When joining the super yacht industry and looking for a yacht job, it’s tough to know which yacht position to go for. There are four main departments onboard, mainly interior (yacht stewardess or stew/chef), deck (deckhands or deck/engineer), galley (chef, sour or crew chef) and engineering (chief, second and junior engineer).
The primary role of a deckhand, or the deck department is assisting the more senior deck crew in maintaining the exterior of the yacht though wash downs, silver polishing, docking and line handing, varnishing and polishing of wooden and other surfaces as well as other general upkeep. The deck crew spend the majority of their day working outside and with the water toys so if spending your day on the water sounds like your dream yachting job, then the deck department could be for you.
So what is being a deckhand all about?
We have broken down the steps to help you find your first deck job in the super yacht industry.
Being comfortable on the water will definitely be an advantage, but it is not a prerequisite. Experience driving tenders or small watercrafts would be a transferable skill that will definitely stand you in good stead and should be listed clearly on your yachting CV.
It would be advisable to look for a junior deckhand position as your first yacht job. Form there you can process to Lead Deckhand or Bosun and eventually onto Mate or Chief Officer.
Check out our list of skills that will help you stand out when applying for your first job as a deckhand
Experience driving tenders or small water crafts
Some common rope knots
Able to swim
First aid
Water sports experience like kiteboarding, wake boarding, jets- it’s a bonus if you are an instructor
Scuba diving – a rescue diver or dive master is a huge bonus
Basic hospitality- being comfortable engaging with guests and crew onboard
Additional skills include: any trade like plumbing, carpentry, electrician, woodwork, IT etc. Living on the water means there is always maintenance to be done
Creating a Deckhand Yacht CV
It is important in the yachting industry that you tailor your CV for the specific position you are looking for. Be sure to include any additional water sports or trade skills as this will help you star out from the crowd. Any relevant yachting experience should be included in a section clearly defined, and separate from any land based experience.
Visit our Agency detailed explanation on how to prepare your cv. You can also check out our FREE CV template.
Finding Daywork as a Deckhand
What is daywork you ask? Think of it as one-day yachting internships to gain real world experience on yachts while getting paid a great day rate.
Be open to any kind of yacht daywork, as long as it gets your foot in the door with what you want to do. Learn how to do basic deck chores like exterior detailing, stainless polishing, bilge painting, and teak maintenance like a pro.
If you want to take a look at our Deckhand courses, head over to read more by clicking here.
If you have more questions or comments be sure to leave us a comment below or pop us a mail at info@get-onboard.com
We look forward to getting you onboard.