I frequently run into people who "just want to work on a boat." They don't have a particular type of boat in mind. All that matters, in their mind, is that they love the sea and live to spend a life afloat. Any kind of boat job would suit them fine - they think.
But hold on! I've worked as a deckhand on many types of vessels all around the world. Take it from me, serving drinks to celebrities and millionaires aboard a luxury yacht is a world apart from hauling nets of crabs onto a fishing boat in Alaska. Yet both are "boat jobs."
Admittedly, this is an extreme example of the divergence in boat jobs that you may encounter when looking for employment at sea. But it's something to think about if you're one of those who is sure that they "just want to work on a boat."
For most people, working on a luxury yacht - especially one of the superyachts - would seem far preferable to the life of an Alaskan fisherman. But there are certainly some folks who would prefer battling the elements aboard a fishing boat to having to dress in a uniform and tiptoe around all the social niceties involved in catering to a yacht owner and the owner's VIP guests.
I've worked on a Tahiti superyacht and it's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything, but it's not something I wanted to do forever. I've also worked on a tour guide boat in the Bahamas, and on a boat ferrying divers to the coral reef that lies off the coast of Belize. These are also boat jobs that you might want to consider.
The right boat job is not the same for everyone. The right one for you depends on your personal interests as well as your skills and experience. For example, if you are SCUBA certified, you would probably find your niche on a diving boat. If you have a gift for gab and really enjoy dealing with crowds of people (some folks do!), your ideal place might be on a tour boat pointing out the landmarks of a busy harbor to gawking tourists.
The best advice: First decide which boat deckhand jobs intrigue you the most, then do whatever you can to obtain one for at least one summer. If you find it's not the right job for you after all, you can go on to experience a different one next year.
And if, like me, you decide that the best crew position possible is that of being a deckhand, steward or stewardess, chef - or even, eventually, first mate or captain - aboard a superyacht, then welcome to my world.
A yacht crew job actually pays you to see the world. Superyacht crew members working are living the best dream of all. This dream is open to you, too, regardless of your background, age, or experience. Boat Deckhand Jobs is a page of free information on where to find these jobs and how to get hired aboard a luxury vessel.
