Probably what sets the temperament of Aussie crew is their apprenticeship at sea largely in the commercial fishing sector.
Usually they are placed on an incentive scheme.... a share of the catch.
One Lobser boat skipper I know - pays his deck hand Aus$180,000 a year (~US$124K) as a share of the catch (It's an 8 month "season"), the Skipper clears more than 1 Million per vessel annually and has a fleet of 3.
The deck hand shows up every day for 8 months, thats some 240 odd days without a break - thru rain and sleet sun and heat, tropical ulcers, bad back - you name it, he shows up...
Without the deck hand the boat can't go to sea, every day lost = a $4-5000 loss...
Thats a big responsibility, especially when its every year for sometimes 10 years or more before a deck hand will garner enough experience money and sea time to get his own skippers ticket and possibly lease a boat and license - pots etc to go work on his own...
Thats what sets our guys apart, there is no easey route to being a capt...they work and take the responsibility, and it sets a great ethic.
They get rewarded in terms of what they earn...
That deckhand is earning as much (More?) than double down is offering a captan to take on a 70 ft Hatteras...
If he sticks it out he will likely end up leasing a boat and license, making 1 $Million a year + (Less bait Fuel and deckhands wages.)
At times, that deckhand will be skippering the boat on his own with a deckhgand to help him (He already has the Coxswains cert or Masters V in some cases).
The owner will work the boat during the start of the season when catch is high, and a lot pf $ are to be made.
Later whe the catch drops off and earnings are down - the owner will stay home and the deckhand will skipper the boat on a share of the catch basis.
The Owner has 3 boats he operates this way...on a share of the catch basis - by providing the vessel - license and pots...he gets 40% of the catch if he stays home (and about 80% if he skippers it himself).
So with 3 boats and licenses and sets of traops - he can stay home on 40% of 1 $Million a year + from each of 3 boats....or 1.2 Million for staying home.
The crew get their sea time up at the helm when the skipper stays home...which helps them when they want to upgrade their qualifications.
These guys basically are can do types who are used to hard worlk and long hours, but they expect to get well paid because they KNOW what their labours are bringing the owner in fiscal return.
Theres lots of great crew downunder, but you'd have to throw a LOT of $ at most of them to coax them away from the lifestyle & $ they already are earning.
Not saying the idea of a holiday stateside working on a luxury boat wouldn't be attarctive to them...you see the 4 months closed season is dureing our winter (Your summer = peak boating activity time!).
Any Aussie who can make Aus $180K in 8 Months commercial fishing downunder then fly to the US for a 4 months "working holday" stint on a luxury yacht and clear another ~50K US...is doing it pretty good.
That sorta income buys a lot of corona's and bilkini clad wenches.
Ohh - to be young again!
Cheers!