What are some rewarding and high paying jobs in the boating industry...anything to do with boats and water?

Question

I love boats... my fam has a few and we live on the water... i want to have a career involved in boats... something rewarding with high pay...i want to be successful... i get good grades and work hard...

any advice on careers in the boating industry

Answer 1

WOW MAN!  Don't you know that is why they call us "boat bums"... LOL

Seriously... (in very-very general terms) USCG Captains of 60- to 100-foot vessels can earn between $55K and $85K.  Captains of 100- to 200-foot yachts cruising at around $65,000 to $130,000 a year. I am sorry for such a large latitude (pun intended) but there is a big difference in the amount of experience you have, and the type of vessel, industry, as well as amentities and time out.  But, a good Captain on a good vessel can do pretty well as an employee with the right company.  Though be it, many fishing and charter, and boat Captains do better owning and operating their own vessels.

I also know some technicians that do real well... today a good engine (diesel inboard and gas outboard especially) technician can make upwards of $100,000. At the Marina where my vessel is located, they recently hired a "kid" that just graduated from one of those high-tech career orientated vocational high schools. At anyrate, this kid was apparently top of his class "state wide" - and had all kinds of certifications from a variety of Marine engine manufacturers...  Anyway, his starting salary they told me was $75K and they said the only reason they got him for that... was that he wanted to be in this area...

Now personally... if I (at the age of 17 or 18) could have seen the future... I would have bought Microsoft stock and been a dentist... and had my "customized" dental" chair with rod holders mounted in the cockpit of a 77' Hatteras - facing aft, midway between the fish boxes - and that would have been my one and only office...  LOL

For me, it has been a wonderful career, and a wonderful life... I have three kids (all adults now) and they all have boats... two of them are live a-boards, and the third, well... when he gets his next boat - I am sure it be so large it will have to be fully crewed.  Good luck!

Answer 2

If you're good with your hands consider becoming a shipwright (that's basically a boat carpenter that knows a whole heck of a lot about boat building).

Most of the good boat builders are nearing retirement, and there is a HUGE void of qualified builders behind them. Here in a few years I'm going to be making some really good money without much competition.

There are tons of boats that are going to need to be worked on and very few qualified people who can do it.

This means $$$ for whoever can deliver the goods.

Words of advice...

We very rarely hire people out of boat building schools unless they are from Europe. The European training is superior to the American training. Sorry, but that's the facts. Americans (which I am one) have lousy trade schools, with a couple of exceptions.

Find the best builder that you can (sorry again, but preferrably a European builder), and pester them until you get an apprentice position.

I apprenticed under a Swedish boat builder for five years, and I am in demand for my skills and results.

I do know a couple of highly competent Americans, but the Europeans are far better overall.

To be fair, some Europeans suck at building, but the ratio is clearly in their favor.

Answer 3

http://www.crewfinders.com/   hope this helps.

Answer 4

If you want rewarding.....try joining the U.S Coast Guard.....saving lives on the water was a great form of satisfaction for me. Chasing illegal imigrants and drug runners in the Carribean was also fun. The pay in the beginning is not very much, but as you move up and advance it can be quite nice. I retired after 20 years and if I had it do over again....I would not change a thing.

Answer 5

Join the Navy and become an Officer!

Or Gopher on the Love Boat!

Answer 6

If you're young, like high school, I would seriously consider joining the navy!  I've had friends that did it, and still went back to college afterward - which they pall all of it or a big part of college costs.  One became a navy pilot off an aircraft carrier - the other, I forgot, but they both cruised the world on big ships during their stay.

Coast guard would be cool, but I would only want to be somewhere that has some action and warm weather.

Other things: capain of cruise ships - their not all huge cruisliners either!  In FL alone, there are hundred of small cruise yachts, tour boats, vishing vessels, whale watching, even water taxis!

Merchant marines is another thing to look into.  Think about how buisy the ports are every day with loads of stuff coming into and going out of the country.  Tons of huge cargo ships and work being done on the docks.  Man, theres tons more ideas, but gotta go.