living and working aboard

[june]

Hi, for all you who live aboard, could you tell us if its possible to get casual work in the Med, without too many difficulties. We are building our own boat, we started hoping to complete by April 2004, with enough left to set off and cruise for a while. We now know better, we hope to get her in the water in September, (Still not fully complete inside), and the money will be gone. We have now come to terms with the fact that we will probally end up living aboard, but working as well. So, you will understand why we wish to know about casual work abroad, If all else fails we hoped to work a few weeks then move on until we need to work again. As any one out there done this, is it feasable?
june

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

all depends what your skills are and the language barrier. don't expect to make a living doing work on other people's boats (they don't have much money either) or chartering (the locals have the business sewn up already). approach it as though you were living ashore in those locations, the probelms are much the same, except perhaps for mail and phones.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jerryat]

Hi June!

I very much agree with Snowleopard. Various cruising friends of mine living on boats in the Med. have picked up the odd bit of work, but it's mostly been seasonal in bars/cafes etc and the money's relatively poor, even by Spanish standards.

You might do better in the more popular over-wintering spots working on yottie's boats but do need a sort of niche expertise. Six or seven years ago for example, I could have worked full time if I'd wanted to repairing inflatables and outboard engines. That led to diesel repairs, carpentry and so on. Now it seems, a lot of these places have 'resident' ex-pats who try to sew up the over-wintering work between them. If you do decide to go down the casual work route, you need to have the willpower to ignore these types (as I did!)and offer your skills anyway.

Overall, I think relying on picking up work is a very risky scenario, as so many are trying to do the same thing. Whilst I always encourage anyone who asks to 'get going and do it', I do believe you would be foolish to start without a modest lump sum emergency fund to fall back on. You may think you won't need it, but you definitely will!

Whatever you decide, cruising, even in the grossly over-crowded Med (IMHO), is marvellous, so do go for it, but temper it with a little caution.

Best of luck to you.

Good sailing!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[robind]

Hi June!
Try the following site http://amberella.schefter.net. The schefter family, just two to start with, worked their way around the med and after two children came along returned to Switzerland with summers in the med and did what you would wish to do. they will also answer mails on their contact address so give it a try and check out those who have done it. Oh by the way they did up an old boat whilst on voyage (Amberella).
Regards

Rob

<hr width=100% size=1>