw on 'Priviliged Boats' was Asian...
Truth is they're cheaper and work harder... no Social Security or 'Pay me to Pretend I'm not Dumb' Courses at some wish I was famous university....
I think today's a 'Cynical Day'...

[Pelagic]

[QUOTE=boatman61;628865]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Truth is they're cheaper and work harder... no Social Security or 'Pay me to Pretend I'm not Dumb' Courses at some wish I was famous university....
I think today's a 'Cynical Day'...

Another stereotype… Asian crew who proved they could do the job, communicate properly and work as a team in leadership roles at times… were paid exactly the same as the wasps.

Big difference was they were totally loyal to the captain and owner as they appreciated the opportunity to show what they could do and usually excelled without ego.


What employers are looking for is someone content in their job who will be there for many years thru to retirement

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I know engineers on big superyachts on way way more then 6-8 k
A month , some are on 100-120k euros a year with full board and that's tax free earnings too

Dave

Hmmm - I was browsing a luxury yachts (power) magazine the other day and they claimed only 10 top captains make more than over 100k EUR per year.

Next time we meet I will be trying to get you to pay my beer ... ;-)

But seriously - engineers and deck officers make good money in this busines BUT the gap between the pro staff and deckhands (and in many cases mates, etc.) is shockingly wide.

I know at least half a dozen deckhands who got hired last year on various big boats and none of them makes more than 700 EUR per month. In none of the cases I know any pension plan, medical insurance nor travel insurance or flight cost return are provided.

barnie

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=boatman61;628865]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Whining SY crew seem to be a growing commodity and what I am hearing from many SY owners now is that they are getting fed up with the mostly British Commonwealth and US Crew and are switching to Asian crew because they act more professionally both on board and in port.
QUOTE]

Theres a lot of truth there... went the length of the Med last summer and 80% of the crews I saw on 'Priviliged Boats' was Asian...
Truth is they're cheaper and work harder... no Social Security or 'Pay me to Pretend I'm not Dumb' Courses at some wish I was famous university....
I think today's a 'Cynical Day'...

Pelagic.... Nothing to fall back on ie SS Benefits...
and non of the inherent ego status thing where the 'posh kid' sneers at his scrapyard millionaire boss..
They know their places in their own caste system and are happy to serve and serve well.. but I'll doubt you'll ever find a brahmin as crew or deck officer...
loyalty will last until a better offer if they don't like you...
if they do like you you've got a damn good man.. is what I meant..
if a tad cryptically....

[countrybimm]

Theres definately money in just being a deckhand.Being one of the youngest cruisers around the bahamas, and now in turks, The young bucks tend to gravitate to each other.ive had three different people who were crewing tell me what they make.lowest was 600US a week, the highest was 3200euros a month.and these people didnt take courses to become professionals.they simply showed they were hard workers and had a willingness to learn.and were young.now, i may or may not end finding work by pounding the docks,but the firsthand information i have received makes me think i have a shot at least.Also being able to tear down a dinghy engine and put it back together helps.fickle beasts them dinghies.

[Tia Bu]

I worked as megayacht crew 30 years ago. Surely it has changed a lot since then. But the thing I most clearly remember was how pathetic and unlikeable most of the owners and guests were.

It's one thing to earn a lot of money. It's another to have to own or charter a megayacht to flaunt it in the most over-the-top way.

Having that experience as a young man really changed my life. I would say, given the advantage of three decades' hindsight, that it changed my life in a very positive way.

About ten years ago, I did a stint working for an international hedge fund. I would say from that experience that the super-rich haven't changed much.

If you want to cure yourself of the desire and need to make a lot of money, go work on a megayacht for a while!

[atoll]

as a day worker,it is all ways possible to find work where big boats congregate,this can lead to other things.

[captainKJ]

Most of the young people crewing on megayachts have graduated from special training programs for working on megayachts. Insurance companies sometimes demand this.

This is not true for a deckhand position or chefs position,,


They apply for a job through an employment office, which charges a commission to place them in a position.

this is paid for by the boat

They all have a resume of verifiable experience plus references.
Working as crew on a megayaght is a 24/7 job.

Would you trust a multi-million dollar investment to a stranger who you met on the dock during happy hour

LOTS of yachting is done through the bar,,, jobs and all, I spent 11 years in the business and interviewed many time in the bars