Entry-Level Sailing Careers?

[Michael Sindelar]

I have been in the hotel management business for all of my working life (about 30 years). I am totally burned-out, and would love to make a career change to something that deals with sailing. Anybody have any ideas? I am 47 years-old, and my wife and I are soon to become "empty nesters". I am not using this to solicit a job... just ideas to persue! And yes... I need to make a decent living! Thanks to all who respond!

 

[Jim]

Put me down for one too!

There a couple of options I see out there. Yard worker, security guard, boat surveyor and diesel machanic. Short of the last option these are low paying jobs.

 

[Rich (P303)]

Marine Patrol Officer

You can carry a gun... and kich ass on the water... if you make it through the fitness test!Do they have a sail patrol?Sign me up!

 

[r.w.landau]

I would suggest a casual intent to get a license.

A captian's license could open any door in many areas. Working for someone or taking passengers yourself. It would be nice to have in the back pocket. If you work for someone it probably won't pay much, but it will keep you on the water if in the future you can't afford the boat. There are so many people looking for jobs like this, if you can be unique, you can do it!just a thought...r.w.landau

 

[Andy]

Hotel Marina

Surely there are some hotels that are on the water. With your experience in the the hospitality industy you just need to find the right hotel. Have you ever thought about applying to work at Sunsail's Club Colonna in Antigua? Splash up the resume and go to the Annapolis Boat show. Sunsail and others will be there.

 

[James Broughton]

Your experience in the hospitallity business....

might help qualifiy you as a yacht club manager or a manager in the vacation charter business. Combine it with a captain's license and who knows where you could go. Try to use the experience and credentials you have as a stepping stone into a new position rather than starting over at the bottom.Good luck in your new career. Whatever it may be.

 

[letterman]

pretty funny

I'm 55 and trying to get into your business!I have been looking at jobs in the Keys and that neck of the woods. Best jobs I missed out on? Pizza Boat in the Virgin Island. Makes 35k and comes with a pizza boat with two propane ovens and a sailboat to live on. Bahamas Government...going from island to island to check them out for homesteaders, trash, the flora and fauna...make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. Pay 55k. I have been looking at jobs in the Keys for 5 years. There are some jobs like marina manager or in your case, running a condo complex (one in Key Largo was looking). There is one out there now. Pay is 45k. Its on Marathon...38th street..North side. Check out Keynoter every Friday when they post the new jobs.And hey, if you find a good one, let me know. I've been out of work for four months.As for sailing jobs, you really just have to search and get lucky. Another job was at a SeaTow company in Miami doing their books, and occasionally towing boats back from the Bahamas. The guy I talked to said they go over and party for a few days, sober up, and tow back. Good luck.

 

[ed]

rule one.. dont do it. rule two. read rule one.

Wow! This is important lesson time... Don't make your hobby your job. Think about spending all day with a bunch of drunks on a boat several days a week, waiting on them hand and foot so they can barf on your boat and you can clean it up. you come home beat, sick of boats and now you want to go play... ya think your gonna go out on a boat.I made the mistake twice. Went to work for a yacht builder, worked 70 hours a week while the owner was out racing his boat, was under paid and Never Sailed.Then i started my own manufacturing plant. I was build a great boat. worked all the time, when i wasnt building them i was at the damn boat show standing in the sun trying to tell people what they wanted and why... Boat shows are fun unless your working one.The marine bussiness is a totally recreational bussiness. People play when they have descretional money. That means for the average joe when things get tight they quit spending dollars on boats.. That does not make for much job security or stability. If you look closely at the entire industry you will find the high majority are short term empolyees. very high turnover.. with low pay and benifits..Do your self a favor and find something you can make a good living at and you can afford to enjoy what is turning out to be a very expensive sport. As far as the captain deal. the average delivery Captian makes about 200 a day, for a 24 hour day! When you work,, the delivery season is fall and spring, so in between its slow. crew is always a problem, owners want you to travel 24 hours a day..to make the trip fast.. Usually you wind up having to fix the boat before you go and manytimes along the way..Good luck..

 

[r. gallagher]

Teacher

I did this 3 years ago when the company I was working for decided to move south of the border as a means to reduce labor costs. I was hurt when I was not invited to go....lol.I made the move to teaching. This was something I had been wanting to do for a long time but was complacent in a good paying job. Yes, I took a pay cut but it is really full of rewards and........................SUMMERS OFF!!Think of all the time you have to go sailing when school is out for the summer.Good luck and listen to your heart. It will guide you.Robert

 

[Benny]

Yeah, them night clerck shifts are killers.

Seriously now, the problem is not the job; if you have been doing this for 30 years now there must be something about it that you enjoy. You certainly must have developed the skills to feel at ease performing the functions. The root of your problem is a common one; approaching 50, the kids are almost gone and the desire for a simpler more rewarding life. Changing careers is not going to improve your life but it will surely complicate it. The advice not to get work in your hobby is a sound one. You will be doing similar work, with less skills and seniority for less money and you will not have a hobby to let you cope. You are at an excellent age to seriously start planning for your retirement. You can probably accomplish in 5 years in your current job what it would take at least ten in a new careear. You would be chained for longer from what you are trying to get out of. What you probably need is a good vacation. Take a leave of abscence for a few month and do some travelling; experience hotels from the other end and bring back value to your skills. A lot of the sailors that have all the time available to them do not go sailing but those that have little time available feel the need to go out and do. I once asked a guy who chose to work weekends why did he do it and the answer was "I like to sail during the week as I have the waterways mostly to myself". Perhaps a change of schedule within your work may change things. Look for the positive things in your job and relearn to appreciate them. Good luck.

 

[caguy]

Have you considered crewing?

Most are looking for a hot thirtyish female to "crew" for free, but there are some out there with salaries. What better way to cruise the world than to run someone else's large yacht with them footing the expenses. As far as teaching I can ask any teacher in the lunch room what they like best about the job and they will tell you "the time they have off", (long pause) and then "oh yeah, the kids."

 

[Steve O.]

jobs

I have a friend who manages a sail charter fleet. He can't find good help. The youngsters don't want to work that hard. The retirees think it sounds great, but after about 2 days of scrubbing decks in the tropical sun, they quit.Marine broker (or: used car salesman with boat shoes) sounds good to some, until they go for weeks without a sale.Marine surveyor needs to be certified.Delivery captain? Not much work in OK. You would have to relocate. Much more business in the sun belt.

 

[Tim]

Captain Teacher

My hope some day is to do what Gallagher did. In a good paying job now with minimal time for sailing. Change to a semi retirement job of teaching which I have always been interested in leaving my summers free. Before then get my six-pack license and run charters and sailing instruction over the summer. Good Luck!

 

[Bob]

Check Out A School

Excellent responses, because all of us would desire nothing more then to live the life on the water doing what we love. Some get lucky, some struggle in the pursuit. I am close to retirement and have pondered the same question. When I consider just what I want to do, I find myself frustrated because of limited skill sets. A buddy of mine runs the Chapman School of Seamanship in Port Salerno, Florida that provides a Certified Surveying course. Their graduates have been doing well in the trade. If you consider being a surveyor, which might open more doors to you in the industry, this is one of the best places to get the education. For me, its just being around boats and boat stuff! I have considered even inside retail sales at a Marine Store, working for a municipal marina tieing up boats for minimum wage, working on a ferry boat taking tickets! Anything to be near, in or on a boat and water. I live in Atlanta by the way!!I would agree with those that recommend you take your skills and experience and move on to a coastal resort facility, especially with a large marina. It gets you right on the water. You could always have your vessel at the facility and provide an additonal service to the hotel by offering charter services. Consider a 6-pack license from SeaSchool to get you really motivated. Once you get the license, your motivation will be kicked into high gear.Best of luckBob

 

[Michael]

Merchant Marine

Assuming you have no license nor document the trail starts with the US Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers. Go to the USCG website for REC They are scattered around the country. You will have to obtain a seaman's document first thing from them.Then Non-Licensed - Military Sealift Command always hiring most stay only to get the training, certifications and an initial entry level rank or rating. Advantage is you don't have to pay for the training and get paid while training. Disadvantages? Legion in number. But worth it to get those all important initial ratings.Local schools such as Seattle Maritime Academy are all over the coastal areas. Takes about a year for entry level engine room or deck department. You pay tuition and are not paid until finishing up the initial training. Advantage is you graduate with a good start up such as Able Bodied Seaman.Seafarers Int'l Union or SIU runs there own school in Piney Point Maryland (on the Potomac River. Training, practical experience which is paid, no tuition costs.Licensed - Runs from Kings Point Academy in NYC, the federal school to a number of state schools in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas A&M, and California to name the major schools. Graduate in varying amounts of time depending on previous training and college level education. Tuition etc. of course but not always to spendy if you are from one of those states. Finish with entry level license such as 3rd Mate or 3rd Engineer.Hawsepiping. The method to jump from unlicensed to licensed without going to Academies. Included self study and testing by the US Coast Guard, Home study, or schools such as one run by SIU the major seafarers union.Mostly tankers and various kinds of freighters for US merchant seaman with some Casino, cruise ships such as Norwegian Cruise Lines out in Hawaii.Pay? After three years I was making more as a deckhand with no more than a HS diploma required than the ex after 30 years of teaching grade school. Better vacations too. From there it goes up up UP.MichaelAB Unlimited, AB Sail and 100 ton Masters

 

[Pete]

broker ?

What about a boat broker job ? Lots of test "sales" (I know but though it is a a cute play on words) and possible deliveries.....Just a thought and of couse there are negatives of long hours and weekends but no job is perfect !

 

[OldCat]

With Your Background

With your background, I think I'd first try getting a job at a resort that had a marina or sailing program rather than starve starting over. Getting something like ASA sailing instructor certs might help - being a sailing instructor might not pay much by itself - but if you were a resort manager - well, you would just have to spend 'some' time on that part of the business!Even the hotel biz might be easier to take at a seaside resort rather than inland.OC