To all paid captains:
Posted by thatsnotexactlyme@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 4 comments
Hi! I want to eventually become a captain & would love to hear your story - how you got here, the experience you had before starting, how you found the job, how the job is going. My dream is being the captain of a Gunboat or a private luxury yacht, although I know those opportunities are few and far between. I currently have 10,000nm experience on a monohull and 5,000+ on a performance catamaran & am still onboard, so those miles are going up quick.
Anyways - send me a DM or leave a comment, i’d love to chat with you. Bonus points if you’re a full time private captain! Thanks :)
markboats@reddit
Commercial cap here, 15yrs in yachting, last five or so solely in skipper/captain roles...
My first question would be: Are any of those miles in command positions?
If so, and you have the experience prerequisites, then go get your RYA Yachtmaster, commercially endorse it, and you can work just about anywhere in the world and satisfy the insurance providers
Now the way you actually get jobs is by networking, building a network of people you know, and getting out there. It can seem a little impenetrable but the reality is that to get to the upper levels and better jobs takes time and you will earn your reputation as you go
As long as you're not looking for a quick fix high level entry point you'll go well :)
rackman1@reddit
I got my license then became the launch driver at my yacht club. After a few years I contacted a harbor tour company just before the season started and worked for them.
whyrumalwaysgone@reddit
1) get captains license. Uscg ticket for US waters, RYA elsewhere, rarely both
2) network like crazy, focusing on the type of boat and the work that you are trying to get
3) have a home base near boats. Preferably a "hub" like Ft Lauderdale, Newport RI, Mallorca, etc.
It's really a "foot in the door" kind of gig. You crew first, generally, but it sounds like you are started on that. Also, tell everyone you know.
Some people use a secondary skill to get in the door - for myself its systems and electrical, could also be cooking, child care, scuba, rigging, or whatever else would attract interest.
Essentially captain work is about trust. You are being entrusted with boats that are worth more than you will make in a decade, or ever. So you need to be reliable in all situations, show up, do the extra work when its needed. There may be situations where its more important to get the job done than to be "right", you may have to shut off some ego at some point. Once you are established feel free to be a dick (lots of captains are) but be prepared to work on yourself and your behavior to get along with owners and crew, every boat is different.
the-montser@reddit
This x1000.
I am always happy to help out guys who are starting out by referring jobs I can’t or don’t want to do, but I won’t do it if you suck.