Young man needs a job

snowleopard

snowleopard

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The son of a colleague has recently lost his job as a dinghy instructor through budget cutbacks. His mum is fed up of having him under her feet at home. He'd like a job in the boating world, even something voluntary. Anyone know of opportunities out there?
 
Depends on his intrest level.

if he is just keen on sailing and doesn't know what direction to go with life.
I would recomend a trip with The Ocean Youth Club. or trust. when I was at a loose end i found it very rewarding. Spent a year as a bosun/mate/general dogs body. Best job i ever had even though it wasn't a real job.
They don't have as many boats as they used to but i think its still going.
At one time sailing with them was a good referance.
I was offered a lot of opertunities by other skippers to poach me to thier boats when they heard Id been on one as a bosun.

If he searously is considering a carrear on the water. contact one of the Marine Collages and check out the opertunities. Warsash, South Tyneside, Glasgow,
They will all have carear days comming up recruiting season for next years intack.
Warning. Its not a good way to see the world. most jobs are hard work long hours in North Sea or Far off shore for months at a time.
Better to go shool get educated and get a good carear and by your own boat and sail for fun.:D
 
In a similar vein send him down to the local sea cadets unit. I am sure they would appreciate a dinghy instructor and it would keep him out of trouble plus build a useful CV.

Pete
 
thirty years ago we used to take on anybody who had arms and legs to be a deckhand on a coaster now I suspect a bit of paper is needed.With half the youth in Spain unemployed the plan by the bossess is to get them to work for slave wages.....
 
I'm with UricaneJack,

sailing as a career is usually a low paid slavery sort of deal.

If he's intent on it, try the better delivery outfits, he'd only get his keep but some useful experience.

I know someone who started off as pro' skipper on luxury mobo's - got very badly treated and ripped off - then a big sailing boat which worked out well, now he runs his own delivery outfit; I could ask him if you like - feel free to PM me - he could at least give some guidance.

The Sea Cadets sounds a good idea.

I do think a conventional job and buy ones' own boats is the way to go though !
 
If done properly and taken seriously then a career at sea, either in the merchant navy or in super yachts can be superbly profitable to the extent that if you have been sensible with your money you can be in a position to retire comfortably before your 50.

It takes dedication though and is certainly not for everyone.
 
snowleopard said:
The son of a colleague has recently lost his job as a dinghy instructor through budget cutbacks. His mum is fed up of having him under her feet at home. He'd like a job in the boating world, even something voluntary. Anyone know of opportunities out there?
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Depends on his skills. If he can write , or had the diligence to administrate, with MS office skills, he could be a valuable recruit ro many sailing oriented organisations. If he's limited to activity skills and knowledge, then there is too much competition to do other than instruct for a pittance. Too many applicants looking for "life style" rewards!
 
How about doing some voluntary work with 'Horizons' down at Mayflower marina. At least then he is in the thick of sailing and boating activities and can get himself known, you never know what may then come up. I have of course assumed he is local to the Plymouth area.

Yoda
 
Jobs are so difficult to come by, my son is also looking for work, he has been to Uni, passed (Property Managment) but found it very difficult to find work. He is also a Senior Inst in sailing but still cannot find anything, he applies for many jobs each day but most do not even reply! It must have been hard in our day (1980's) but was it this hard?
 
When I was 16, I joined the Royal Navy and did loads of free sailing as well as a trip to New Zealand on a Destroyer plus 17 happy years on submarines (various). As a sea going career it wasnt half bad!!!
 
Dinghy Instruction is in a mess, the LEA funded centres are expensive to run and are being sold off it seems. Most of us know that cheap instruction for kids is available from sailing clubs using cheap/free labour.
But I wonder if there is not an opportunity to make money, taking schoolkids on an 'after school club basis'. Parents pay a lot for this, it seems, across the whole range of extra-curriccular stuff from football to violin. You would need several people, a few boats and a safety boat of course, but there might be a living to be made?
Maybe in conjunction with a suitable club?

The other gap in the market might be race coaching, but to be viable I think you would need to be in the top ten of one of the respected classes nationally.
 
Seajet said:
I'm with UricaneJack,

sailing as a career is usually a low paid slavery sort of deal.

If he's intent on it, try the better delivery outfits, he'd only get his keep but some useful experience.

I know someone who started off as pro' skipper on luxury mobo's - got very badly treated and ripped off - then a big sailing boat which worked out well, now he runs his own delivery outfit; I could ask him if you like - feel free to PM me - he could at least give some guidance.

The Sea Cadets sounds a good idea.

I do think a conventional job and buy ones' own boats is the way to go though !
Click to expand...

I second your last sentence!
 
lw395 said:
Dinghy Instruction is in a mess, the LEA funded centres are expensive to run and are being sold off it seems.
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Probably applies to Outdoor Ed as a whole. There just isn't the spare money about to have youngsters getting the sort of training that has been available.
Lots of freelance instructors up here see this next year as make or break.
 
Lakesailor said:
Probably applies to Outdoor Ed as a whole. There just isn't the spare money about to have youngsters getting the sort of training that has been available.
Lots of freelance instructors up here see this next year as make or break.
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Maybe it would be wise to look at the private ed sector?
Just a thought.
 
mogy said:
thirty years ago we used to take on anybody who had arms and legs to be a deckhand on a coaster now I suspect a bit of paper is needed.

Yes it happend in 1995 with the Merchant Shipping Act. STCW 95. Standards of Training & Certification for Watchkeepers. These are minimum standards.
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