boatcrew wrote in
news
It's less on sailboats, but $3,000 is reasonable for a stewardess or
deckhand on a super yacht, say in South Florida or the Caribbean. Tips
can be huge when chartering. I didn't say it was paradise though.



Best way to get on a sailboat is to show proficiency in key skills. I use
mine, electronics/electrical/diesels. Works like a champ, but I don't want
money which is a different matter. If you look like a human, act like one
and treat the skipper with respect, not arrogance, you can get a lot of the
skills you'll need for a paying job, later, aboard his boat. I spent a
month in Florida from Ft Lauderdale to Charleston, SC, on a 41' ketch last
spring. Cost me about $100. I had the boat to myself in Daytona Beach,
not exactly an awful place, at a nice marina, for over 2 weeks while my
captain went back to Atlanta to work. Very relaxing. I keep his boat
clean, his electronics in first class condition and fixed his flooded
diesel engine with the local mechanic. You'd be amazed how popular you get
with captains who live miles away from their boats if you can make the boat
seaworthy and stocked before he gets there! He comes aboard and, just like
the really rich yachties, is ready to cast off, his trusty crew (das you!)
having done the local legwork and stocking before he arrived. Do that and
his boat becomes your boat whenever he's not around.

After you get experienced, DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE on real yachts you've
wheedled yourself aboard, with time at sea, THEN you're worth actual money
as you'll know how to handle her, under power and sail, and become a
valuable watch stander. Document all your time on someone's boat in a
logbook, logging what you do for the boat (especially if it included
unclogging the head, fixing equipment in the bilge,etc. and hours you stood
watch at sea). Ask the captain to sign your logbook with his boat name so
you can show what you've done to some future captain during negotations
about pay. Documented time also counts when you get along and want to go
to some place like Sea School for your license....

--
Larry
I took rec.boats out of the path to this post so's not to attract
trouble....