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Tattoo Question...

Discussion in 'Yacht Crews' started by Natalia, Dec 18, 2014.

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  1. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    I do not believe a nurse with multiple visible tatoos would be hired in a major hospital or in an elderly home in Germany either. One or the other private owner might tolerate little pieces of tatoo art visible on his crew, if they are not very prominent.

    Some crew have got their tatoo after signing up for a specific yacht. I personally would not fire a highly qualified crew member, just because he wakes up in the morning after a long night tour in a dark harbour town with a new tatoo :).

    But just imagine, during dinner on your yacht, a stew serves from behind on the table and her hand covered with the tatoo of a lion gets into the field of view of your guest. That can ruin the finest event. No way, sorry.

    Very large yachts like RS may have several crew positions without frequent contact with the ownership or guests. But on yachts with the size for normal mortal people, crews can not hide away from those living in the more comfortable spaces. And this counts for private and charter yachts.

    Would love to hear the opinion of Ken Bracewell about this specific case.

    P.S. Many years ago, my youngest daughter was about 13 or 14, antler type tatoos on the lower rear body were very famous among young girls. The girl desperately wanted one. Unfortenately and for good reasons minors need permission for a tatoo by their parents in Germany. She never asked me but approached her mother for approval. Approval was denied and today my dauther being a respectable lawyer and mother of two lovely children is very grateful for this denial.
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2017
  2. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    That there was almost a rite of passage for young merchant sailors:
    Saw it all the time when I went to sea at age 17. My colleagues would come onboard 04:00 with a beginning hangover and a bloody tattoo from some harbor joint in Rotterdam or Hamburg.
    I did my share of getting in trouble at every seedy Port around the globe, but never got no tattoos for some reason. Never thought it was cool or enhanced anything really.
    Still don't.
  3. Jodie

    Jodie New Member

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    Hi thanks for this response, I have found all the replies very helpful, so thank you for the time Every one has taken to reply. Some
    are quite upsetting, I do understand people have an issue towards tattoos in a work place. I haven't heard much of yacht work until recently, but I have always wanted to sail boats. I study to be a nurse and have been working in health care since I was 16, I have recently been wanting a change to do something different and perhaps find a job I can travel with, it was a friend who had mentioned it and I just wanted to find out more. My tattoo is of a lion and it's not to everyone's taste, I understand that. I just wanted to know if it is worth me looking into further, and getting training? or go ahead and
    Find something else?
  4. Jodie

    Jodie New Member

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    I will just say I work in many nursing homes and I have placement in a hospital, I don't have any problems with tattoos there, but it's not as prestigious as yacht work so again I do understand why some people would prefer no visible tattoos.
  5. Jodie

    Jodie New Member

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    I think with all the responses I have received it's safe to say maybe yacht work wouldn't be suitable for me. Thank you for all the advice, I really appreciate it
  6. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I don't think I'd go that far. If it's something you really are seriously interested in, find a chief stew to talk to and get some inside advice. It's not prohibitive, but definitely limiting. First, however, you need to be sure it's a career you'd like and worth the effort and battle.
  7. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    A tattoo isn't a deal-breaker, but it also doesn't go unnoticed during an interview. I've hired plenty of people with tattoos over the years, but wouldn't have if I'd thought the tattoos could be even slightly offensive or overt to the owners/guests aboard.
    Truthfully, my level of acceptance for a visible tattoo is probably commensurate with the level of skill for the job for which I'm considering the candidate.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Or piercings, nose or ear distorting thingies, facial injections?
    Affirmative Action does not cover stupid, fashion challenged, or UGLY.
    I've walked away from these challenged persons and done business else where my self.
    Small boat related companys have to appease well, a smaller clientele if they want their buck.


    I may go a day or two with out shaving while bilge diving; but I'm at my best dress around any customer.
    I ensure my helpers are dressed well when I know a customer is going to be around also.
    So we don't even where flip-flops. Deck shoes, work shoes and when on deck, sox (extra sox are in the van). Proper boots when washing most times.
  9. unsinker

    unsinker Member

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    Now that this Pandora's box is open about personal issues with presentation appearance while working in the boat industry, what about tobacco smoking in any of its different methods, smokers (I stopped smoking in 1990) smell no matter what and, no matter where in the boat it gets burned or smoked, wind can change in a moment, what is the consensus and/or personal opinions?
  10. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Mine is very simple. No smoking allowed. I'm very allergic to cigarette smoke. No e-cigarettes either. Our boat, our home, all of our businesses are smoke free environments.

    We're not suggesting this is right for others, but it's a non-negotiable item for us.
  11. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    I used to smoke heavily, so too did many others. In a crew of 22, 17 idiots used to light up on the fore-deck of a non-smoking yacht!

    I have now switched to a vape after almost 40 years of smoking ciggies, very nice Cubans and, when stuck out in the middle of the ocean for 3 weeks, all the dried herbs out of the galley cupboards ( they smelt lovely, like a BBQ). :D

    Now, in this new era, smoking is really a downer. But (and this is a big But) I would have no problem with a vape.
  12. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    If you read a bit more about vape's you might change your mind there too.
  13. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Yes I have, pretty good things. The Big Tabacco companies are hating vapes.

    Heck, looking at the alternatives, a darned fine progession.
  14. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Well, we're hard line. Don't allow them either. We don't allow plug in air fresheners either, by the way, for some of the same reasons.
  15. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    But it's ok to burn tons of diesel on a trip, no problem???
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Yes, that's ok, as long as I'm not standing in front of the exhaust. I do have concerns about the environment, but I'm comfortable using diesel fuel to power my boat. I don't have a suitable better option. I'm not ok with smoking around me though. Just my personal rules, which is what unsinker asked for.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I am a smoker. We do not smoke in our own boat. Near 15 years living on board, we still come up to the aft deck.
    Absolutely no smoking near a customers boat, even if they smoke.
  18. pamibach

    pamibach Member

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    It depends on the tat, if it's ugly or nasty no way, but an interesting one sure, my uncle had a hula dancer on his arm he could make dance that was the coolest thing I ever saw as a kid