Deckhand jobs on superyachts

Deckhand is where most people start on deck. The work is exterior maintenance — washdowns, chamois, teak, varnish and paint touch-ups — plus tender and toy operation, line handling on arrival and departure, and guest watersports during charter.

It is physical, early-starting and detail-obsessed. The boats that hire well look for someone who is reliable, quiet on the radio and genuinely tidy, far more than someone with a long CV. Most deckhands move to lead deckhand or bosun within two or three seasons, and toward an OOW ticket after that.

Open deckhand positions

What deckhands earn

Gross monthly, by yacht length. Food and accommodation are covered on board, so most of it is saveable.

Full breakdown for every role in the free salary guide.

Certificates usually expected

Requirements vary by vessel, flag and tonnage — always check the posting. Store yours in the document vault and we'll remind you before anything lapses.

Guides worth reading

• Dockwalking: how it actually works, and how not to waste a season →
• What a first season actually costs before you earn anything →
• Deck kit that earns its place in your cabin →

Other roles