Bosun / Boatswain
The bosun is the most senior deck rating and the person who actually gets the deck work done. You take the chief officer's plan and turn it into jobs for each deckhand, then work alongside them. Most bosuns have three to five years on deck and are deciding whether to stay hands-on or move up to the bridge.
The jobWhat fills the day
The job splits into maintenance and operations. On the maintenance side you look after the exterior: teak, paint, varnish, stainless, glass, deck gear and the tenders and toys. On the operations side you run mooring and anchoring stations, launch and recover tenders with the crane or davits, and set up the beach club. You also order deck stores, keep the maintenance log up to date and train the junior crew. You are expected to be the best deckhand on board as well as the one in charge.
With guests aboard, maintenance stops and the day turns into guest service. You drive tenders, run jet skis, Seabobs and foils, set up beach picnics and handle the slide and inflatables. Hours are long and your timings have to fit around the interior and the galley. On a 40m yacht you might be the only senior deckhand, also standing bridge watches and helping the engineer. From 80m upwards the role is more about supervising, with a lead deckhand under you and a tender captain running the boats.
Captains hire bosuns for proven deck experience, usually three seasons or more, including at least one with a busy charter programme. Good tender driving and real varnish and paint skills count for a lot. So does a record of staying on yachts for a full year or more. An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement helps a great deal on smaller yachts, where the bosun is often the backup skipper for tenders and the relief watchkeeper.
From bosun there are two routes. Most go onto the bridge by working towards the MCA OOW 3000gt, starting as second or third officer, then chief officer and eventually captain. The others stay on deck and become career bosuns on larger yachts, where pay keeps rising and there is no watchkeeping. A few move into tender captain posts, or ashore into refit and yard work, where years of deck maintenance are valued.
Skills captains look for
- Teak, paint and varnish
- Tender and toy operation
- Mooring and anchoring
- Leading a deck team
- Crane and rigging work
- Maintenance planning
- Deck stores ordering
A day aboardCharter day, 62m motor yacht, British Virgin Islands
Wash down with the deckhands while the decks are cool. Chamois the windows and check the tenders after the night at anchor off Jost Van Dyke.
Crew breakfast. A quick brief with the chief officer on the guests' plans and the afternoon move to Norman Island.
Launch the 9m limo tender and the toys from the garage. Set up the swim platform, slide and inflatable dock before the guests come down.
Drive guests out to snorkel at the Indians while a deckhand runs jet skis from the stern. Stay in radio contact with the bridge throughout.
Lunch in turns so one person is always on the platform.
Recover all the toys and the tender, then stow and secure the garage. Take the bow station for raising the anchor and the passage to Norman Island.
Set up the tender run ashore for dinner at the Willy T. Give a deckhand a short coaching session on coming alongside a busy dinghy dock.
Bring the guests back, wash down and refuel the tender. Write tomorrow's deck plan and hand over to the night watch.
Off watch. Tomorrow starts at 06:30 again.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter tips, usually shared equally among the crew, can add USD 1,000 to 3,000 a month in a busy Med or Caribbean season. Rotational bosun posts on large yachts pay slightly less per month but give generous time off. See the Bosun & Deckhand salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- STCW Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- MCA Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
Gets you hired
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement
- MCA Approved Engine Course (AEC)
- RYA PWC Instructor
- STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
- STCW Proficiency in Medical First Aid
Visas
- US B1/B2
- Schengen right to work or visa
Where it leadsA typical career path
Bosun / Boatswain jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
How long does it take to become a bosun?
Usually three to five years on deck. Some lead deckhands on 50m yachts are promoted after two strong seasons, but captains on larger yachts want to see a longer record. Staying on the same yacht for a full year or more helps a lot.
Do I need a Yachtmaster to be a bosun?
It is not always required, but many captains ask for it. On yachts under 50m the bosun often stands watches and skippers the tender on longer runs, so the Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement makes you much easier to hire. It is also the usual first step towards the OOW 3000gt.
What is the difference between a bosun and a lead deckhand?
The bosun runs the deck team and answers for the maintenance plan, stores and junior crew training. A lead deckhand is the senior hand under the bosun and steps in when the bosun is off. On smaller yachts the two roles are often combined.
Can I stay a bosun long term?
Yes. Career bosuns are valued on 80m+ yachts, where the job is mostly about supervision and pay reaches USD 7,000 a month or more. Some prefer it to officer roles because there are no watchkeeping hours and you stay hands-on with the boats and the deck.