Resources for Yacht Captains
Licensing, salary negotiation, finding vetted contractors, building your crew network, and managing the program well.
Guides & Articles
6 guides written for captains.
Licensing · 14 min
USCG Captain Licensing: OUPV, 100-Ton, and Beyond
The U.S. licensing ladder is more forgiving than it looks once you understand how sea time, tonnage, and endorsements interact. Here is how working captains actually move from a six-pack to a hawsepipe Master ticket and beyond.
Read guideCrew · 12 min
How to Build a Reliable Crew Network
Every captain who runs a program for long enough learns the same lesson: the boat is only as good as the people you can pick up the phone and call. Building that network is a deliberate, multi-year project — here is how senior captains structure it.
Read guideCompensation · 13 min
Negotiating Captain Salary by Vessel Size
Captain compensation is not just a number — it is a package shaped by vessel size, program type, rotation, and how cleanly you negotiate the first offer. This is how working captains think about pay across the size brackets without overplaying or underselling their hand.
Read guideOperations · 12 min
Finding Vetted Marine Contractors & Vendors
The captains who keep their boats running smoothly do not have magic contractors — they have a documented, deliberately built vendor roster, with rules for vetting, invoicing, and escalation. This is the operating playbook.
Read guideOperations · 13 min
Managing Vessel Documentation & Schedules
A well-run program lives or dies by its calendar and its paperwork. Documents go out of date quietly; surveys and inspections do not wait. This is how senior captains structure the systems that keep the boat legal, insurable, and easy to hand over.
Read guideCareer · 12 min
From Day Captain to Full-Time Yacht Position
The move from day work and deliveries into a permanent program is one of the biggest steps a captain takes. It is less about credentials and more about how you present yourself, who vouches for you, and how you handle the trial week. Here is the practical path.
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