Anyone give advice on getting into the industry ??
Discussion
I am 27 and have run my own business for 8 years now, I am getting a bit bored doing what i am doing at the mo. I would love to crew a large personal yatch or powerboat. I was wondering how you would get into it ?
Are there certain qualifications ? courses or is it more word of mouth. Any advice about what to expect or seasons ( is it work 6 months 6 months off ) not too worried about the money, or prolonged periods of time off looking for work.
Just fancy something different and seeing a bit of the world at the same time.
I can cook well, am a big fit lad ( 6ft 5in 17 stone ) have done security work in the past and am now a upholsterer.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated
tamps
Are there certain qualifications ? courses or is it more word of mouth. Any advice about what to expect or seasons ( is it work 6 months 6 months off ) not too worried about the money, or prolonged periods of time off looking for work.
Just fancy something different and seeing a bit of the world at the same time.
I can cook well, am a big fit lad ( 6ft 5in 17 stone ) have done security work in the past and am now a upholsterer.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated
tamps
Edited by Tampon on Friday 4th January 06:19
If you don't want to be a brass polisher then you need to do some commerical (merchant) qualifications - not sure where or how much it costs tho!
Check this out:
http://www.uksa.org/career/car_intro.asp
Check this out:
http://www.uksa.org/career/car_intro.asp
Working on big luxury yachts can be a great way to save money, travel and generally live a life that most people don't get to experience. I'm writing from an internet cafe in Bonifacio, Corsica. I'm Captain of a newly built Oyster 72 sailing yacht, this year I've cruised the west coast of Italy, Sicily, Corfu, Southern Croatia, Sardinia and will spend the next month farting around the French Riviera before racing across the Atlantic with my mates and a Caribbean winter. At some stage I'll probably get up to Aspen to stay/ski with the boss at his place. I've been sailing since I was a kid, did some amateur yacht racing in the solent but wasn't in anyway 'connected'.
To get into pro racing definitely requires connections (or outrageous talent). To get into the luxury side all that's required is a few well chosen qualifications, a willingness to put off today's high wage in exchange for valuable experience and a better wage down the line, a small ego, and hard work.
'Zero to Hero' courses are widely mocked, but the fact is if you don't go in as an idiot you won't come out as one either (unlike a good number of the class).
I have no regrets about leaving my marketing career 4.5 years ago. I've saved a decent amount and barely touch my salary now from month to month. All living costs are paid down to toothpaste, you wear a uniform every day. Even eating out is usually on the boss. It can be tax free too. The big yacht market has been growing at 10% PA for the last ten years. Average boat size is increasing hence massive demand for experienced, qualified crew.
Why am I considering getting off boats? Your personal life takes a massive hit, relationships are very difficult to start let alone maintain. Even finding enough personal time to sort out your finances can be tricky.
My advice would be get a RYA yachtmaster com ed, and STCW 95 qualifications. Get a job working for a small company with a busy schedule, low margins and big old tired boats. Spend a year learning how to sail big boats and run them with muppets as guests on a shoestring. That way when you get on luxury boats with a budget everything becomes easy. At no stage feel that you know it all or treat anyone as inferior. The industry is very small and reputation is everything. Protect yours, make sensible decisions, and you'll do fine.
www.dovaston.com
www.jf-recruiting.com
www.dockwalk.com
Pick up a copy of the Crew Review (Attached to the Yacht Report magazine)
Also be aware that powerboats pay more and 4/5 of the jobs are on them but unless you are the Captain or Engineer you are probably just a chammy jockey.
Good luck
To get into pro racing definitely requires connections (or outrageous talent). To get into the luxury side all that's required is a few well chosen qualifications, a willingness to put off today's high wage in exchange for valuable experience and a better wage down the line, a small ego, and hard work.
'Zero to Hero' courses are widely mocked, but the fact is if you don't go in as an idiot you won't come out as one either (unlike a good number of the class).
I have no regrets about leaving my marketing career 4.5 years ago. I've saved a decent amount and barely touch my salary now from month to month. All living costs are paid down to toothpaste, you wear a uniform every day. Even eating out is usually on the boss. It can be tax free too. The big yacht market has been growing at 10% PA for the last ten years. Average boat size is increasing hence massive demand for experienced, qualified crew.
Why am I considering getting off boats? Your personal life takes a massive hit, relationships are very difficult to start let alone maintain. Even finding enough personal time to sort out your finances can be tricky.
My advice would be get a RYA yachtmaster com ed, and STCW 95 qualifications. Get a job working for a small company with a busy schedule, low margins and big old tired boats. Spend a year learning how to sail big boats and run them with muppets as guests on a shoestring. That way when you get on luxury boats with a budget everything becomes easy. At no stage feel that you know it all or treat anyone as inferior. The industry is very small and reputation is everything. Protect yours, make sensible decisions, and you'll do fine.
www.dovaston.com
www.jf-recruiting.com
www.dockwalk.com
Pick up a copy of the Crew Review (Attached to the Yacht Report magazine)
Also be aware that powerboats pay more and 4/5 of the jobs are on them but unless you are the Captain or Engineer you are probably just a chammy jockey.
Good luck
Much better to run a smaller boat , if possible with partner .
If you run a smaller boat based in one place the social life can be great .
I ran a 51 ft mono hull in St.lucia for 2 years for a private owner who came out every 2-3 months for a couple of weeks for a adventuring around the Carib . But had my own life back at Rodney bay .He you to say things like ' why don't you take the boat to Antigua for race week and ask your mates out , I 'll meet you in Antigua in 5 weeks .We never worked past 1 pm when he was on board as it was beer o'clock.(meet my Wife will running it, then became chef on the other boats).
After that a worked at the Moorings in Tortola running a 4500 cat doing the milk run around the BVI . The most fantastic social scene and good money . I then ran a private 70ft Powerboat in the BVI ,still all the same people and more of the same on private boats .
Lots of down time but the boats are constant work but all crews parked up in quite bay when off so the social was mega. Good life good money but charters are hard work. Thing is with certain jobs you move around very little .
Big boats i have worked on are move around a lot , crew politics and you don't' have the boat to yourself .
Big is not best , leave that to the ego boys , the bigger they are the more work they are . Just find a good owner of a smallish boat who will pay good money .
If you run a smaller boat based in one place the social life can be great .
I ran a 51 ft mono hull in St.lucia for 2 years for a private owner who came out every 2-3 months for a couple of weeks for a adventuring around the Carib . But had my own life back at Rodney bay .He you to say things like ' why don't you take the boat to Antigua for race week and ask your mates out , I 'll meet you in Antigua in 5 weeks .We never worked past 1 pm when he was on board as it was beer o'clock.(meet my Wife will running it, then became chef on the other boats).
After that a worked at the Moorings in Tortola running a 4500 cat doing the milk run around the BVI . The most fantastic social scene and good money . I then ran a private 70ft Powerboat in the BVI ,still all the same people and more of the same on private boats .
Lots of down time but the boats are constant work but all crews parked up in quite bay when off so the social was mega. Good life good money but charters are hard work. Thing is with certain jobs you move around very little .
Big boats i have worked on are move around a lot , crew politics and you don't' have the boat to yourself .
Big is not best , leave that to the ego boys , the bigger they are the more work they are . Just find a good owner of a smallish boat who will pay good money .
As above, STCW95 is the bare minimum. There's a lot of people looking for work as deck crew so having experience and yachtmaster qualification will stand you in good stead. The med season is pretty much over, if you get on to the dock now in the lager ports - Antibes, Palma or the like you may be able to get work on a crossing to the caribbean for the winter season. Otherwise there's not much point in actively searching until next summer, just leave a c.v. with the agencies.
If you are in the right location in the summer you will get something, I'd recommend staying off power boats more than 50ish meters long if you want a satisfying job.
If you are in the right location in the summer you will get something, I'd recommend staying off power boats more than 50ish meters long if you want a satisfying job.
sassthathoopie said:
Working on big luxury yachts can be a great way to save money, travel and generally live a life that most people don't get to experience. I'm writing from an internet cafe in Bonifacio, Corsica. I'm Captain of a newly built Oyster 72 sailing yacht, this year I've cruised the west coast of Italy, Sicily, Corfu, Southern Croatia, Sardinia and will spend the next month farting around the French Riviera before racing across the Atlantic with my mates and a Caribbean winter. At some stage I'll probably get up to Aspen to stay/ski with the boss at his place. I've been sailing since I was a kid, did some amateur yacht racing in the solent but wasn't in anyway 'connected'.
To get into pro racing definitely requires connections (or outrageous talent). To get into the luxury side all that's required is a few well chosen qualifications, a willingness to put off today's high wage in exchange for valuable experience and a better wage down the line, a small ego, and hard work.
'Zero to Hero' courses are widely mocked, but the fact is if you don't go in as an idiot you won't come out as one either (unlike a good number of the class).
I have no regrets about leaving my marketing career 4.5 years ago. I've saved a decent amount and barely touch my salary now from month to month. All living costs are paid down to toothpaste, you wear a uniform every day. Even eating out is usually on the boss. It can be tax free too. The big yacht market has been growing at 10% PA for the last ten years. Average boat size is increasing hence massive demand for experienced, qualified crew.
Why am I considering getting off boats? Your personal life takes a massive hit, relationships are very difficult to start let alone maintain. Even finding enough personal time to sort out your finances can be tricky.
My advice would be get a RYA yachtmaster com ed, and STCW 95 qualifications. Get a job working for a small company with a busy schedule, low margins and big old tired boats. Spend a year learning how to sail big boats and run them with muppets as guests on a shoestring. That way when you get on luxury boats with a budget everything becomes easy. At no stage feel that you know it all or treat anyone as inferior. The industry is very small and reputation is everything. Protect yours, make sensible decisions, and you'll do fine.
www.dovaston.com
www.jf-recruiting.com
www.dockwalk.com
Pick up a copy of the Crew Review (Attached to the Yacht Report magazine)
Also be aware that powerboats pay more and 4/5 of the jobs are on them but unless you are the Captain or Engineer you are probably just a chammy jockey.
Good luck
now there is some good advice !! you could always build some experience working for a charter company which runs cruises. I remember some trying to pick up some of us when we left college to do a season.To get into pro racing definitely requires connections (or outrageous talent). To get into the luxury side all that's required is a few well chosen qualifications, a willingness to put off today's high wage in exchange for valuable experience and a better wage down the line, a small ego, and hard work.
'Zero to Hero' courses are widely mocked, but the fact is if you don't go in as an idiot you won't come out as one either (unlike a good number of the class).
I have no regrets about leaving my marketing career 4.5 years ago. I've saved a decent amount and barely touch my salary now from month to month. All living costs are paid down to toothpaste, you wear a uniform every day. Even eating out is usually on the boss. It can be tax free too. The big yacht market has been growing at 10% PA for the last ten years. Average boat size is increasing hence massive demand for experienced, qualified crew.
Why am I considering getting off boats? Your personal life takes a massive hit, relationships are very difficult to start let alone maintain. Even finding enough personal time to sort out your finances can be tricky.
My advice would be get a RYA yachtmaster com ed, and STCW 95 qualifications. Get a job working for a small company with a busy schedule, low margins and big old tired boats. Spend a year learning how to sail big boats and run them with muppets as guests on a shoestring. That way when you get on luxury boats with a budget everything becomes easy. At no stage feel that you know it all or treat anyone as inferior. The industry is very small and reputation is everything. Protect yours, make sensible decisions, and you'll do fine.
www.dovaston.com
www.jf-recruiting.com
www.dockwalk.com
Pick up a copy of the Crew Review (Attached to the Yacht Report magazine)
Also be aware that powerboats pay more and 4/5 of the jobs are on them but unless you are the Captain or Engineer you are probably just a chammy jockey.
Good luck
I have friends 1st eng and skip in Antibes and they love it down there, best bonus is the mountains aren't far I can almost smell the snow on it's way!! best of luck.
Edited by mateus on Monday 5th November 23:10
Good advice there to Contact Dovaston.com.
Fred is a legend in yachting, and as an ex skipper he cuts through the bullshit immediately.
Got me my first job in 1996.
Interview consisted of a lot of reference checks and then he threw me a bit of thin line and asked for some knots.
Seamanship is what gets you a job.
Good haircut,
No visable tattoos,
Non smoker,
Good skills with people..rich private people.
Focus on a skill, dive master or tender driver or Hyab/windlass operations...and push it hard in interviews.
You have to be what guests want to see.
Fred is a legend in yachting, and as an ex skipper he cuts through the bullshit immediately.
Got me my first job in 1996.
Interview consisted of a lot of reference checks and then he threw me a bit of thin line and asked for some knots.
Seamanship is what gets you a job.
Good haircut,
No visable tattoos,
Non smoker,
Good skills with people..rich private people.
Focus on a skill, dive master or tender driver or Hyab/windlass operations...and push it hard in interviews.
You have to be what guests want to see.
I just re-read your OP and saw that you could easily focus on a 2nd chef position...
Usually when guests are on board the Chef is busy as hell with them, aguy to step up and feed the crew is required.
The rest of the time you are a deckhand or other crew member.
Security experience is A BIG PLUS.
I used to shoot competively with handguns and that was a skill which helped.
Boats outside the EU are more often than not heavily armed, a level head and skills are desirable.
Wealthy people can be a touch paranoid, sometimes with good reason.
Usually when guests are on board the Chef is busy as hell with them, aguy to step up and feed the crew is required.
The rest of the time you are a deckhand or other crew member.
Security experience is A BIG PLUS.
I used to shoot competively with handguns and that was a skill which helped.
Boats outside the EU are more often than not heavily armed, a level head and skills are desirable.
Wealthy people can be a touch paranoid, sometimes with good reason.
Wonderbrumby , best thing to arm yourself in the Carib is a 4 pack/Rum and 5 EC Dollar , if you take arms then try checking in at each Island Mmmmmmmmmm. If you have to have something like that carry a few flare guns , you don't have to declare them as weapons .
I have also known U.S boats that come to the Islands and think they have to be tooled up enough to take out the Terminator , then go ashore boat gets broken in to (as they get spotted having to declare them at customs/ Imm) arms go missing , next thing somebody shot in local community on the island with the weapon.
Tampon it is good to do your courses where the action is as they usually have a good recruitment dept to .
I have also known U.S boats that come to the Islands and think they have to be tooled up enough to take out the Terminator , then go ashore boat gets broken in to (as they get spotted having to declare them at customs/ Imm) arms go missing , next thing somebody shot in local community on the island with the weapon.
Tampon it is good to do your courses where the action is as they usually have a good recruitment dept to .
Edited by Rum Runner on Monday 10th December 22:10
You live in the past or in a dream world Pal.
Its a nasty world out there and the Islands are just as nasty as other ports...
2/3 of the boats I worked were well armed and had specifically trained crew to look after said arms.
Bosses come with security on those boats as well.
I do think that the risk of non declared firearms (especially as I said, Non EU boats) is an accepted one compared to the risk of being at anchor unarmed.
Many, many owners and Skippers think the same way.
I am talking Big Boats here, not a vessel which would be EVER left unattended.
Its a nasty world out there and the Islands are just as nasty as other ports...
2/3 of the boats I worked were well armed and had specifically trained crew to look after said arms.
Bosses come with security on those boats as well.
I do think that the risk of non declared firearms (especially as I said, Non EU boats) is an accepted one compared to the risk of being at anchor unarmed.
Many, many owners and Skippers think the same way.
I am talking Big Boats here, not a vessel which would be EVER left unattended.
Edited by WonderBrumby on Wednesday 12th December 05:48
Wonderbrumby , i live in the past ....
I know what type of boat you are on about which are not left unattended as i have worked on and run them. I was talking about small vessels carrying fire arms .
But even on big vessels if you know the Carib then why go to places that black spots , as yes there are some and have been like that for a long time , but are getting worse i know.
I would not go and park my TVR outside chippy in the town i was born in , so there are place i would not take the boat , certainly not guests especially ashore .
What i am talking about is over aggressive ego nature of some big boat(and small boat captains) crews when some local guy on a surfboard comes over selling bananas, this type of attitude creates retaliation later on. There are ways to say now without being offensive or flashing your steel.
I worked for a very very rich man who used to own a certain very well know publication..s , he used to love having the local people on the boat a here there life story give them beer , he even put one girl he met through schooling and payed for her all the way to Uni. The boat was really well know we got half price on lots of things etc. The boat was never touched ot neither were we . We all used to go ashore and the owner got to absorb the culture and have a great time and understand the Island instead of looking at it from half a mile away. ( 2 years of solid cruising the Islands with that owner ).
I lived in the Carib 6 years living( mostly on the pick) on boats and since leaving a few years ago I am back every year for a good period of time and am looking to move back in 08 . I have to say all my friends many charter crews never felt the need for guns . Though there was always a big machete for chopping up sea food on board.
That's including Hollywood A listed guests, though some of there films they were hardly seen without a gun.
I know what type of boat you are on about which are not left unattended as i have worked on and run them. I was talking about small vessels carrying fire arms .
But even on big vessels if you know the Carib then why go to places that black spots , as yes there are some and have been like that for a long time , but are getting worse i know.
I would not go and park my TVR outside chippy in the town i was born in , so there are place i would not take the boat , certainly not guests especially ashore .
What i am talking about is over aggressive ego nature of some big boat(and small boat captains) crews when some local guy on a surfboard comes over selling bananas, this type of attitude creates retaliation later on. There are ways to say now without being offensive or flashing your steel.
I worked for a very very rich man who used to own a certain very well know publication..s , he used to love having the local people on the boat a here there life story give them beer , he even put one girl he met through schooling and payed for her all the way to Uni. The boat was really well know we got half price on lots of things etc. The boat was never touched ot neither were we . We all used to go ashore and the owner got to absorb the culture and have a great time and understand the Island instead of looking at it from half a mile away. ( 2 years of solid cruising the Islands with that owner ).
I lived in the Carib 6 years living( mostly on the pick) on boats and since leaving a few years ago I am back every year for a good period of time and am looking to move back in 08 . I have to say all my friends many charter crews never felt the need for guns . Though there was always a big machete for chopping up sea food on board.
That's including Hollywood A listed guests, though some of there films they were hardly seen without a gun.
Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 12th December 21:33
WonderBrumby said:
I used to shoot competively with handguns and that was a skill which helped.
Boats outside the EU are more often than not heavily armed, a level head and skills are desirable.
Wealthy people can be a touch paranoid, sometimes with good reason.
What? You would have honestly picked up a gun and used it? I have already chosen my hiding place if it all kicks off...Boats outside the EU are more often than not heavily armed, a level head and skills are desirable.
Wealthy people can be a touch paranoid, sometimes with good reason.
WonderBrumby said:
2/3 of the boats I worked were well armed and had specifically trained crew to look after said arms.
The boat (60ft Cat) my parents sailed on last Summer had an ex-Israli Special Forces operative as Captain - it seems quite a few of the charter boats had ex-military types on board from what he said. I know of none in the 60ft charter range in the Carib that carry hardware and i know most of the most very well as i deal with them regularly and a lot of the crew are personal friends of mine, and even placed 3 teams on boats in the last year or so.
If Peter Blake not pulled a gun out in the Amazon he may well still be alive.
If Peter Blake not pulled a gun out in the Amazon he may well still be alive.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff