Junior Deckhand
The junior deckhand is the usual first job on deck. It needs little experience and a lot of graft. You clean, polish, handle lines and look after the toys, and in return you learn seamanship from people who have done it for years. Do one or two good seasons and you have the start of a long career at sea.
The jobWhat fills the day
A junior deckhand is the newest member of the deck team. You do the jobs that keep a yacht looking new. Most of the day goes on washdowns, chamois work, polishing stainless and cleaning teak across the grain. You handle lines and fenders when the yacht docks or anchors. You help launch and recover tenders and toys, and you stand anchor or harbour watches alongside a more senior crew member. You will also learn basic maintenance: sanding, varnish prep, caulking, and keeping the deck lockers tidy and stowed for sea.
With guests aboard, the hours get longer and the work moves to the water. You set up the swim platform, inflate the toys, crew the tender and supervise swimmers. You stay out of the way while staying ready. Between charters the work is maintenance, and in winter there may be a yard period. On a 35m yacht you may be one of two deck crew, and you could be asked to help the interior at dinner. On an 80m yacht you are one of eight or more, with a narrower job and a clearer rota.
Captains hire junior deckhands for attitude and fitness more than for their CV. Most arrive with STCW and ENG1, plus a few weeks of dockwalking in Antibes, Palma or Fort Lauderdale. Anything practical helps: dinghy sailing, a powerboat licence, dive qualifications, carpentry or time in a boatyard. A clean one-page CV, a professional photo and references from daywork all count. Expect a shared cabin, early starts and a lot of repetitive cleaning in your first season. Crew who do that work well without being asked get noticed quickly.
After one or two seasons most juniors drop the 'junior' and move up to deckhand, often on a bigger yacht. From there you go to lead deckhand, then bosun, usually three to five years in. If you want to work on the bridge, record your sea service from day one in a Discharge Book and on MCA testimonials. That service counts towards the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and then the OOW 3000gt Certificate of Competency. The CoC opens up officer roles and, in time, command.
Skills captains look for
- Line and fender handling
- Teak and exterior detailing
- Tender and toy launching
- Basic watchkeeping
- Varnish and paint prep
- Watersports supervision
- Living in close quarters
A day aboardCharter day, 60m motor yacht, at anchor off Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Wash down the decks before guests wake. Chamois the windows and dry the stainless so there are no water spots.
Crew breakfast in the mess, then a short brief from the bosun on the day's plan.
Set up the swim platform. Launch the jet skis and Seabobs, inflate the slide, and check fuel levels and kill cords.
Crew the tender for a beach club run with the lead deckhand. You handle the lines and fenders, then stay with the boat until the guests return.
Lunch on a rotation, thirty minutes, with one deckhand always on the platform.
Watch swimmers and toy users from the platform with a radio. Refuel the toys and reset kit as guests rotate.
Recover and rinse the toys in fresh water, stow them in the garage, then do a second washdown before the sundowners.
Run guests ashore for dinner in uniform, then stand anchor watch on the bridge with the officer on duty until relieved.
Off watch and in your bunk. On the night watch rota you may be back up at 03:00.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Food, accommodation and uniform are covered. Charter tips are usually shared equally among the crew and can add a month's salary or more over a busy summer. Leave is typically 21-30 days a year. See the Bosun & Deckhand salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
Gets you hired
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency
- RYA VHF SRC radio licence
- PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water
- RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper theory
Visas
- Schengen right to work or EU passport for the Med
- C1/D crew visa for US-based yachts
- B1/B2 visa where required for Fort Lauderdale
Where it leadsA typical career path
Junior Deckhand jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need experience to get a junior deckhand job?
Usually not. Most junior deckhands are on their first yacht. You need STCW, ENG1 and a sensible CV, and you need to be in a crew hub at the right time: March to May in Antibes or Palma for the Med season, or October and November in Fort Lauderdale for the Caribbean.
Which tickets should I add after STCW?
RYA Powerboat Level 2 and Personal Watercraft Proficiency let you drive tenders and jet skis, and that makes you far more useful on charter. A VHF SRC and a dive qualification help too. Once you have sea service, work towards Yachtmaster Offshore.
How much can I save in a season?
With no rent or food bills, and salary often paid tax-free depending on your residency, many juniors save most of what they earn. On a busy charter yacht, tips can add several thousand dollars over a summer.
Do yachts hire women as junior deckhands?
Yes, and more of them every year. Captains look for fitness, competence on the water and a good attitude, and gender does not come into it. Practical experience such as dinghy sailing or watersports instructing makes a strong application.