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What to pay the crew?

Discussion in 'Yacht Crews' started by Fortunata, Mar 5, 2010.

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  1. Fortunata

    Fortunata New Member

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    I have a yacht with two full time crew. I am new at this; so I was wondering if I am paying the right amount to the crew. I have a Captain and a chef/stew/deckhand on a 72 Foot Ferretti.
  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    F/T or per diem?
  3. Henning

    Henning Senior Member

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    As a couple, if you're a nice guy, you can get them for about $100k with a few years experience. Very experienced you're looking $130k+. For less experienced captains, those that have the minimum qualifications for running the boat, basically $1000 ft per year, though that has come down over the last year. When you hire more experienced people with qualifications that far outweigh your needs, expect to pay the minimum rate those qualifications rate, say if they have a 3000 ton license, what will a 1600 ton vessel pay them (1599 ton being the cutoff for the next lower license.) A stew on that size boat is $30-$35k a year, if she cooks as well, add $10k. If she does a very nice job with the interior, a significant holiday bonus is indicated. Captain bonus I figure in a few things. What level of repairs do they do succesfully themselves, how well are the accounts managed, do they negotiate in your favor well.... Basically, figure out how much they managed to save you over the year and give them whatever share you feel like. With an experienced person you may also be able to negotiate a fair annual budget and what's all included that they keep what's left over (basically a lease back type deal). This usually works best with a boat that will see little owner use and was bought as a charter boat/business. Believe it or not, these big white boats can be operated at a profit, but they have to be treated as a business, not a luxury toy.
  4. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Also remember that, although times are bad in this and every business, good people are hard to find. If you have one consider what your neighbor will pay to take them from you.
  5. dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Part of why the US is in financial difficulties...100 k for a full time skip and mate is outragous...65 is more than enough....80 % of the time they are "off" duty, eat the owners food, use his laundry facilities and sleep for free...one of these days people will realize that you cannot pay more than what the job is worth...we have way too many examples of that in the current economy and maybe that's how we got here.? sorry if this offends the "pro" crew, but....facts are facts...
  6. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Actually, the reason the U.S, is in a financial mess is because bankers and stock brokers take $20,000,000 for losing everyone elses money. Oh wait, they're the ones who can still afford a yacht as long as they cheap out on their crew.
  7. N844AA

    N844AA New Member

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    It's the same with those goldbrickers in the Navy too! Most of their time is spent eating, sleeping, doing laundry, etc. I wouldn't pay any of those guys more than $4000 a year!

    While we're at it, just how much time do firemen really spend putting out fires? Less than 1 hour a day, that's for sure! At $25 an hour, and I'm being generous, they should be paid $500 a month and nothing more!

    How about airline pilots! The autopilot does all the work!!! How much real work do these guys do? They get to travel for free, all over the world! And they aren't even taxed on this travel benefit!!!

    If we could cut the pay of everyone in America, we could solve all our problems!
  8. PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    I'd love to have a Captain and a Chef/Stew/Deckhand for 100K a year. Even better, 65K a year. Where do I find them? Sign me up!

    I guess our overpaying is continuing to contribute of the downfall of the US economy.

    @the OP, somewhere between 125K and 175K depending on experience, time, duties, other compensation (paid holiday, travel, training, etc) There are a lot of factors that can influence it as far as perks and inclusions, but the bottom line is you're paying for what someone knows, and their experience. Not always what they do. (drive boat from point "A" to "B") If you ever find yourself in trouble, you'll thank every last penny your paying for your well being, your family's, and your boats safety. In fact, in a time of trouble, you'll be willing to pay double for the rightly experienced Captain.

    Research around. Hopefully others will provide some valuable input, speak to some other captains, talk to a few crew agencies on what they hire out at (keeping in mind you're paying a commission through an agency) etc. etc.

    A Captain / Wife team with a dozen years experience under their belts are well worth every bit of 100K annum.

    I'm happy to share closer numbers on our crews pay in PM if you wish.
  9. Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    "A Captain / Wife team with a dozen years experience under their belts are well worth every bit of 100K annum."

    So ... that's approx $65k captain / $35k crew?

    How about taxes, health ins, workers comp? Or would that be on a 1099?
  10. dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    No, the Us is in the mess becaus the .populace is is so greedy it does not want to look before it buys...any good promise of riches is taken up real quick, then when it goes sideways..blame everyone else, it is still happening today, Government programs to let people buy homes with outragous low interset rates and give aways of other peoples hard earned tax dollars to help the disaster continue...if I was wrong....why is unemployment still so high and the US debt toGDP deficit this year is the same a what is in Greece ??? who are a basket case.... you can only kill the goose once.....some try to do it every day....why is it that employment only increases in Government jobs ???? and you expect the smart wealthy to continue supporting this disaster ???..NO...that's why there are so many boats for sale...so many mansions...the proof of the pudding is staring you in the face..ignore at your peril....
  11. PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    (with all due respect)
    First of all, you're randomly rattling off two or three handfuls of 'assumptions' and 'facts' based on uneducated opinion, and from the content of your post, very little understanding of the issue, top to bottom.

    Secondly, you seem quite interested in opening this can of worms, in a thread topic that is completely off base. If you really have a desire to discuss it in an intelligent manner, I'd recommend researching your claims to gain a better understanding of the problem, its symptoms, and activities moving forward, and finally, doing so in a separate / different thread.
  12. N844AA

    N844AA New Member

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    Really? The American population seems to be in love with cheap prices, look at the success of Walmart, etc. Being cheap is the new American past time.
  13. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance. It's just this type of talk and attitude that will bring about class wars. Most of the smart I've met are not wealthy and most of the wealthy I've met are fools who couldn't survive poor. Before you talk about the worth of a captain spend a day in a roasting engine room or battle for your life, and more importantly the lives of your passengers against a sea intent on taking it.
  14. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    The near hilarious melodrama of the following:

  15. saltysenior

    saltysenior Senior Member

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    i think you are a little low w/ your figures....when i retired i was in the upper $600,000 @ year bracket.....at least that what i told the guys that told me they were in the $590,000 a year bracket....:cool:
  16. Henning

    Henning Senior Member

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    You can most definitely find someone in your price range, pay what you please, expect to get what you pay for, I don't work anywhere near that cheap, but I know people who will. I know a guy who pays cheap for the "charter crew" then brings some different people when the family is onboard. If you want quality people, be prepared to pay well, because there are plenty of good people out there who are very willing to pay a top rate for top people. I never have trouble getting my asking rate.
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You're out of your mind. Keep in mind that if you pay peanuts, you get Monkeys!

    1. If the owner wants the boat in Staniel Cay in the Bahamas for 90 days, I am working 90 days 24 hours a day, because I am not home in my own bed doing the things I want to do and seeing my friends and family.

    2. We might be off duty 20% of the time, MAYBE. Do you think the boat doesn't have a lot of things that break when it sits at the dock, do you think the boat washes and waxes itself? The engines change their own oil? There is a lot of maintanence involved in addition to actually running the boat.

    3. If it was such an easy job, and you needed unskilled labor, then as an owner you wouldn't need a captain at all, because you could drive your $3mill investment yourself and competantly or you could go to the local un-employment office and hire someone to do our job for $8hr.

    4. You're paying for knowledge and 65k a year for a Captain on a 72' MY was the going rate in 1990. A good Captain has made a lot of sacrifices to become a good Captain and deserves what they make. Do you think the licensing and training that we pay to take is free also?

    The going rate for a competant captain on a 72' MY would be around $80k a year. Someone that is overqualified will generally make even more.

    A Chef/mate would be around 35-45k a year based on use and cooking, but I'd say 40k.......
  18. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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  19. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Over the last 30 years crewing has changed greatly.

    I've seen the crews change from the Mom & Pop couples who sailed and sort of stumbled into it because they got-on with the Owner and all the family. They may take on a young lad or lass as crew to help out during busy periods. They were all part of the family vacations, often the youngsters took over running the boat as the older couple retired and the owner's kids take over the boat. A certain continuity remained, even if the boats grew in size.

    The other side was the ex-Navy or Merchant Marine crew who took to running larger yachts. They had the paperwork required by insurers to prove they could avoid the big rocks.These older Skippers took the time to train their new crewmembers with all the skills and knowledge they had accrued over the years, a good way of learning.

    These days (I sound like an old f*rt now) a young couple can get all the required paperwork in a 9 week course to run a 72'. What skills and experience do they have? The tricks and dodges of getting the best berths in the marina, cost cutting measures, mid-ocean engine/rig fixes etc...

    You pay for what you get. As to what was said before about Monkeys and Nuts is so true.

    Fish
  20. CaptPKilbride

    CaptPKilbride Senior Member

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    There is no "right" amount.
    If you and your crew are a good fit, get along well, it would behoove you to make sure they arent hired away. If your crew make you pull your hair out, you might pay double to be rid of them.