Looking for info on working as a Deckhand?

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oliv897

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Hi all!


I'm practically new here just created me account now, I'm Ollie I come from small fishing Village called Topsham in the South-West.. I am a Musician and work in IT by trade.

Recently I been rather depressed and suicidal and my Doctor has suggested a change of pace from my normal routine.... I have always been fond of boating though never having enough money to feed myself let alone buy a blowup dingy...

I was wandering how easy it would be to get a job as a Deckhand in the Devon area? and was wandering where I could get more info on the job?

If you also know of anyone looking for few extra novice hands do PM me.. I'm willing to work for free at first if the job is close to home!


Thanks,
Ollie
 
Deckhand on what sort of vessel?

Leisure boats don't generally take paid crew except for very large motorboats, and then they probably want at least some qualifications, or cooking/waitering ability, or being pretty and female :)

That's not to say someone who needs a hand sailing their boat might not offer to take you out on an "as mates" basis, but that wouldn't involve getting paid either now or later.

Is there any fishing out of Topsham or nearby? I don't know much about the industry but it seems like the best bet. I believe fishermen are all meant to have taken certain courses these days, but I've also read several recent MAIB accident reports which mentioned that they hadn't, so it seems at least some skippers turn a blind eye. Rock up to the fish quay when the boats are setting off (probably very early in the morning) and see if anyone will take you?

Pete
 
I have just what you need to get you started!

A copy of the 1974 edition of "The Efficient Deck Hand" by Captain C.H.Wright, Principal of The National Sea Training Schools (Liverpool).

In very good condition.

£15 plus p&p.
 
Given that sunshine and "being somewhere else" are the two best cures for depression that I know of, if you don't have dependants why not get to the med for spring, blagging your way on a delivery if possible but the traditional way using your thumb if not.

I'm sure someone here must have recent experience they could post about the practicalities of hustling for day work in the med
 
Ollie,

one option worth considering might be deckhand on a hotel barge on the French Canals; reasonably hard work but healthy good fun and can be rewarding if you're lucky and prove handy to have around.

It is distinctly seasonal though; feel free to PM me if interested, and whatever you choose I hope you find happiness.

Andy
 
oliv897 said:
Hi all!


I'm practically new here just created me account now, I'm Ollie I come from small fishing Village called Topsham in the South-West.. I am a Musician and work in IT by trade.

Recently I been rather depressed and suicidal and my Doctor has suggested a change of pace from my normal routine.... I have always been fond of boating though never having enough money to feed myself let alone buy a blowup dingy...

I was wandering how easy it would be to get a job as a Deckhand in the Devon area? and was wandering where I could get more info on the job?

If you also know of anyone looking for few extra novice hands do PM me.. I'm willing to work for free at first if the job is close to home!


Thanks,
Ollie
Click to expand...

Ollie

Dont advertise yourself as " depressed and suicidal". I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be closeted on a boat with someone with those tendencies. Hardly makes for a fun voyage does it? :) So they wont respond if you do say that.
 
Hi Ollie,
STCW95 is often required as a minimum qualification for working commercially, Google it there's lots of info. Try to get some crewing in locally if you can, it all helps. There are sites where you can get to crew for people on longer trips but have to make a contribution, which should be no more than your share of food, fuel & ports of call expenses, e.g. I crewed on this basis as a complete novice across the Indian Ocean from Thailand to the Maldives, using a site called Crewfinders to contact the guy who I sailed with. As inexperienced crew on delivery trips you'd be lucky to get paid unfortunately...
 
If you're a good musician & you can do the folk/ shanty stuff you'll get a job in the traditional sailing holiday line easily....
 
parsifal said:
I have just what you need to get you started!

A copy of the 1974 edition of "The Efficient Deck Hand" by Captain C.H.Wright, Principal of The National Sea Training Schools (Liverpool).

In very good condition.

£15 plus p&p.
Click to expand...

The guy just said he has no money !

Put it in the post to him, your good deed for the day :)
 
Definitely sounds like Olli needs a good deed!

Olli... head to the local yacht clubs in/near Topsham and put a note on their noticeboards.

You won't find many people sailing right now but plenty of people could do with a second set of hands around the boatyard during the winter fit out. Why not offer to help for a bit of petty cash in return? If you get to know a couple of owners this way you might get a ride or two in the Spring, or they might put you in touch with the local charter skippers.

A very bold option would be to go and walk the docks for "day work" in Antibes or Palma, but that's got costs involved and there are plenty of people doing it. If you did do that you could expect to spend days polishing super yachts!

Good luck!

G
 
STCW95 is needed, Anyway, pleased to meet you, I started 20 yrs ago as a deckhand on a trawler, I'm a guitar player and I also trained as a computer hardware engineer. Maybe I can help, feel free to PM me. BTW don't be doing anything silly, there's always something out there mate.

:)
 
oliv897 said:
Hi all!


I'm practically new here just created me account now, I'm Ollie I come from small fishing Village called Topsham in the South-West.. I am a Musician and work in IT by trade.

Recently I been rather depressed and suicidal and my Doctor has suggested a change of pace from my normal routine.... I have always been fond of boating though never having enough money to feed myself let alone buy a blowup dingy...

I was wandering how easy it would be to get a job as a Deckhand in the Devon area? and was wandering where I could get more info on the job?

If you also know of anyone looking for few extra novice hands do PM me.. I'm willing to work for free at first if the job is close to home!


Thanks,
Ollie
Click to expand...

Hiya Ollie - Welcome to the YBW Forums.

You don't say whether you are female (Olivia) or Male (Oliver) and also you age would help. You could be 55 years old or a teenager. What type of music do you play, heavy rock, (c)Rap, or traditional Sea-Shanties. What instrument do you play, a Double Bass or a tin whistle?

What is the cause of the depression, do/did you smoke Pot which might drive you to paranoia

You see Ollie, as you have not given us a fuller description, we cannot suggest anything which might be suitable.

ps: I always spell Rap with a silent 'C'.


.
 
Well I got 1 lung and practically no heart.. look a bit like a corpse really... umm... I play Acoustic Guitar and tend to go for Country, Folk and Sea Shanties... I'm a real bitch when it comes to Captain Pugwash theme!

I'm a guy about 19 years old but mentally I'm told by everyone to be around the 70 mark hahaa.

Cause of depression is a complicated one mostly due to the world the way it is and the fact my intelligence helps me see logic and reason over pretty much anything which is a shame because some things I just would like to have faith in... ghost ships anyone?

I feel rather ugly and no one really likes me which is good because I don't really like anyone lol I guess my dream would be to fill a sailboat up with food and sail off in to the Atlantic hahaa (Yes I plan to.. dream holiday of mine)
 
If its fishing you fancy it depends if you want to be full-on and earning reasonable money, or just ease yourself into it. I would suggest you try a mooch round the quay, everyone is short of crew and you will bump into a few eastern Europeans. Maybe get on with someone day fishing, a bit older who hasn't got the commitments to repay big loans, so bit less of the 'hard face' stuff. I would suggest a small two or three handed crab/lobster boat, or a single hander who will appreciate the help but probably not be able to pay you very much.
You will need safety certs, some straight away, some they give you three month's grace.
 
fisherman said:
If its fishing you fancy it depends if you want to be full-on and earning reasonable money, or just ease yourself into it. I would suggest you try a mooch round the quay, everyone is short of crew and you will bump into a few eastern Europeans. Maybe get on with someone day fishing, a bit older who hasn't got the commitments to repay big loans, so bit less of the 'hard face' stuff. I would suggest a small two or three handed crab/lobster boat, or a single hander who will appreciate the help but probably not be able to pay you very much.
You will need safety certs, some straight away, some they give you three month's grace.
Click to expand...

I am not a fisherman but... I think this might work for you if your physically up to it.

The dream of sailing and the commercial doing are 2 very different things... Commercial sailing is not always what its cracked up to be, all jobs have there stress...
 
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