Mega Yacht Crewing . . .

[countrybimm]

Hey everyone.Im currently sitting in Georgetown waiting for this wind to calm down a bit to head towards turks. I sail every year from late dec until may.This year we are heading from Bahamas to Trinidad with stops along the way.what i was wondering was if there was a good place to talk to captains /engineers about crewing for the summer and fall. Im 27, farm raised, transport mechanic trained and in excellent shape. But, having become addicted to the ocean i find myself wanting to spend the summers on the water, instead of pulling wrenches back in ontario.
Anyways, if anyone has tips on this sort of thing feel free to post a message.I will probly end up being a dock rat wherever i happen to be to talk to some people anyways.But the more information the better..

thx in advance.

[atoll]

need to get a stcw 95 certificate primarily,as private/commercial vessels cannot employ you legally and satisfy their insurance obligations.

a deck hand cert is good for a newbie,but in your case a 1st mates ticket,eng 1 or eng 2 would be better.

plenty of work out there if single and willing to travel. try www.crewseekers.co.uk

otherwise lots of sites on face book.

[John A]

Most of the young people crewing on megayachts have graduated from special training programs for working on megayachts. Insurance companies sometimes demand this.
They apply for a job through an employment office, which charges a commission to place them in a position.
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?

Good luck

[barnakiel]

Get the STCW things and some sea miles (preferably on a boat above 60'). Stay where the big boats are and ask around. Once you get the first contract, ask on and see what sort of certification and experience mixture have the people you would like to become. Certification and experience are 50%, the other 50% is your contacts.

But it is a dog's life, if you stay at the deckhand level - financially inadequate (low pay, much work, next to zero fun, tense social relationships). You might like it though if you bear responsibility related stress well, are perfectly organized / driven / serious, and if you get to the mid or upper level. Even then, avoid small big boats or else you will end up doing everything and getting paid only for what stands in the contract.

Being a skipper on a small yacht is a less painful alternative - esp. if you find an owner that understands and likes boats. Probably the direction to go if you are more independent but hard working type.

In any case, you need loads of patience, social skills and personality as much as relevant papers and experience.

b.

[Arch Stanton]

There was a really good post by Palegic a couple years back on this topic.

Here it is:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...eer-17962.html

[MarkJ]

The STWC 95 is a must.

Look at Dockwalk.com for info, a forum, and advice.

Hope you like polishing because thats what the job is. Cleaning boats in nice locations with rich people who don't notice you and a Captains who treat you like the polisher you are.

That being said, some folks enjoy it.

One captain I was talking to the other night said that if 2 crew want to get together and have a relationship they have to get his permission first! "Hey Cap'n can I shag the Stew?"

Thats treating people like kids.


Mark

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

The STWC 95 is a must.

Look at Dockwalk.com for info, a forum, and advice.

Hope you like polishing because thats what the job is. Cleaning boats in nice locations with rich people who don't notice you and a Captains who treat you like the polisher you are.

That being said, some folks enjoy it.

One captain I was talking to the other night said that if 2 crew want to get together and have a relationship they have to get his permission first! "Hey Cap'n can I shag the Stew?"

Thats treating people like kids.

does that count if it's the cap'n s wife........

Mark

[countrybimm]

hey thx for the info guys.
Polishing and cleaning the boat is exactly what im looking for. as for the money,if i was looking for that i would just go back to pulling wrenches...or head to fort macmurray.im looking for something simple in a nice warm climate to kill time until i can go sailing with my crew again in the winter on my own boat.ill look into that certificate..if its going to take time/money to get im not going to bother.im not taking a course to wash cars...

anyways..made it to turks..sittin in turtle bay marina for the night to get fuel/water and showers..next stop puerto rico!

[atoll]

1st engineer is on nearly the same money as a skipper on pots bigger than 40 m,
with half the stress, big demand for relife engineers 6-8k a month,if you want a part time job.

[John A]

Originally Posted by atoll

1st engineer is on nearly the same money as a skipper on pots bigger than 40 m,
with half the stress, big demand for relife engineers 6-8k a month,if you want a part time job.

Is that board and room furnished?

[countrybimm]

thats alot of money to me, and I would be interested.but im really not looking for a career.with family in CP rail back home and my career with transports im not really looking for anything full time.Truely just lookin for a "swab" job until im ready to stop having fun and start making a name for myself.

I am curious now that this engineer thing came aboard, what kind of apprenticship and schooling would be involved with that?.four year course?

[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

[atoll]

have a look at these guys,belive they have "zero to hero courses"

Career Training: UKSA.org

[boatman61]

Actually what it boils down to is simple....
1/ a hunky body
2/ gleaming white teeth
3/ a pretty face
4/ dumb
5/ a tight ass
6/ Literate
If you can meet the above requirements you've got it made...

[atoll]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Actually what it boils down to is simple....
1/ a hunky body
2/ gleaming white teeth
3/ a pretty face
4/ dumb
5/ a tight ass
6/ Literate
If you can meet the above requirements you've got it made...

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.........