Deckhand
Most superyacht careers on deck start here. The deckhand looks after the outside of the boat, drives the tenders, runs the water toys and stands watches under the officers. The work is physical and the hours are long. It is also the job that every captain you will ever work for once did, and it is where you learn the trade.
The jobWhat fills the day
The job is the outside of the boat. You wash down after every passage and every guest day, chamois the topsides, polish stainless, clean and seal teak, and touch up varnish. You handle lines and fenders when mooring, drive tenders, launch and recover water toys with the crane or davit, and stand anchor and bridge watches under an officer. Expect long hours on your knees with a brush and a bucket. The work is repetitive and the standard is high. A water spot on a dark hull counts as a fault.
With guests aboard the day changes. You become driver, lifeguard and host, running guests to the beach club, setting up the slide and Seabobs, and keeping the swim platform spotless between swims. Days of 14 hours or more are normal on charter. On a 35m yacht you might be one of two deckhands doing everything, including helping in the engine room or serving at dinner. On an 80m+ yacht you join a team of six to ten with set roles such as tender driver, toys, or paint and varnish.
Captains hire for attitude, fitness and presentation. Practical backgrounds help: dinghy sailing, surf or dive instruction, carpentry, painting, any work with your hands. A new deckhand with STCW, ENG1, a powerboat ticket and a tidy one-page CV can find work by dockwalking in Antibes or Palma in April, or Fort Lauderdale in October and November. Daywork comes first for most people, and a good week of it often turns into a permanent offer. Visible tattoos, a weak reference or no B1/B2 visa will narrow your options.
After a season or two you should hold your Yachtmaster Offshore and be working towards the MCA OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt). That needs logged sea service, the Efficient Deck Hand certificate and modules such as Navigation and Radar, HELM and GMDSS. Lead deckhand and bosun follow for those who like running people and projects. Almost every yacht officer and captain started as a deckhand, so the route to command begins here. Some move sideways into engineering through the AEC, or into dive and watersports roles.
Skills captains look for
- Exterior detailing and washdowns
- Line handling and mooring
- Tender driving
- Water toy operation
- Teak and varnish care
- Watchkeeping basics
- Guest-facing manners
A day aboardCharter day, 55m motor yacht, at anchor off Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Start of shift. Chamois the overnight dew off the decks, hull sides and glass before guests wake.
Launch the tenders and toys with the crane. Inflate the slide, rig the swim platform and lay out towels.
Crew breakfast in the mess, taken in turns so the platform is always covered.
Drive guests to Cala di Volpe for a beach morning, then stand by on the tender and run shuttles back to the yacht.
Supervise the swim platform: Seabobs, paddleboards and the jet ski, with a constant eye on swimmers.
Hour off while the second team covers the platform.
Recover toys, rinse everything in fresh water and wash down the swim platform and aft deck.
Tender run ashore for dinner in Porto Cervo, wait at the quay and bring guests home after midnight.
Final washdown of the tender, secure the boat and hand over to the anchor watch.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
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. See the Bosun & Deckhand salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
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
Visas
- US B1/B2 visa
- Schengen right to work or EU passport helpful for Mediterranean yachts
Where it leadsA typical career path
Deckhand jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Can I get a deckhand job with no yachting experience?
Yes. It's the most common way in. You'll need STCW and an ENG1, and a powerboat ticket plus some practical background will put you ahead of other new crew. Expect to do daywork before anyone offers you a permanent job.
Where should I look for my first job?
Antibes and Palma in March to May for the Mediterranean season, and Fort Lauderdale in October and November for the Caribbean winter. Register with crew agencies, walk the docks with printed CVs and say yes to daywork.
How long before I can become an officer?
Most deckhands who keep at it reach OOW (Yachts less than 3000gt) in four to six years. The limit is logged sea service, so time on a yacht that cruises a lot counts for more than time tied up in a marina.
Is the job only cleaning?
Cleaning takes up a large part of the day, especially off charter. You also drive tenders, moor the yacht, run toys, keep watches and learn maintenance, and those skills are what get you promoted.