Frequently Asked Yacht Job Questions

See the Frequently Asked Questions below finding a yacht job.

1. How long does registration take?
2. What should I have for registration?
3. Is there an age limit or restriction to work on a yacht?
4. Is there a fee to sign up and who pays the bill?
5. Do I need to have an interview with the agency or officers?
6. How do I check in?
7. How often should I check in?
8. How long does it take to get a job?
9. What can I do to get placed faster?
10. Do I need to be in Fort Lauderdale (location) to get a job?
11. Should I go walk the docks and marinas?
12. How do I market myself?
13. What are your current jobs available?
14. What should I do if I get a job?
15. What is the STCW?
16. How do I get the STCW?
17. What are maritime schools?
18. How long does the STCW course take?
19. What kind of Visa do I need to work on yachts?
20. Will my C1/D visa work for yachts?
21. When is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

How long does registration take?
If you have all of your documentation done ahead of time (e.g. resume, photo, references and certificates scanned and saved to a computer or phone) than about 10-20 minutes to set up a profile. Varies by person and skills.

What should I have for registration?
All your information should be digitized and made accessible on a USB drive or on your computer/phone/tablet. Documents include: Is there an age limit or restriction to work on a yacht?
18 and older is the recommended age for joining a yacht as crew.

Is there a fee to sign up and who pays the bill?
There is no fee for crew to register with Crewfinders. However, the Owner of the vessel, the Captain or the Agent responsible for hiring the crew pays the fee for your services to the crew agency over and above your salary. That is why it is important to notify Crewfinders of any changes to your status and to let them know when you were hired and what your pay rate is.

Do I need to have an interview with the agency or officers?
Although it is not required it does help to schedule an interview with a placement officer so that they can meet you in person and get a sense for what you are looking for and how to better market your skills to employers.

How do I check in?
Please go to www.crewfinders.com and click on "Log In" tab located at the top of the page. By signing into your account/profile your name will be brought to the top of our list of available candidates for current job positions.

How often should I check in?
At least once a week is recommended by our agency. Our database brings you to the top of the list based on check in date. The more recently you checked in the higher your name will be for an available position. Please note that daily check in over the phone or in office slows down the efficiency of our officers to place you and others to current positions. Once or twice a week is sufficient to keep you current in our records.

How long does it take to get a job?
This varies on what your skill set is and how marketable you are to employers looking for your skills. There is not set time on how long it takes to be able to work on yachts.

What can I do to get placed faster?
Register your name and information to as many places as possible and make sure you reply promptly to correspondences.

Do I need to be in Fort Lauderdale (location) to get a job?
It is not necessary to be located in Fort Lauderdale. However it is a good idea to be in town for the busy season if you can afford it. Most accommodations are taken in the busy season and your competition with the other crewmembers here will be difficult but not impossible. Most yachts will hire from outside the area if the crewmember fits what they are looking for and are qualified for the position.

Should I go walk the docks and marinas?
No. In the past this was acceptable but due to increasing security risks it is now prohibited to walk the docks unless you already have business aboard a yacht. Most security guards will not let you into the yards or marinas without permission from someone inside those facilities.

How do I market myself?
  • Business Cards – These are helpful to have on your person when a resume would be inappropriate to hand out. Owners and Captains are more likely to hold onto a card instead of a resume document and more likely to call/email you if needed.
  • Resume – This is a detailed record of your work history and skills you can offer to your employer. A resume is used to get your foot in the door for an interview so you can better explain how you would be helpful to Owners, Captains and Agents. That being said, make sure your contact information is visible at the top of your resume and try to keep it to two pages when possible. Also, make sure to include 3 references from previous jobs that can vouch for your work ethnic.
  • Photo – A picture is worth a thousand words. In the yachting industry how you present yourself is important and owners/captain prefer to have a name and a face to work with as a 1st impression. Make sure your photo is clean cut, wearing a professional shirt; no sunglasses or hats and that you are in focus for a good head and shoulders shot. The photo should be added to your resume and profile.
  • USB Drive – Have your information digitized and stored on a USB drive for easier transfer of documents to agencies and owners. This will save you time and effort when registering or sending your info to agencies or employers and insure you have a back up of your files.
  • Registration – This allows agencies to know who you are and your skills and allows us to easily find your information to send to Owners, Captain and Agents for future employment.
  • Email Correspondence – Make sure you are prompt in your replies and professional in your typing skills. Always spell-check before sending
  • Interviewing – When getting ready for an interview make sure you are clean, well dressed, organized with your documents and on time.
  • Word of Mouth/Socializing – This is crucial to marketing yourself.
  • Daywork/Freelance – When trying to get started in the yachting industry try to obtain Daywork or freelance to learn skills that will be vital to permanent placements aboard yachts.
  • Checking In – Let agencies know your status at least once a week to keep your information fresh in their search engines. This means your profile will be pulled more often for consideration on jobs. Likewise if you do take a job let the agencies know you are no longer available so you are not accidentally notified. We have seen this cost jobs before and do not wish that circumstance on any crew members.
  • Reputation – In the yachting industry your reputation follows you and is constantly evaluated by employers. How you represent yourself online will be noticed by employers. Make sure to stick to your word if you agree to something and if possible request a reference from your employer before leaving their service as this can help you toward another job in the future. Unfortunately, in this industry gossip can make or break your career so think wisely before acting.
What are your current jobs available?
We update our Job List weekly sometime up to three times a week during the busy season. Yacht jobs can be viewed on our Positions Page. If you see a job you are interested in please follow these steps:
1. Click the Agent's name next to the description of the position.
2. Let the Agent know your name and contact information.
3. Copy the job description into the email to the Agent.
4. Tell the Agent your current location and availability in the email.
5. Check In to your profile to bring your name current in our system if you have already registered.

What should I do if I get a job?
Ask the employer who they received your information from and then notify your agency that your status has changed. This is to ensure that you are not submitted to a new position while on a current job.

What is the STCW?
STCW-95 stands for: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. Created by the International Maritime Organization in 1978 and amended in 1995, the STCW-95 code came into international effect in February 2003.

How do I get the STCW?
The STCW course is taught at many different maritime schools across the US and internationally

What are maritime schools?
Maritime schools are teaching institutions that specialize in education and licensing in the marine industry. For a list of local schools in Florida please refer to our Schools & Training Page.

How long does the STCW course take?
Generally the course takes 40 hours to complete on a 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday basis. Prices vary by schools.

What kind of Visa do I need to work on yachts?
You need a B1/B2 visa.
B1 Visa is a business visa for the United States. It covers:
  • consulting with business associates
  • attending a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
  • settling an estate
  • negotiating a contract
B2 visa is a Tourism and Visitors visa for the United States. It covers:
  • tourism
  • vacation (holiday)
  • visit with friends or relatives
  • medical treatment
  • participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
  • participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
  • enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
Will my C1/D visa work for yachts?
No. Your C1/D visa will only permit you to work on commercial vessels like cruise lines and will not be applicable to private yachts. You will need to look into getting a B1/B2 visa issued. Please see our Embassy & Visa Information Page for more information about visas.

When is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?
It varies year to year but generally takes place the end of October.