Working on superyachts
Discussion
I have had various friends who have done it / doing it. Money can be good, but a lot of hard work and times of boredom and also long periods away from home at a time. Great if you are young and a hard worker looking to make a bit of money, I was considering it myself but the idea of shared crew quarters turned me off.
thinfourth2 said:
I have a class 2 motor ticket before anyone chimes in with i need qualifications.
So what is life like on the floating shiny things?
Whats the average trip length?
Wages?
Do you get loads of bulls
t?
LD1Racing would be your best guy to talk to on here...So what is life like on the floating shiny things?
Whats the average trip length?
Wages?
Do you get loads of bulls
t?FWIW one of the thirds I sailed with during my cadetship is now a chief on a superyacht. 10k euros a month, 10 weeks on/10 weeks off, and he hasn't got a 2nds ticket yet (he's got enough sea time, just not done his exams)! He'd done about a year as a third on yachts before getting his present job though, in addition to merchant experience.
As for the stereotypical posh graduate yachtie, it's b
ks - he's from Cuminestown (you'll know where that is!) and rough as, but gets on well with everyone, knows his stuff, and likes a drink!Trip lengths vary from yacht to yacht, although more junior positions seem to have longer trips (I've seen 10/11 months on some ads). Wages on a charter yacht are usually topped up by tips, shared among the crew - no idea what is the 'norm' per month though.
Getting bored of working in an office?
Edited by Taffer on Wednesday 12th January 17:00
My brother is second officer on a very large superyacht and has been on the boat for a while now (years), having been on other boats before.
From what i can tell, he's very well paid and his pay is topped up by tips (crew tip as a whole is circa 10% of the charter fee).
He has a lot of fun (he is mid 20's). However i do get the sense he gets bored. long periods of no movement, just doing routine stuff, but seems like it's worth it for the money. He gets a reasonable amount of leave and comes back to the UK from either the Carribbean or Med every few months.
He's got a friend who's supervising the build of a new power-superyacht and will be skipper when it's launched. He'll be working a total of 6 months on, 6 months off a year.
Some charters are really good, some not so for 'st' apparently. Certain nationalities are particularly bad, for example, some of the party wanting to party all night, with others wanting to get up at 7am to go wakeboarding, making for ver long days. Similarly whilst the owners might be great, i get the impression that sometimes the owner's extended families like to treat the boats as their own and treat the crew badly.
Must be alright on the whole though as he hasn't come home yet!
From what i can tell, he's very well paid and his pay is topped up by tips (crew tip as a whole is circa 10% of the charter fee).
He has a lot of fun (he is mid 20's). However i do get the sense he gets bored. long periods of no movement, just doing routine stuff, but seems like it's worth it for the money. He gets a reasonable amount of leave and comes back to the UK from either the Carribbean or Med every few months.
He's got a friend who's supervising the build of a new power-superyacht and will be skipper when it's launched. He'll be working a total of 6 months on, 6 months off a year.
Some charters are really good, some not so for 's
t' apparently. Certain nationalities are particularly bad, for example, some of the party wanting to party all night, with others wanting to get up at 7am to go wakeboarding, making for ver long days. Similarly whilst the owners might be great, i get the impression that sometimes the owner's extended families like to treat the boats as their own and treat the crew badly.Must be alright on the whole though as he hasn't come home yet!
Edited by johnnywb on Wednesday 12th January 17:15
it's great to do for a few years whilst you are young... the are very few better ways to build up the deposit you need to buy a house these days... after a few years you will either decide that this is what you want to do in life, or more commonly, you will move back on land with stacks of very good memories, loads of great contacts and some money in the bank... if i was in my early 20's again, i would definitely give it a go.
Jackleman said:
I have had various friends who have done it / doing it. Money can be good, but a lot of hard work and times of boredom and also long periods away from home at a time. Great if you are young and a hard worker looking to make a bit of money, I was considering it myself but the idea of shared crew quarters turned me off.
Sounds like most of the ships I worked on, but with the added bonus of nice ports and women; can't be bad!blueg33 said:
thinfourth2 said:
Taffer said:
Getting bored of working in an office?
Bores the crap out of me. Edited by Taffer on Wednesday 12th January 17:00
Get home every night to the wife and dogs.
But cash flow may need to be increased
danyeates said:
My girlfriend's parents keep saying we should go and work on a superyacht for a while. I'm not sure either, not sure what I'd do either. I don't have much in the way of superyacht qualifications, I just work in marine sales.
O/T, did I buy a chocolate making voucher off you earlier this year? The missus loved it. I'm going to the Boat Show tomorrow, if you're there, I'll pop by and shake your hand...Back O/T, I wish I'd done a couple of years on a yacht, but I'd have no idea where I'd have squeezed it into my life...
danyeates said:
My girlfriend's parents keep saying we should go and work on a superyacht for a while. I'm not sure either, not sure what I'd do either. I don't have much in the way of superyacht qualifications, I just work in marine sales.
Most people from my understanding start as deckhands, with girls typically taking the roles of stewardesses. On the larger boats, even the deckhands are expected to be qualified to quite a decent level (yachtmaster on my brother's boat). On the smaller boats i think you can get away with just having boating experience.louiebaby said:
danyeates said:
My girlfriend's parents keep saying we should go and work on a superyacht for a while. I'm not sure either, not sure what I'd do either. I don't have much in the way of superyacht qualifications, I just work in marine sales.
O/T, did I buy a chocolate making voucher off you earlier this year? The missus loved it. I'm going to the Boat Show tomorrow, if you're there, I'll pop by and shake your hand...Back O/T, I wish I'd done a couple of years on a yacht, but I'd have no idea where I'd have squeezed it into my life...
It's the first year I've not gone to London actually, I'm back at the showroom. We do have other staff at the show but no need for me this year! Thanks for thinking of me though.
johnnywb said:
danyeates said:
My girlfriend's parents keep saying we should go and work on a superyacht for a while. I'm not sure either, not sure what I'd do either. I don't have much in the way of superyacht qualifications, I just work in marine sales.
Most people from my understanding start as deckhands, with girls typically taking the roles of stewardesses. On the larger boats, even the deckhands are expected to be qualified to quite a decent level (yachtmaster on my brother's boat). On the smaller boats i think you can get away with just having boating experience.danyeates said:
johnnywb said:
danyeates said:
My girlfriend's parents keep saying we should go and work on a superyacht for a while. I'm not sure either, not sure what I'd do either. I don't have much in the way of superyacht qualifications, I just work in marine sales.
Most people from my understanding start as deckhands, with girls typically taking the roles of stewardesses. On the larger boats, even the deckhands are expected to be qualified to quite a decent level (yachtmaster on my brother's boat). On the smaller boats i think you can get away with just having boating experience.thinfourth2 said:
I have a class 2 motor ticket before anyone chimes in with i need qualifications.
So what is life like on the floating shiny things?
Whats the average trip length?
Wages?
Do you get loads of bullst?
I've been doing it 7 years now since leaving the RN and have enjoyed it most of the time.So what is life like on the floating shiny things?
Whats the average trip length?
Wages?
Do you get loads of bulls
t?Have a look here for some idea of requirements http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mgn_156(m).pdf
Or probably best to speak to one of the yacht engineer recruiting agencies for up to date advice - I have used these guys with good results but there are plenty others
http://www.dovaston.com/
http://www.ypicrew.com/
Average trip length is usually determined by the yachting seasons - ie Caribbean for the winter and Med in summer. But there are quite a few rotation jobs going now which, in my case, is 2 months on 2 off.
Wages are very good but you do have to work for them.
Lots of bulls
t but engineers manage to avoid much of it.If you're young and single I'd definately say give it a go
Edited by swanny71 on Thursday 13th January 22:40
I am guessing you are single, if not there are better options such running as a smaller boat as couple.
If single then still there are other options of smaller boats. Big boats are not always best is what I am saying. The bigger you go it tends to move to hotel management rather than excitement and adventure.
Such as, how many different napkin folds can you do etc. Oh why are you asking me to polish this stainless I only did it 2 hrs ago....
On Super yachts its 90% what the skipper is like on smaller its the owner.
Personally I would go down the smaller route and end up skippering earlier not getting bored and have much more varied work.
If single then still there are other options of smaller boats. Big boats are not always best is what I am saying. The bigger you go it tends to move to hotel management rather than excitement and adventure.
Such as, how many different napkin folds can you do etc. Oh why are you asking me to polish this stainless I only did it 2 hrs ago....
On Super yachts its 90% what the skipper is like on smaller its the owner.
Personally I would go down the smaller route and end up skippering earlier not getting bored and have much more varied work.
Edited by Rum Runner on Thursday 13th January 23:12
Rum Runner said:
I am guessing you are single, if not there are better options such running as a smaller boat as couple.
If single then still there are other options of smaller boats. Big boats are not always best is what I am saying. The bigger you go it tends to move to hotel management rather than excitement and adventure.
Such as, how many different napkin folds can you do etc. Oh why are you asking me to polish this stainless I only did it 2 hrs ago....
On Super yachts its 90% what the skipper is like on smaller its the owner.
Personally I would go down the smaller route and end up skippering earlier not getting bored and have much more varied work.
I'm an engineer why would I want to steer it?If single then still there are other options of smaller boats. Big boats are not always best is what I am saying. The bigger you go it tends to move to hotel management rather than excitement and adventure.
Such as, how many different napkin folds can you do etc. Oh why are you asking me to polish this stainless I only did it 2 hrs ago....
On Super yachts its 90% what the skipper is like on smaller its the owner.
Personally I would go down the smaller route and end up skippering earlier not getting bored and have much more varied work.
Edited by Rum Runner on Thursday 13th January 23:12
That's what deckies are for
I am the 1st Officer on a medium sized Motor Yacht, l would say it is a great life style, if you are single then you can have an amazing time, l am married and fortunately manage to get home alot because of the job l have.
Salary's can be good, as a commercial engineer coming in, the biggest bit of advice l can give you is be open minded and open to change, it is not as departmentalised as a commercial boat much more close knit so be prepared to muck in and help along the way. I say this because l have experience of Engineers that have not done this and they wont win any popularity contest's any time soon.
If you have any more specifc questions feel free to email me and l will try and help as best as l can.
Good luck
Mike
Salary's can be good, as a commercial engineer coming in, the biggest bit of advice l can give you is be open minded and open to change, it is not as departmentalised as a commercial boat much more close knit so be prepared to muck in and help along the way. I say this because l have experience of Engineers that have not done this and they wont win any popularity contest's any time soon.
If you have any more specifc questions feel free to email me and l will try and help as best as l can.
Good luck
Mike
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff