boat sitting? Does this exist?Like house sitting but on the water.

[kitm]

I need to finish a writing project and I want to do it in Spain . I also want to buy a boat to live on - but I've never done it before so can I find somebody who wants their boat looked after while I write away and discover if living on the water is really for me? Any clues most welcome.

 

[britemp]

Forgive the cynicism, but as this is your first post and you haven't filled in your bio, don't be too surprised if you aren't offered the keys to a superyacht moored in the med for you to try out while you finish your 'project' !!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Steve Clayton]

So how much are you willing to pay to stay/live on a boat - and for how long?

And it's a serious question!

AND Britemp; I don't think filling in one's bio is a pre-requiste. I was a little "lambasted" a few weeks ago here re one of my posts; recommentations were that forumites reviewed their bio's - I've removed nearly all the information relating to me in light of this

 

[kitm]

Well , that's a good question .Here are some questions I would need answered in order to answer yours. What size is the boat . Where is it ?How long would the occupancy be? What duties would I be required to perform during the occupancy? look forward to a reply.

 

[kitm]

Can't tell you how disappointed I am that a super yacht being offered by the end of today is out of the question. But if I do achieve what I want then it will be after exhaustive background checks carried out by the owner and a raft ( forgive the pun ) of personal references from impeccable sources being supplied.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Sorry,

can't be bothered to play your games, and as you've posted on mobo assume you want a mobo

www.seraph-sailing.com

 

[kitm]

What's a MOBO?And what games? I spoke with the magazine editor who said this might be a good way of sorting out the arrangement I am looking for. Iam beginning to think he may have been wrong.Is this forum just populated by people with nothing else to do ?Or is there anybody who uses it for business ?

 

[mainshiptom]

This site is not for business !

It is for people that enjoy boating to talk about this mad hobbie !

A mobo is a motor boat oppose to a raggie (sail Boat)


Tell people more about you and your project and you find that they are a nice bunch !


Tom

 

[tcm]

don't see why it shouldn't exist - seems a good idea. You could do some boat sitting on my boat cept it's not in spain, it's in france.

In france, they do have boat-sitters cept the people living on the boats cal themselves "skipper" and get paid at least £3k a month becauise they have some commercial qualification to drive the boat eventho it never leaves the quayside from Sept- June except for antifouling and altho i suppose they could check various boaty things, they almost never ever do and mainly specialise in washing their cars or motorbikes for an hour from 9:30 or 10, then have a chat, then offto lunch at 12, harumph.

What's all this about bio's ? Perfect strangers turn up at interviews everywhere with bits of typed paper saying this or that. Does anyone check whether they really do have a degree in whatever? Come to that, i didn't run swmbo thru the police computer before i married her...

PM me if france is any good PROVIDED that you aren't an axe-wielding maniac.

 

[kitm]

I think there's a germ of an idea here.Lots of people paying big bucks for skippers to sit on their boats without doing a thing. An agency for Harbour Only Boat Sitters- all vetted .
Boat owners save a fortune.People like me get to sit on boats in idyllic situations . All it needs is organising.....

 

[Steve Clayton]

Lots of company's already do this. Do a search on Mundo Maritimo and you will see what I mean. My earlier post was serious but I ain't paying you to babysit my yacht for nowt. The least I would expect you to pay me is 30- 40 €'s a night for the priviledge of overnighting on a "luxury" yacht.

Typing this on a hotspot wifi in Marina de Denia, as I sit on Seraph, on a cool and balmy evening, with gentle Spanish guitar music in the background, and a Cubre Libre with ice to my right gently chilling - Ah! Perfecto /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[BrendanS]

I'll take care of it for you over winter months. and I'm obviously not a mad axe murderer, though I do shoot bunnies and eat guinea pigs.

Only proviso is that I take it for a spin once in a while to make sure it all still functions correctly. I prefer to do this once F9 forecasted. Is that a problem?

 

[captainAhab]

Greetings Kitm

I stumbled onto your question somehow and registered just to reply to you with real information.

I am 66 and a retired professional mariner. I have been a Captain for the uber rich, small yachts, sportfishing yachts, container ship, commercial pushboats and ocean tugs, and 3rd officer on a cruise ship.

Here is the story.

Boatsitting does happen but is very rare and usually you have to be "in the industry" to score a boat. If you do you will be expected to do basic maint. like wash the boat a couple times a week, housekeeping especially if the boat is for sale and be basically responsible for many millions of property. It can take a whole day to wash a big yacht not to mention the polishing and the boat must be kept spotless. SPOTLESS. Long story short. You ain't just gonna sit there and look good. For you to take care of someones boat you will need to know how to do some basic boat maint. like bilge pumps and the fire system.

A caution. People with yachts are sensitive about controlled substances. If you are a user the boat can be confiscated and the owner will have no end of troubles to say the least or maybe even never see the boat again. All because of you. Extrapolate what could happen to you if some multi million dollar yacht owner looses his baby because of you. Also expect random drug testing.

Worldwide there are companies called crew agencies. For a fee you pay in advance you get access to all sorts of boat "jobs" boatsitting included. Many dispute this but if your are not favored with the agency personel you don't have much of a chance. It is a sad truth but there you are.

When you get to your destination look for bulletin boards and post on everyone you can find. You may even find postings for what you want but they go as soon as they are posted. Everyone wants to live on a nice yacht for free. Walk the docks and make friends with crew where they hang out. Sometimes that can be more productive than anything. a reference is everything.

Here is another alternative. There is a website called caretakers. http://caretaker.org/ There are jobs for all over the world everything for taking care of my cat while I am away for a week to living at a Chalet in Normandy cutting the grass. The sky is the limit there. On their site you can view some sample ads and for 20 US dollars per year you get access to everything. You can even post your own position wanted ad for an extra fee. The site gets results and I have used it. I cut the grass in Normandy for 3 months. That's all just cut the grass.

Good luck in your endevor and ignore the internet trolls. Better not to even acknowledge their posts. Just gives them more fuel to harass you with. Stick with positive responces.

captainAhab