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My roomate and I hope to move down to St Thomas near the beginning of August to work for the high season (approx 6 months or so). We are going down there in June (about 2 weeks away) to scout it out and try to make some connections and hopefully secure a job working as deck hands or mates on a boat charter (preferably day charters to the BVI's) Now, we dont know how far fetched this idea is, but we'd like to try it. I have a friend down there who said we should have no trouble findng a job. Where should we go to look or who should be talk to? Any suggestions at all would help and be greatly appreciated. We are young (mid 20's), hard working florida girls who are passionate about life and living it to the fullest.
Thanks
Posted : June 2, 2006 2:07 pm
You'll be fine.
Charter companies are always hiring. You may not get many shifts during the slow months, but you'll make good money during season.
Try New Horizons and Captain Nautica once you get down here.
Best thing is to just visit all the marinas and meet the different operators. American Yacht Harbor and Sapphire are good places to start.
There are a few over here on STJ that are also going to be hiring soon since there are a bunch of people leaving island.
Good luck!
Posted : June 2, 2006 5:36 pm
Just a little advice. i will not hire anyone that is only going to stay for 6 months. You might want to strech it a bit. To crew on a boat that leaves the U.S. waters you need your stcw certificate. It is a 3 day course that involves cpr, first aid, fire safty, man overbard, stuff like that. You would be one step ahead if you do your sctw before you got here. Or you might have to wait a month or so for the next course.
Posted : June 2, 2006 6:05 pm
Cami: Limnos is another idea. They also want you to have CPR, lifesaving, etc. before they hire you.
Posted : June 2, 2006 8:42 pm
In order to work on a boat going to the BVIs you'll need to take a class in order to get your STCW/95 like J.R.said above. Plan on spending the better part of a week and about $600 to get it. On STT you can contact Len or Gary at Sea School. http://www.seaschool.com/ or phone 1-800-BEST-ONE. If you don't want to get it then you may be able to get work on one of the boats that don't leave U.S. waters. Try Castaway Girl. I know they've been hiring for summer.
Posted : June 2, 2006 8:46 pm
What about experience? Fishing, sailing etc? Being from Fla. & having Passion for life dosent make you a deck hand last time a ckd. I know 250lb MEN that cant handle that job. You never listed your crudentials....
Posted : June 2, 2006 9:46 pm
I know girls who had no boating experience but who were personable, good swimmers and entertainers, hard workers who did well on day boats. The boat handling stuff can be taught. Good work ethic and pleasant personality can't.
Posted : June 2, 2006 10:13 pm
The boat handling stuff can be taught. Good work ethic and pleasant personality can't.
I dont know if i fully agree with this statement. Boat handling cant just be taught to anybody. Being nice/personable to people can be faked. Learning how to cut bait with razor sharp knives in sloppy seas, NOT getting sick, tieing knots, Untangling lines, rigging baits, hauling anchors,litering marlin & other large palegic species, & grinding chum dont seem to me like a 20yr girls job, just because they "have a zest for life"?? That is if were taking about a fishing charter here......And yes iam a boat capt, and NO i didnt just stay at a Holiday Inn last nite!
Posted : June 3, 2006 3:46 pm
Matty: These are snorkel tour not fishing charters. The crew has to entertain the troops, fix cocktails, help them get in and out of the water, show them creatures while snorkeling. The boat handling part may be help docking or mooring as well as cleaning up afterward.
I stand by my statement! 😉
Posted : June 3, 2006 6:31 pm
I heard TomCat looking for help...
Posted : June 4, 2006 12:36 am
Thanks East Ender. I did mean Snorkel day tour type work.I appreciate the comments and suggestions everyone. Any thoughts on where to find or contact these people? We will be down there in about a week to scout out the island and get some answers.
Posted : June 6, 2006 4:10 pm
Cami: Go in person to the various marinas- Sapphire for New Horizons, American Yacht Harbour for Captain Nautica (I think), Limnos is out of Compass Point right now. Everywhere you go ask for names of places. On-island networking is the only way for these jobs. And keep checking back. You never know when someone quits or doesn't show up- then you are in like Flint.
I just re-read your post. You won't be offered anything until you actually move here, most likely. But the networking thing is very important. Once you get contact names and phone numbers, you can call from the states and update them on your moving date, progress toward your CPR, etc. You may want to spend some money and go out on one or more of the boats and interview the crew, ask about the work. And work on your tipping speech! Great crew usually have a cute way of encouraging guests to leave a little somet'ing for the effort! 😉
Posted : June 6, 2006 7:18 pm
THanks so much for the tips and advice! As for the CPR...could we just get certified for that here in Fla and bring the certificate down with us?
Posted : June 8, 2006 5:02 pm
