Getting a start in Yachting

very true

success is 90% showing up............... I think thats how you keep a job in Fort Lauderdale!! lol

Very good advice

Thank you for the advice. I want to know what kind of places we could go and stay, if say we were all the way in California and wanted to get to the main yachting cities like Ft Lauderdale? Miami? San Diego?

Here is the (shhhh) secret to the business

This job is 10% knowledge and 90% personality

Thank you for some very good posts. I've found them very helpful. Becoming a crew member and eventually a captain of my own boat is something I've wanted to pursue for a long time and I'm now starting to look into the possibilities. I have a few questions if someone wouldn't mind helping me out.

I literally have zero experience. I grew up in landlocked Pittsburgh, Pa and I've been on a sailboat once, that being a yacht I chartered for a day trip in the Caribbean and I've been hooked ever since. My situation is I'm 27 years old, with no experience and live about 150-200 miles from the nearest ports. I can't convince myself to pick up and move to a port city without first having a job. I know several posts have said personality is key...well that I have, but the complete lack of experience is daunting when I consider making such a move with no guarantee or even likelihood of employment due to my lack of experience. How much will having absolutely no experience hurt me? And would you recommend a day trip to the nearest ports to walk the docks and meet with agencies and use the above mentioned suggestions? And now perhaps my silliest question...when you say wear nice working clothes to the docks, do you mean suit and tie or something more casual? I apologize if this is a stupid question...its probably just showing the landlubber in me I'm trying to get rid of Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Thanks for the fast response Dave, if I had expected one so quickly I would have checked back sooner heh. And don't worry about discouraging me...I want the most realistic picture and I won't be dissuaded. This is what I want to do and I'll do what I have to do to make it happen. I know I'm at a major disadvantage due to my age and getting a late start, as well as my complete lack of experience.

The port closest to me is Annapolis. Would this have similar opportunities to what you described in the other ports? I mean to get the basics and some experience down...not to start a full time career there. Also, upon doing more research online I've come across several sailors looking for people to join them in their travels. A few in particular will cover all expenses (they're not paid, just cover the expenses) and are looking for traveling partners who will help out with the ship along the way. They also say that experience is not necessary. This almost seems too good to be true, but would this be a good way to begin gaining experience?

I'm sorry for all the questions in this thread. If you'd like me to make a new one and stop posting in this one just let me know. Thanks for all your help!

Eric

Great advice from someone who obviously knows

Sailronin - hope those who have read your Thread take your advice. I'm writing this from the Med but all true for here as well. Liked the "cameo comment" from CaptainChris as well, nice. Just to show you there ain't that many young men out there who NEED to work or LEARN - the Thread that
appears beneath yours regarding a job in Greek Islands has had NO replies - perhaps course I mentioned the pay was not huge ! Sad really. Should add because of location only European Union passport holders are suitable for this one.
Rodney.

I am one whom has experience in the sea scouts and experience with a boat restoration and rescue. It was an old Coast Gaurd Patrol boat that was incorrectly tied and sank in the Oakland/ San Fransisco port. I was wondering if there are any agents in San Fransisco?

Ft. Lauderdale in the Fall

Hi. I'm thinking of heading to Ft. Lauderdale in early September to take as much daywork as possible and hopefully find a position although I have ZERO experience. Is early September a good time to head down there? And if so, then what time do most of the boats usually head for the Caribbean? Also, if I were to go down there and (best case scenario) find work for the season are there any packing suggestions that anyone would like to share?

Thanks,
Alan

Alan,
September may be a bit early. Many larger yachts come back later on, closer to the end of hurricane season. Some come in mid October to prep forthe Ft Lauderdale boat show. Others come in afterr the show since many local slips at the major marinas are used for the show. You may want to hook up on a boat further north and make the delivery trip down as a deck hand. Pay may not be what you want, but expenses should be covered. After all, you are looking to get experience.
Good luck.
Capt Tom

Eric, you may have no experience but that doesn't mean you can't start learning about boats, navigation, rules of the road, plotting, etc. As a crew member you do have value, especially if you know more than the next mate. Take a class at your local Power Squadron or Coast Guard (I know they may not be close due to you being land locked, but look em up anyway).
ANd hook up with folks who have boats. Get som esee time and vbefore you know it you won't be saying "I have no experience". Then get to the major ports during season and start selling your self. Like Dave said, be presentable and take any job that comes up to get your foot in the door.
Good luck.
Capt Tom

Will Do!

Hey, thanks for the info CaptTom. I hadn't even considered the idea of catching someone further North. I'm pretty close to Annapolis and not too far from plenty of other stops down the coast and would be ecstatic to get any kind of experience by joining a boat on the way down instead of just flying down there and hoping for something. Just gotta find a ride now!

Alan

As I said in my previous post I am brand new, so if this post belongs somewhere else please let me know.

I would like to make sure that there won't be any technicalities or stumbling blocks that might hold me back from starting a job on a yacht (except, of course, my lack of experience )

I have been under the impression that I really should get my STCW 95 certification to make myself employable on most yachts. I have also heard about getting my Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD). The MMD and STCW seem to be linked in a lot of articles and I want to find out if I need my STCW training to be complete before applying for an MMD or if I should apply for an MMD ASAP and get the STCW course under my belt whenever I can? Or do I even need the MMD? Also, what exactly is required to get an MMD and how does one go about doing so?

I hope I've made my question clear enough without jumbling my abbreviations. Thanks, in advance, for any information on this topic.


Hope I'm not getting on anyone's nerves yet:

If I were to try to get a course or two under my belt before I try to find work does anyone have any suggestions of a good place to do so (preferably in the United States) and also any suggested entry-level of training?

I've looked into Chapman School of Seamanship's 12-week program that seems to cover the basics. I would love to be able to take one of the large courses at a place like UKSA (www.uksa.org) but the cost of those courses plus the flights are just prohibitive of those options for me right now. As far as other places I've checked into you probably can't name one that I haven't at least seen a website for at this point but if anyone has had (or knows someone who has had...) good or bad experiences to speak of at one of these educational institutions and is willing to take the time to share I would love to hear it!

Alan

Songlines,
Don't forget Sea School (all over) and MPT (Maritime Professional Training) down here in Ft Lauderdale. There is also a place called Marine Safety International, but not sure if that's too much for you now.
Good luck.
Capt Tom

Any info on B1B2 visa's

Thanks for the info Dave it's very helpful as myself and my partner Jane are looking at getting into the industry! We are having some probs getting our B1B2 visas as the US gov says we need to apply from Australia...any tips would be great Thanks Lomas and Jane