How to become a Captain / Engineer
Nobody starts as a Captain / Engineer. The usual path starts as a Deckhand, a job you can get with no yacht experience, and reaches Captain / Engineer at about year 5 to 7 of a yacht career.
The pathFrom no experience to Captain / Engineer. A typical path, not a rule.
Deckhand
Year 0. Pay from about US$3,000 a month. Deckhands keep a superyacht's exterior spotless, handle lines and tenders, run water toys and stand watches.
Deckhand / Engineer
Year 1-3. Pay from about US$3,800 a month. A deck rating who also covers daily engine room checks and routine maintenance on smaller yachts, usually under 45m, working for the captain or engineer.
Mate / Engineer
Year 3-5. Pay from about US$5,000 a month. Second in command on a smaller yacht who stands deck watches, runs the tender and keeps the engines, generators and onboard systems working.
Captain / Engineer
Year 5-7. Pay from about US$7,000 a month. The captain of a smaller yacht, usually 20m to 35m, who also runs and maintains the engines, generators and systems without a dedicated engineer.
Before you applyWhat a Deckhand needs, from the Deckhand guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 seafarer medical
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
Gets you hired
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
- VHF SRC radio licence
- PWC or watersports instructor ticket
Later, for Captain / Engineer
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- MCA Master 200gt or 500gt, or commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore/Ocean
- MCA Approved Engine Course (AEC 1)
- GMDSS GOC or LRC
Visas
- US B1/B2 visa
- Schengen right to work or EU passport helpful for Mediterranean yachts
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Deckhand for exterior detailing and washdowns, line handling and mooring and tender driving. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. A background in watersports and boat handling is the closest match, for example work as a watersports instructor.
Write each job on your CV as what you did, with numbers: how many guests, how many boats, how many covers. Then list every skill below that you can prove.
- Exterior detailing and washdowns
- Line handling and mooring
- Tender driving
- Water toy operation
- Teak and varnish care
- Watchkeeping basics
- Guest-facing manners
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Deckhand must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training, ENG1 seafarer medical and Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD) before a yacht can put you to work as a Deckhand.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Deckhand CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then the work that transfers: watersports and boat handling.
See a Deckhand CV example →Create your crew profile
Upload that CV and we build your profile from it. Your name and contact details stay hidden. Captains and recruiters contact you. It is free.
Create your crew profile →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to open jobs and to crew agencies, and take daywork: a few paid days on a yacht is how most first-time crew get a reference. 67 Deckhand jobs are open on SuperyachtRoles.com now.
See open Deckhand jobs →Step up to Deckhand / Engineer
The usual path puts Deckhand / Engineer at year 1 to 3. Pay starts from about US$3,800 a month.
How to become a Deckhand / Engineer →
Deckhand jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com. Some ask for experience, so read each advert.
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Captain / Engineer with no experience?
Not directly. Captain / Engineer is command work. The usual path starts as a Deckhand, which you can get with no yacht experience, and reaches Captain / Engineer at about year 5 to 7.
How long does it take to become a Captain / Engineer?
The usual path puts Captain / Engineer at about year 5 to 7 of a yacht career, after Deckhand, Deckhand / Engineer and Mate / Engineer. It is a typical path, not a rule: time on busy yachts and the tickets you pass move it.
What does a Deckhand earn at the start?
From about US$3,000 a month, by our Deckhand guide. Charter tips, often 5-15% of the charter fee shared among crew, can add several thousand dollars a month in a busy season. Food and accommodation are covered, and rotation or generous leave is more common on larger yachts.
Other paths from DeckhandAll roles
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