Who makes the call
The bosun answers to the bridge, so the bridge does the choosing. The Crew Network says the bosun reports to the first mate, or to the second or third officer, depending on the size of the yacht. In practice the chief officer reads the CVs, runs the first call and puts a shortlist to the captain. On many ads the person hiring is listed as the captain or the head of department.
Before any advert goes out, look at who is already aboard. Fiona Murray of YPI Crew told Dockwalk that bosun posts are hard to find because the senior deckhand, who knows the boat best, often gets the job. If you want the role on your current yacht, tell the chief officer early. Then show it on deck by running small jobs well.
Which agencies and boards carry bosun roles
YPI Crew in Antibes runs a bosun and deckhand desk led by Fiona Murray. It says it works with captains, chief officers and management companies, and that it screens candidates and checks references. In late 2026, bosun adverts on Yotspot were placed by Crew & Co, JMS Careers, Consortio Recruitment Group, Northrop & Johnson and Superyacht Crew UK. Burgess has also advertised there. Camper & Nicholsons posts crew openings on its own site.
Captains also advertise on Yotspot themselves. Several bosun ads there are posted by the yacht, with no agency involved. So register with two or three agencies that have a deck desk, keep a Yotspot profile up to date, and answer quickly. Most of the ads read in this research wanted someone to start as soon as possible.
What they screen for
Dockwalk says most yachts want STCW, an ENG1 and a PB2 or IYT tender licence before they look at a senior deck CV. A Yachtmaster Offshore, or an IYT Master of Yachts under 200GT, is the usual floor. Recruiters also check for an EDH and for any OOW modules, navigation and radar in particular. YPI says the MCA Yacht Rating Certificate is one of the most requested items for experienced deck roles. It also names Tender Operator, PDSD, RYA PWC and PWC Instructor as signs of real readiness.
Ads also ask for things that are not tickets. You may need a B1/B2 visa or a Schengen visa, depending on the itinerary. Some yachts run background checks and drug tests. On boats of about 45m, some bosuns cover as relief chief officer for part of the year. Those ads ask for bridge watch experience, or OOW modules already done. A few yachts want AEC 1 and 2 as well.
How they judge leadership and tender skills
Tickets get you onto the shortlist. The interview tests whether you can run a deck. Dockwalk reports that most yachts want two to three years as a deckhand. Recruiters favour people who have already held a lead role. Murray says bosun jobs on 65m-plus yachts normally go to someone who has already been a bosun on a mid-sized yacht.
Expect questions about the team you led and the tenders you drove. Ads name the boat you would drive: a 40-foot Technohull, an 11m tender with triple outboards, an 8m limousine tender. Give the length, the engines and the conditions you have driven in. References carry weight here. A chief officer will ring your last one and ask how the deck ran when you were in charge.
Pay
USD a month. Monthly figures from the Northrop & Johnson 2026 salary guide. It prints no bosun figure for yachts under 30m. Yacht size and experience move the figure. Refer to the Bosun & Deckhand salary guide for pay by yacht size.
What you need
- STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1Dockwalk says most yachts will not consider anyone for a senior deck post without an STCW certificate and an ENG1 medical.
- RYA Yachtmaster OffshoreDockwalk says a bosun is generally expected to hold at least an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or an IYT Master of Yachts under 200GT.
- Tender driving ticketRYA Powerboat Level 2 is the common minimum. Ads also value the RYA Tender Operator course, and PWC Instructor helps.
- MCA Yacht Rating CertificateGOV.UK lists an ENG1, STCW basic safety training, a completed training record book and at least 6 months of yacht service, including 2 months at sea on vessels of 15m or more. If you hold an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean certificate of competence, 2 months of actual seagoing service is enough. You apply on form MSF 4340, which covers yachts under 3000 GT.
- OOW modulesRecruiters quoted by Dockwalk check whether you have started your OOW modules. Ads with relief officer duties often require some to be done already.
- VisasMany ads require a B1/B2 visa for US cruising. Some also want a Schengen visa or the right to work in the US.
How to get there
- Years 1-3Senior deckhandBuild two to three years on deck and take on lead duties: running washdowns, mooring stations and the tender.
- Years 2-3Tickets in handGet your Yachtmaster Offshore, Powerboat Level 2 and Yacht Rating. Then start your OOW modules, navigation and radar first.
- When readyInternal promotion or agencyAsk the chief officer about stepping up on board. At the same time, register with agencies that have a deck desk and keep your Yotspot profile current.
- Hiring stageInterview with the bridgeThe chief officer screens you and the captain approves. Expect detailed questions on team leadership and the tenders you have driven.
- Before offerReference checksAgencies and chief officers call your previous officers to confirm your sea time and how you led the deck.
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Related pages
Questions people ask
Does the captain or the chief officer hire the bosun?
Usually both. The chief officer runs the deck, so they screen candidates and recommend one. The captain gives final approval. On smaller yachts with no chief officer, the captain does it all.
Can I become a bosun without a Yachtmaster?
Some yachts will take you. One 2026 Yotspot ad for a 42m yacht asked for a Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper and a navigational Yacht Rating (NWR) rather than a Yachtmaster Offshore. Dockwalk says a bosun is generally expected to hold at least an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or an IYT Master of Yachts under 200GT.
Why are bosun jobs hard to find through agencies?
Many are filled from inside. Fiona Murray of YPI Crew told Dockwalk that the senior deckhand, who knows the boat best, is often promoted. That means fewer posts ever reach an agency.
How much experience do recruiters want for a bosun on a large yacht?
Dockwalk reports that a bosun on a 50m yacht needs about three years as a deckhand. For 65m-plus yachts, captains normally want someone who has already been a bosun on a mid-sized yacht.
Do I need my Yacht Rating before applying for bosun?
It is not always mandatory, but YPI Crew says it is one of the most requested items for experienced deck roles. Some US-based ads list a navigational Yacht Rating as a required licence.
Sources
- YPI Crew: bosun jobs and bosun recruiters
- YPI Crew: deck and bosun salary guide 2026
- Dockwalk: how to get a job as a bosun
- The Crew Network: bosun job description
- GOV.UK (MCA): how to apply for a yacht rating certificate
- GOV.UK (MCA): guidance on how to apply for a yacht rating certificate
- Yotspot: bosun / relief chief officer, 46m, JMS Careers
- Yotspot: bosun, 46m, Northrop & Johnson
- Yotspot: bosun, 42m, navigational Yacht Rating required
- Yotspot: bosun, 50m, Crew & Co
