See full version: How Do I Become A Yacht Engineer – Qualifications and Requirements
Dockwalking – travel to one of the main superyacht hubs like Palma, Antibes or La Ciotet and walk the docks asking yachts if they need engineering crew. Make sure you take a proper CV, written references and go well presented. Be polite and be prepared for a good deal of face-to-face rejection, however don’t take it personally.
The Commercial Shipping route most commonly begins with a sponsored cadetship with a shipping company working in partnership with maritime training provider. Candidates must apply to one of a number of cadetship schemes and if accepted will undertake usually 3 years of study and work experience on the sponsoring companies’ vessels, culminating very often in the Officer of the Watch (Engineering) or ‘EOOW’ ticket and usually either an HND or BSc Degree in Marine Engineering or similar.
Motorman
A junior, but important role found almost exclusively on large yachts in excess of around 100m, the motorman (not gender-specific!) is responsible for the operation and basic maintenance of the yachts main engines and engine room systems. They may assist in starting and stopping large engines and generators, operating switch panels under the supervision of an officer or senior engineer and reporting anything unusual. Engine room cleanliness and order will be an important part of the role.
Yacht Certification Route of Training for Engineering
The Marine Engine Operators Licence (MEOL) – This is the first certificate in the yacht route that requires sea service, specific shore based learning and an oral exam. View further details on MSN 1859 here. more
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have simplified the Y ticket structure however, and page 19 of MIN 524 provides a simple conversion table from Y tickets to the new standard – Small Vessel (or SV) tickets. here
One reason you go boating is because you want to test yourself and your boat, improve your skills, and make her perform well under your command. You can't do that unless you take the wheel or tiller, make decisions, trim the sails. Having a partner doesn't mean you give up command; it means you have to share it. "I'll do the start and first leg. You take it from there." Or, "You take us out and I'll take her back."
My friend Tim and I have been boating partners and co-owners for more than a quarter century. Our first boat was a 1967 26-foot Excalibur that we owned for a decade, before selling her and buying Calypso, our current 1984 Beneteau First 32, which we bought in 2001. Our tried-and-true arrangement may not work for everyone, but for us it's been the solution to cutting the cost of boating in half. As a bonus, the power of two can make the ongoing work of boat maintenance more manageable. There are lots of caveats for those considering a maritime marriage, so here are some things to consider before tying the knot, based on our experience.
Unfortunately we have had the need to make an insurance claim, but the insurance money went back into the boat. As for the liabilities, as with any general partnership, we both may be liable for whatever happens on the boat regardless of who is at fault. It is a reality that if I do something stupid, Tim could share the liability, and vice versa, but we accept the possibility. We trust each other's skills, and if something bad happens on or to the boat because of Tim, I know it could just as easily have been me.
A boating partnership can be a two-headed monster. A boat with two captains sounds like a recipe for disaster, and it will be if you can't reach consensus with respect, humor, and speed. So unless you are truly apprehensive, or totally opposed to a partner's proposal, once you've stated your position, it's better to go along to get along. Remember, just as when arguing with a spouse, all victories are pyrrhic; you might win the decision only to end up sleeping in the garage. There is always only one captain on the boat at a time; we just agree when to hand over the helm. Get it in writing? [links]
We did consider putting our partnership in writing, as any good lawyer would advise. But we were close friends for 10 years before we became boat-owning partners, and our handshake partnership is just a solid as the day we started. That said, I think it's a good idea for most people to iron everything out in writing in advance. here
Keep exact accounts. This is not about honesty; if you can't trust your partner over money, don't even think about getting a boat together. Rather, the issue is for you to know what this little sport is costing you. Also, you have to be sensitive to the size of your partner's purse. If you want to spring for a new color chartplotter and his daughter is about to get married, the plotter might have to wait. here
First and foremost, when you plan to work from a boat, you also need proper Wi-Fi signals. It’s best to note that although most marinas offer Wi-Fi, their signals might not be as strong, coming from the main office to your boat. Therefore, you should either invest in a Wi-Fi booster device or get your own internet connection device to avoid uncertainties.
However, most people might avoid engaging when they already see your head buried into work. Furthermore, you can put up a sign during a call, something that says, “In a Meeting,” to stop anyone who might think it’s the right time to get your attention.
Several offices have allowed their employees to work from home for an indefinite period after the pandemic. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether you work from your home or not, as long as you get your job done meticulously.
Another one of the biggest problems you might encounter when working from a boat, especially when you plan to sit in the open air, is the eye-scrunching sun glare. To take care of this issue, you can buy a pair of polarized sunglasses to keep the glare at bay. Moreover, getting a good sun glare for your laptop and mobile phone screens can also help cut down the sun glare significantly. [links]
It really is the perfect way to trial different sizes and styles of yacht, seeing how the crew dynamics work and get a feel of the work required before committing to a contract.
Sailing one-way to the destination, return air-fare is usually part of the payment package, however many day-workers decided to forgo this in the hope of picking up more day-work or a crew position after they arrive.
Almost all crew begin their careers by first doing day work. Day work is casual work given by the half day or full day, but can stretch into several weeks as the work requires.
Day work as part of a crew delivery yachts is one step further gaining experience of working life aboard a yacht. [links]