Crew Wanted: Where Do You Find Crew ?

[off-the-grid]

This may not be the right forum for this, but it doesn't really fit in anoy of the other forums. So...mods, feel free to move this.

Obviously posting in this forum and on some of the other boards is one place, but they don't seem to be too active.

findacrew.com - Not for nothing, but I think this site is extremely over priced. $75/month is ridiculous. Especially when you consider how many inactive users there are on some of these sites. And you really can't message anyone without the paid membership.

sailingnetworks.com - It's free, but seems to have the same problem. I've been on there for about 2 weeks now, and got very minimal responses.
And many of the ones I did get quickly turned to maybes and then most likely no's. So, I did a quick search for recently updated profiles, and there were only a handful. That says to me that most of their members are inactive, because at the very least available to crew/and not available should be getting updated on a constant basis. Also, way too many people over there seem to be either captains/businesses or looking to have their way paid. I'm looking for crew, not to hire someone.

Maybe instead of anchoring, I need to bite the bullet and pay for a slip, at least at some of the more populated areas I'm hitting? Potentially find a local who want to get the hell out.

I guess part of the problem is the great economy. People are either broke and can't afford to pay their own way. Or they're too scared to take any time off from even some ***** low paying job they may have.

Another may be location. Who the hell wants to cruise the "Jersey Shore". And even though I'm heading South and ending in Florida. I guess if someone's going to pay for a flight and hop on a boat with someone they barely know, they're going to look for opportunities in more exotic locations. Hell, that's what I'd do.

Right now I have someone meeting me in Annapolis, going to at least NC, maybe the whole trip. And someone for at least one NJ day. But from NJ to Annapolis I'm most likely alone...well except for one of those maybes. **** even all the so called friends I have who were so interested in doing even just a few days are full of excuses now...if they even have the courtesy to respond with an answer at all.

Any suggestions?

[off-the-grid]

Maybe just do my fist real attempt at single handing and worry about it as I get closer to NC?

[malovich]

I'm not sure if you would get the right responses but the site couchsurfing.com has a bunch of people not tied down who would be willing to do adventures like crewing on your cat. What about high adventure forums, I don't know of any but they must exist right? also try sailnet and noonsite, there may be something on those sites. If I weren't in school had a bit of money to get myself to a port then I would be willing to crew...

[off-the-grid]

Also, sailingnetworks seems like you can't delete anything. Not you boat, your profile, photos, old messages. Nothing! there isn't a delete button. The admin purposely disabled it.

Thanks! I'll check that site out. Worst case it's another account to cancel after just a few minutes. Or to edit my details to say filthy horrible things, when I found out they won't let you cancel once you sign up.

[rebel heart]

For me a lot of it comes down to the stars lining up. If I'm making a few bucks (or at least having my expenses paid) I'm pretty flexible, but if it's going to be hard going and I'm paying out money to do it, I want to make sure that it's someone I know or someone that knows someone I know. The first thing I ask myself when I find someone looking for crew is "okay so this guy is what... 40 years old? how does he not have any friends who will help him?" Often times there are good answers, but a lot of time it's because the guy is a drunk and/or tyrant and people have steered clear of him thus far.

I know I'm kind of rambling, but I guess I'm just trying to say that for me to take a job on a pleasure craft in tight quarters I really need to think about it.

I've done a few runs from stuff I've found (or people who've found me) online but once you know a handful of brokers and captains you'll never really run out of opportunities to be on the water, especially if you're flexible and can pick up and go whenever the phone rings.

Have you tried putting an ad on here? I actually scan the "crew needed" positions for the western US pretty frequently on here. If it's a somewhat regular poster and looks like a fun time I'd certainly shoot them a message.

[motion30]

If you think about it , it is a big commitment for someone to make for 3 weeks or so considering family, jobs and whatever, that said I did find a good guy, Allen from virginia that did the whole Icw trip south with me last year He even brought a big basket of food We had a nice time, froze out buts off and arrived in ft lauderdale christmas day So you can find someone just keep looking

[briana.paige]

I would be happy to sail down the east coast or around the Florida Caribbean area. If you're looking for crew in the new year, maybe we can talk.

I have some sailing experience but will either need to build up some savings or find a position that pays even a humble couple hundred dollars a month to pay some unavoidable monthly bills (necessary evils).

As someone else said, if we're shelling out money from our own pocket for a short period of time, its basically a vacation which we can't financially do every time we have a hankering to go sailing (unfortunately).

Good luck on your current trip!

[Pau Hana Daz]

Have you been getting any responses to "Crew Wanted" posts? Have you responded to any "Crew Available" posts?

I posted a "Crew Available" thread on here and a half-dozen other sites and received a whopping ZERO replies (except for a pay-for-a-job scam email that came through findacrew). I've replied to a few "Crew Wanted" threads and after numerous email and telephone conversations, eventually signed on with two of them. One was through the SSCA board, the other via the Island Packet Owners' site. I also picked up a crew job through my broker (with one of her friends).

When are you planning to go? I'm booked starting next Friday through mid October (New England to NC), then again from early Nov until about Thanksgiving (VA to USVI). I'm not looking for pay (of course I wouldn't turn it down) - usually just meals/expenses on board and a ride from/to a major airport on each end, except on out of the continental US, in which case I'd like some help with airfare.

[nautical62]

I think I've lined up 8 crew over the past decade through advertising. I've posted on about 8 websites and once in cruising world magazine. Seven of the eight crew came from posts on The Float Plan Home Page, so it's by far been the most productive site I've used. The other came from a craigslist post. I've also lined up two crew through a local sailing club I belonged to at the time.

I tried the findacrew site you mentioned. I also found it to be over priced and most contacts were not from casual crew, but people wanting to get paid for boat deliveries, etc.

Most of my offerings however, were shorter, easier cruises in more exotic locals. In all cases crew paid for their own consumables.

[off-the-grid]

rebel heart - I understand and agree that it's only fair to pay a pro or someone who has way more experience than me, it's just not what I'm looking for. Also, I'm planning on a really slooooow relaxing trip. Honestly it's more about not being on the boat alone for those few days, than it is about really needing the help...I think.

I think that's my problem. Still too much of a newb to really have a network yet. And mot of my landlubber friends just don't seem to be big boat people.

motion30 - It can be a big commitment, but I'm leaving it open for anyone to just do part of the trip. As it is, I have someone who may be hopping on for just a week.

briana - There is a chance I'll be heading further South...or in the spring back North. Hopefully it's the former, though. I'll keep you in mind. Thanks!

DWJensen - A little of both, but like I said only a handful of responses, or replies. Most just maybes. And a few that outright said they can't now. Duh! Then why not change your status to not available. I'm planning on leaving shortly after you. Yeah, I know waiting until the last minute is part of the problem too. Guess I got complacent and was really banking on these few friends who were SO interested in doing at least a stretch of the trip. To bad you're not available. Just took a peak at your profile. Part of my plan is hopefully a few days in NC for some diving.

[off-the-grid]

Originally Posted by briana.paige

As someone else said, if we're shelling out money from our own pocket for a short period of time, its basically a vacation which we can't financially do every time we have a hankering to go sailing (unfortunately).

Is it really, though? All I'm asking is for people to cover their costs. Not even asking for money towards fuel or anything for the boat. So, outside of travel, wouldn't you be spending the same money on food if you were at home?

[CharlesFCook]

I scan the crew wanted sections of a few sites every day. Here is the list of everything I have found.

I watch every day(ish):
http://www.sailtraining.org/billet/billet.php
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f30/
http://www.seafaring.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/crew-wanted/
http://daywork123.com/JobAnnouncementList.aspx

Misc:
http://www.getcaptainjobs.com/
http://www.sail1design.com/marketplace/sailing-job-bank
http://www.crewfinders.com/positions.html
http://www.forcrew.com/account/signin/?next=/jobs/
http://www.bahamastradingpost.com/category/jobs
http://www.sailmiami.com/marinejobs.htm

Tall Ships:
http://www.sailtraining.org/billet/billet.php

Big white motor boats:
http://allyachtjobs.com/
http://thetriton.com/ed-classified/tid/457
http://www.dockwalk.com/Careers/Jobs.aspx
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/yacht-crews-73/
http://www.jobonyachts.com/
http://www.crew4crew.net/default.asp
http://crewseek.com/

People looking for crew:
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/crew-wanted/
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f30/
http://www.floatplan.com/crew.htm
http://www.seafaring.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com//index.php?showforum=11
http://www.sailingpoint.com/cc.shtml
http://www.7knots.com/cgi-bin/list_boat.pl?skip=1;sorting=touchup;order=desc;ite m=20;page=1
http://www.crewfile.com/component/option,com_comprofiler/task,usersList/listid,6/Itemid,59/
http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=62
http://forum.ssca.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=ff6c01149e63b1f83ea67403fa39 77d4
http://www.worldcruising.com/forum/topics.aspx?ForumID=1
http://www.findacrew.net/
http://www.crewbay.co.uk/
http://www.sailingnetworks.com/boats/needed
http://www.crewsearcher.net/crewsite/boat%20list%20for%20crew.asp
http://www.sailnet.com/classifieds/showcat.php?si=&perpage=24&sort=1&stype=&cat=40&pp user=0&myzipcode=
http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/index.php?showforum=5
http://www.cruisenews.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=b7668380780e0b5a39221c1253e cec45
http://www.oceancruisingclub.org/component/option,com_simpleboard/Itemid,62/func,showcat/catid,8/
http://ficus-www.cs.ucla.edu/ficus-members/geoff/cruisecrew/
http://members.boardhost.com/meodam/
http://www.latitude38.com/crewlist/crewlisthome.html
http://progressiveyacht.com/search.html
http://www.reliance-yachts.com/crew-bulletinboard.php
http://www.oceanbluesailing.co.uk/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=19&sid=9382afdfe0f565b238097709199 7d464
http://crewrecruit.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=usersList&It emid=65&limitstart=0&search=&listid=6&cb_sex=&cb_a ge__minval=&cb_age__maxval=&cb_qualificationlevel=

Tug boats etc.
http://gcaptain.com/forum/maritime-employment/
http://www.getmerchantmarinejobs.com/

Mostly Daywork:
http://daywork123.com/JobAnnouncementList.aspx

[briana.paige]

Originally Posted by grunzster

Is it really, though? All I'm asking is for people to cover their costs. Not even asking for money towards fuel or anything for the boat. So, outside of travel, wouldn't you be spending the same money on food if you were at home?

Don't misunderstand me, I'm all for the exchange, and the expenditures to get there is part of the trade for sea time and experience for non-professionals such as myself.

Take me for instance though, I live in Canada, so taking a month or more off work, flying to the southern US or the Caribbean or further (and back) does constitute a vacation. During which I still need to make car payments etc. So even if the cost of the actual sailing trip is cheap, there are other costs and considerations that can't be ignored. That's all I'm saying.

As a separate point, browsing the crew wanted and available sites, its obvious there are a lot of men looking for crew or ships. As a young woman, I also have to judge whether or not I feel safe going alone on a ship with a complete stranger. In general, I don't expect problems but it would be foolhardy not to think about it and try and pick someone that I don't consider too much of a gamble.

But there are always people out there for whom the timing is good and they will be more than delighted to jump on a ship. A number of my friends used to live jumping from one ship to another, often paid, sometimes only getting room and board.

I would love to go back to the sailing life but the last time, I spent a couple months sailing on a tall ship, I was getting paid which made it easier. This time I need to plan ahead and arrange some finances before I can do that and the same probably goes for a lot of other people out there.

[motion30]

When I posted for one crew here I asked for no money and offered to split travel expences I figured this I was making the trip so those cost were fixed I just wanted company and a little help. I recieved several serious responces most wanted to spend None of there own money I did find one crew and the trip went well

[off-the-grid]

I guess who pays who really comes down to:

1. Experience of those involved
2. Type of cruise (laid back vs. really pushing to get somewhere)
   AKA: working cruise vs. relaxing/cheap vacation cruise
3. Cruising grounds