What are some good careers in the boating industry and their pay compared to other jobs?

Question

i love boats... im in highschool now and my family has three of them... i already have my coast guard certificate... When i grow up i want to do something to do with boats... I love the water and fishing and just boating around.

what are some good career paths to get into to get a job like this? I cant really think of a lot of jobs and the ones i do think of cant be that great of pay...

please tell me info on the following jobs in the boston area if you can:

- harbor master

-boat salesmen

- commercial fisherman

- captain of some sort of local ship

- charter fishing

- and any other jobs that have decent to very good pay in the boston area that have to do with boats?

thanks soo much

Answer 1

It is so great to know there are young men out there that have such an interest while still in high school.  Of course, I had those same dreams and ambitions when I was your age... and developed my life long (and wonderful) career as a result.  I can not encourage you enough - to follow your dream.

I am retired now, (and have been for 10 years) and thus, I am unable to give you any accurate or updated figures on current pay...

But there are two things you should consider... and that is the difference between "LIFE" and "LIFESTYLE"...

If you truly desire a "life or career" on the water... that is one thing. If it is the "lifestyle" however, that is another...

for example: If I knew when I was your age what I know now... instead of being a boat Captain - I would have been a Dentist... Only my Dental Chair would have been in the cockpit of my boat... and that would have been my office.  (I tell you, I have sailed the world - and just about every port I've been to - someone is hailing on the radio wanting (preferrably American) english speaking Dentist.

It is my opinion, both a Dentist and a engine Mechanic could sail the world - port to port - and not only make a very good living - but enjoy a wonderful lifestyle.

Ask yourself - do you really want to Captain someone else's boat?  Or do you wan't to own the boat?

Today, the internet together with satallite communications has opened up a whole new ball game at sea. Your boat can be your office - WOW!  There is one live a-board in my Marina that makes his living on his computer, right out of his boat... So, just a suggestion... is it the career or the life style you want?  

However, to get back to your question... I can suggest that you visit your local employment office (or unemployment office - which ever you want to call it) and check out the jobs listed under "Merchant Marines"... they always have tons... including all the ones you mention - and more...  I suggest this because I also know that they have posted salaries... along with any and all other benefits as well as specific requirements... ie: license, passport, visa, certificates and certifications required for each job listing.  (Although I believe this to be an excellant place for you to get the information you need - I don't necessarily believe that is the best place for you to get or apply for the job. There are better and much more effective ways to do that.)

Also, I might suggest that you open yourself to "thinking out of the box" abit - this will open your options to possible new horizons... For example:

I know one absolutely WONDERFUL chef (he was own my vessel for six years before I retired). He was a young 24 year old graduate of the NYS Culinary Institure... (when he first came on board) and he was so good at planning and preparing meals, stocking the pantry, etc. we tripled his starting pay it just over 2 years.  He was earning 6 figure income in his third year.  Fact was, not only did our crews food cost go down, (enough to justify his income) but he affected the entire ship. We were not only all eating better (wonderful) tasting and healthier foods... we were all sleeping better, working better, more alert, had more energy, attitudes were great, moral was incredible... and believe me - no one ever missed any meals... I mean the advantages were unbelivable... "The kid" as we called him - was worth every nickel and more to keep him from leaving us for more money.

(Who would have ever thought - a great kid with an great attitude and a set of chef knives - would have had such a positive effect on the entire ship... ?

These days of course, you will find just about anybody and everybody "on the water"...  I know one vessel that has a full time teacher - she teaches the spanish crew english, and the english crew spanish...  

About the only people you won't find at sea... are "boat designers" - you probably already know what I am talking about... these are the same guys that design boats, but never set foot on one... (least not at sea).  They are the same ones that design all those rinky dink boats that claim to sleep 6 - but fail to tell you someone else's feet are going to be in your face, and you both - not only have to be midgets, you can't sit up in bed without knocking your self out. They are the ones that design "heads" whereby the entire bathroom is the shower... and you still have no room to bend over and wash the sand from between your toes...

So... You could probably make a fortune being the first boat designer - that actually lived on a boat... What great boats you would design!

You name the job... and I can tell you someone that does it at sea... (with few obvious exceptions ie: post hole diggers, fence builders... cattle ranchers, etc

So... expand your horizons! (pun intended)... Contact the Coast Guard... visit the Merchant Marine Headquarters in your area... You will be amazed at the jobs avaliable at sea and at the opportunities that exist...

Idea: What about a "Bed & Breakfast Boat" - that cruises America's Great Loop?

Good luck! It is a wonderful life!

Answer 2

Check out Massachusetts Maritime Academy. They have lots of ideas for jobs in the Maritime industry.