Captain / Engineer
A captain/engineer commands the yacht and keeps it running. You plan the passage, drive the boat, deal with the owner and the paperwork, then go below and change the impeller. The role exists on yachts too small to carry a separate engineer, typically 20m to 35m, and it suits people who are as happy with a spanner as with a chart.
The jobWhat fills the day
The job splits into two halves that never quite stay separate. On the bridge you handle navigation, weather, berthing, crew, budgets, customs and flag paperwork. In the engine room you do the daily checks, oil and filter changes, generator servicing, watermaker and air conditioning faults, and you organise contractors for anything bigger. Most owners hiring for this role want one person accountable for the whole boat, and they want the running costs kept sensible.
With the owner aboard you are mainly a captain. You drive the boat, run the tender, brief the guests and keep the stew or chef supported. The engineering happens early in the morning, late at night or on the dock between trips. Without guests the balance flips, and maintenance, yard periods and planned service take up most of the week. On a 24m with no other crew you also wash down, polish and clean the interior.
Owners and managers hire people with a commercial deck ticket and genuine hands-on engineering experience. That usually means an MCA Master 200gt or 500gt, or a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore, plus the AEC and a track record with the specific engines on board, such as MAN, CAT or MTU. A background as a mate/engineer or deckhand/engineer is the classic route. Former mechanics and tradespeople who moved to sea do well here.
Progression goes two ways. Many stay in the 25m to 35m bracket for years because the role pays well for the size of boat and offers real independence. Others move up to a larger yacht as a pure captain, giving up the engine room in exchange for a bigger command and a full crew. A few go the other way, taking their Y4 or Y3 and building an engineering career on larger vessels.
Skills captains look for
- Passage planning and boat handling
- Diesel engine maintenance
- Generator and watermaker servicing
- Owner relations
- Budgeting and accounts
- Flag and port compliance
- Contractor management
A day aboardOwner weekend, 27m motor yacht, Exumas, Bahamas
Engine room rounds before the guests wake. Check oil levels, coolant, bilges and the generator hours, and log the watermaker output.
Weather check and passage brief with the mate for the short run south to a new anchorage. Confirm the tender is fuelled.
Weigh anchor and run three hours down the cays, keeping a close eye on depths over the sand banks.
Lunch in the wheelhouse while the stew serves the owner's family on the aft deck.
Run the guests to a sandbar in the tender and set up the paddleboards. The mate stays with them while you head back aboard.
The guest cabin air conditioning has stopped cooling. Trace it to a blocked raw water strainer, clear it and test the unit.
Collect the guests, secure the toys and check the anchor holding before sunset.
Final rounds, update the maintenance log and email the yard in Fort Lauderdale to book the generator service next month.
Off watch, with the anchor alarm set and the phone beside the bunk.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Many posts are year-round with leave of 30 to 45 days a year rather than rotation. Charter boats add tips, and some owners pay a premium where you are the only crew on board. See the Captain & Relief Captain salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- 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
Gets you hired
- AEC 2
- MCA Y4 Small Vessel Engineer
- Proficiency in Medical Care
- Manufacturer engine courses (MAN, CAT, MTU)
- PDSD and ISM familiarity
Visas
- US B1/B2
- Schengen right to work or visa
Where it leadsA typical career path
Captain & Relief Captain jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need an engineering certificate of competency?
Not usually. On commercially coded yachts under 24m, or private yachts in the 20m to 35m range, the AEC plus a deck ticket is often enough. Owners care more about whether you can actually keep their engines and generators running, so manufacturer courses and references count for a lot.
Is it a good route to a bigger command?
Yes. Time as master counts towards higher deck tickets, and running a whole boat on your own shows you can handle budgets, owners and compliance. Expect to drop the engineering side when you move above about 40m.
How much of the job is engineering?
It depends on the season. During guest periods it might be an hour or two a day of checks and small fixes. In winter or a yard period it can take up most of your week, along with managing contractors.
Where are most of these jobs?
Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean have a lot of them, because of the large private fleet in the 25m to 35m range. The Mediterranean has plenty too, especially around Palma, Antibes and the Croatian coast.