ean_p
Well-Known Member
If you had two years in which to learn it, then which skill would you select so as to best make a contribution to your living whilest full time cruising and why .......?
ian p.
ian p.
Skills to get by with.....
- Thread starter ean_p
- Start date
Shakey
Well-Known Member
Firstly, I'm not a liveaboard so I could be talking rubbish here!
If you've got plenty of time to learn a new skill, I'd select Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
We take the ability to speak English for granted, but it is the major language in the world today and being able to speak it can be a highly desirable skill for some people.
It seems most jobs for those cruising are of a temporary and / or manual labour, and it doesn't take two years to learn how to be a barman or a labourer.
So if you have the time, I'd go for TEFL.
If you've got plenty of time to learn a new skill, I'd select Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
We take the ability to speak English for granted, but it is the major language in the world today and being able to speak it can be a highly desirable skill for some people.
It seems most jobs for those cruising are of a temporary and / or manual labour, and it doesn't take two years to learn how to be a barman or a labourer.
So if you have the time, I'd go for TEFL.
PaulS
Well-Known Member
Other cruisers will value the same skills you would need to maintain your own boat: Engine maintenance, Sail making/repair, fiberglass repair, rigging, electrical repair. To name a few.
Many of those skills can be traded directly with other cruisers rather than having to go through the formalities often needed to obtain 'official' employment in a foreign country.
Many of those skills can be traded directly with other cruisers rather than having to go through the formalities often needed to obtain 'official' employment in a foreign country.
Spacewaist
Well-Known Member
I'd learn Spanish/and or Portugese so that we can get around ashore in the former Spanish/Portugese colonies.
Abigail
Well-Known Member
Hi - you specifically ask about making a living while cruising, and in order for that to work of course consider the markjet. Outside Europe, in many places, you cannot legally work unless you have a skill that is in demand and not available locally. And for a transient most employers wouldn;t bother with the paperwork.
There may be exceptions to this - eg dentists, doctors, some engineers - but they tend to take more than two years. I don't know how well 'on the books' TEFL works and how much in demand it is where you want to go. Off the books is really crummy pay.
Fellow cruisers/yachties are okay but generally don't pay much. A strong barter economy! But refrigeration, electrics, plumbing, hairdressing are all always popular.
Having said that, I know cruisers in the richer places (eg Palma) who have done very well with skills in radar and electronics working on the super yachts. I know someone else in the same place who has a nice line in varnish work on the big boats, which pays her a decent wage in the winter.
There are other parts of the marine industry - from working in chandleries/marinas to working as a broker. Some need experience, few need training, though in some countries I believe you need a licence to be a broker. I know some cruisers who have done well working as brokers in several different countries from NZ tyo Spain. They were brokers before they left, and (having seen them in action) could sell snow to the Inuit.
Then there's work you can do anywhere - ie internet based, consultancy type work. This is our main solution and so far it works okay. We are working on expanding our client base and expertise to take us further afield - ie not having to return to UK in winter. The bigget challenge is keeping up your skills base, eg as software evolves.
So it depends a bit on what skills/experience you have now, how much time you're prepared to work while cruisng, how much you want to invest in eg comms etc. But I really wouldn't want to rely on raising money from other yachties etc unless sticking to the more expensive and upmarket locales.
There are also some complex tax issues, and many people with much more expertise than me - but worth thinking about where you will be earning, whether you will be or want to be in tax exile etc etc.
HTH
There may be exceptions to this - eg dentists, doctors, some engineers - but they tend to take more than two years. I don't know how well 'on the books' TEFL works and how much in demand it is where you want to go. Off the books is really crummy pay.
Fellow cruisers/yachties are okay but generally don't pay much. A strong barter economy! But refrigeration, electrics, plumbing, hairdressing are all always popular.
Having said that, I know cruisers in the richer places (eg Palma) who have done very well with skills in radar and electronics working on the super yachts. I know someone else in the same place who has a nice line in varnish work on the big boats, which pays her a decent wage in the winter.
There are other parts of the marine industry - from working in chandleries/marinas to working as a broker. Some need experience, few need training, though in some countries I believe you need a licence to be a broker. I know some cruisers who have done well working as brokers in several different countries from NZ tyo Spain. They were brokers before they left, and (having seen them in action) could sell snow to the Inuit.
Then there's work you can do anywhere - ie internet based, consultancy type work. This is our main solution and so far it works okay. We are working on expanding our client base and expertise to take us further afield - ie not having to return to UK in winter. The bigget challenge is keeping up your skills base, eg as software evolves.
So it depends a bit on what skills/experience you have now, how much time you're prepared to work while cruisng, how much you want to invest in eg comms etc. But I really wouldn't want to rely on raising money from other yachties etc unless sticking to the more expensive and upmarket locales.
There are also some complex tax issues, and many people with much more expertise than me - but worth thinking about where you will be earning, whether you will be or want to be in tax exile etc etc.
HTH
Swagman
Well-Known Member
IMHO if you want work for cash then suggest forget skills to apply to fellow cruisers. If you wish to develop marine allied skills suggest best to apply those via a marina.
I appreciate bar work sounds the dregs - but always required.
A trade - like chippie or plumber - can be leant on the period stipulated and almost universally required.
But if you do not wish to be 'hands on' then teaching English would be my suggested no 1 - a diploma will help secure a job almost anywhere - pays cash - and you are presumably already well qualified (simply as it may be your mother tongue)!
And don't worry about tax issues at this stage -they are best sorted AFTER you get a job.
Good luck
JOHN
I appreciate bar work sounds the dregs - but always required.
A trade - like chippie or plumber - can be leant on the period stipulated and almost universally required.
But if you do not wish to be 'hands on' then teaching English would be my suggested no 1 - a diploma will help secure a job almost anywhere - pays cash - and you are presumably already well qualified (simply as it may be your mother tongue)!
And don't worry about tax issues at this stage -they are best sorted AFTER you get a job.
Good luck
JOHN
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Walking on water - then you will never go hungry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Das_Boot
Well-Known Member
I am thinking of passing myself off as a dentist. Capital outlay will be very little Power drill, set of pliers, a few syringes, a mirror on a stick and a dirty great steel tooth pick and away you go. Print up a few diplomas for the cabin walls wear a white coat when you enter port. I should make a killing.
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