For Owners, Captains & Management
Hire a Deckhand for Your Yacht
Looking for a deckhand? Attitude and reliability decide whether a junior hire works out, so we speak to every candidate personally.
A deckhand is entry-level exterior crew on a yacht, responsible for cleaning, maintenance, tender and watersports support, and line handling. It is the main way into the industry, requiring STCW basic safety training and an ENG1 medical rather than previous experience.
What a deckhand does on board
- Daily washdowns, teak care and exterior detailing
- Assisting with tenders, toys and guest water sports
- Line handling during docking and anchoring
- Interior support during busy charter periods
What separates a good deckhand from a qualified one
Attitude decides this hire, not the CV. Ask about the least glamorous job they have done and whether they finished it properly. With a strong bosun in place, a motivated first-season deckhand often works out better than an experienced one who has learned bad habits somewhere else.
Certification and experience
Every deckhand we put forward has current certification checked before you see them, and references taken directly with previous captains or owners rather than read off a page.
- STCW
- ENG1
- Powerboat Level 2 (desirable)
Typical experience sought: entry level — first season considered · Reports to Bosun
The mistake we see most often
Hiring a first-season deckhand onto a boat with nobody to train them. Without a bosun who can teach, you are paying someone to learn from their own mistakes on your paintwork.
How we find the right deckhand for your boat
- Understand the yacht. Programme, crew structure and owner style, and how the deckhand will work with your bosun.
- Search and screen. A small number of genuine candidates, each spoken to individually, with STCW and ENG1 confirmed before you see them.
- Reference in person. Direct conversations with previous bosuns and captains, not a form sent by email.
- Introduce and follow through. Introductions, then contact once they are aboard — first-season crew need checking on early.
Frequently asked
Hiring a deckhand: common questions
What qualifications does a deckhand need?
STCW basic safety training and a valid ENG1 medical are mandatory before joining any yacht. Powerboat Level 2 is close to essential in practice, and a food hygiene certificate helps on smaller yachts where crew cover several roles.
Should I hire an experienced deckhand or a first-season one?
It depends on your deck structure. With a strong bosun in place, a motivated first-season deckhand often works well and settles into your way of doing things. Without that supervision, experience is worth paying for.
What actually predicts whether a junior deck hire works out?
Attitude and reliability, far more than experience. Willingness to start early, take direction and stay consistent through a long season matters more than what appears on the CV.
Do deckhands help with interior work?
On smaller yachts, frequently. Below roughly 40m, crew cross over between departments during busy charter periods. It is worth being explicit about that expectation when you brief the role.
What certification should a deckhand work toward next?
Yachtmaster and the RYA tender and PWC tickets, then Efficient Deck Hand. Those are the practical steps toward bosun, and crew who are actively progressing tend to stay engaged longer.
1920×800 · 2.40:1
Looking for a deckhand?
Tell us about your yacht and you will get people, not profiles.
Start the Conversation