Crew Wanted: Checklist For Voluntary Crew

[s/v Beth]

We keep the 10 commandments in my home and on my boat. If someone cannot do that they would be unhappy sailing with us anyhow. That and no smoking and drinking. And we still manage to have a blast. Go figure.

[Jammer Six]

Which commandment is it that prevents sex, and how do you stop folks from saying "god"?

[Jammer Six]

My latest conclusion for the subject of this thread is to check and see which version of the commandments the skipper is using.

[a64pilot]

Geez guys, it's his boat, whats wrong with him setting a few rules that he considers to be good rules and in the keeping of morale?
You don't like the rules, don't get on his boat, what can be easier than that?
But you have no right to pass judgment on his beliefs, anymore than he, yours

[UnExCorp]

You know, listening to all these stories is quite fascinating -Giving, that, not so very long-ago, if you needed crew, you had to Shanghai someone -and, this practice prevailed, I do believe, for most of Sailing history -Today! "we're" only looking for those whom are the best fit -For That Of Us!

Yes! all quite different -also, given, that Shipping/Sailing, was the Only way/before that of Trains, Horses and Covered-wagons, that once could move/cover great distances!

Now, its "Is he the Right one!" To be perfectly honest, "they Made them, the men! Into that of the Right Ones!" "They, the captains! They weren't asking -they we're Telling!!

[su2014]

Originally Posted by la vida nueva

If you were looking to crew on a sailboat for open ocean passages, what would be on your safety checklist as you decide whether a particular yacht was a safe bet? What questions would you ask the skipper? Also interested in the flip, what would you look for or ask of your crew?

as per OP question"open ocean passages". simply put i would background check with an attorney and/or police of crews own homeland. no-one wants a mental case on an open water crossing. secondly i would want "verifiable experiance "as days and nights offshore is not a simple overnight to the next port. unless you are charging money to teach someone overnight "watch" skills i would not sleep soundly just leaving some "newbie" at the helm while i rested. perhaps that is just me. fairwinds and godspeed.

[Underdog]

If personality doesn't seem warped, I think you can use the 'All Is Lost' test and ask any potential crew what they thought of the movie. That would pretty much weed out the numbnuts.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by su2014

as per OP question"open ocean passages". simply put i would background check with an attorney and/or police of crews own homeland. no-one wants a mental case on an open water crossing. secondly i would want "verifiable experiance "as days and nights offshore is not a simple overnight to the next port. unless you are charging money to teach someone overnight "watch" skills i would not sleep soundly just leaving some "newbie" at the helm while i rested. perhaps that is just me. fairwinds and godspeed.

I have interviewed over a thousand candidates and employed more than a hundred of employees from secretary to MD and Ph.D. in my career. With his sailing resume, a couple email exchanges and a phone call, I pretty much can tell if I want him be my crew. This is followed by a talk with a random pick of captain he has served. That is all I need to seal the deal.

I am pretty good in judging people's character. Being a captain, the most important requirement is the ability to lead. There are no bad dogs, but bad owners. There are no bad employees, but bad employers.

[Jammer Six]

Originally Posted by rockDAWG

There are no bad employees, but bad employers.

You clearly haven't met my employees. I can set up a meeting with the worst of them, if you can pass the background check to get into a super max.

[dbraymer]

Interesting, I am about to advertise and then vet a crew. I have experience in doing this, and it still seems to be a hit or miss deal. Sailing does not build character. Sailing REVEALS character.
I think a sailing resume is helpfull. I think camping is something similar which could be considered. cruising is not racing and vice versa. consider who can cook, and who can speak the local languages.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by dbraymer

Interesting, I am about to advertise and then vet a crew. I have experience in doing this, and it still seems to be a hit or miss deal. Sailing does not build character. Sailing REVEALS character.
I think a sailing resume is helpfull. I think camping is something similar which could be considered. cruising is not racing and vice versa. consider who can cook, and who can speak the local languages.

I would be more worried about who can work while under adverse conditions (sick). I do like what you said about character. I've seen alot of interesting characters revealed under sail. Including some pretty good ones

BTW, if any members of my former crews end up on your boat: shoot me a line.

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by la vida nueva

If you were looking to crew on a sailboat for open ocean passages, what would be on your safety checklist as you decide whether a particular yacht was a safe bet? What questions would you ask the skipper? Also interested in the flip, what would you look for or ask of your crew?

As a "Green skipper" it has been very interesting reading both sides here.

Thanks for the thread.

G2L

[dbraymer]

Number 1, after teaching sailing for 10 years; The greatest factor in vessel safety is operational expertise. An extremely long list of safety equipment is not as valuable as a watch schedule. I have seen a nearly new 45 foot sailboat wrecked on an early voyage, completely filled with the finest equipment, the autopilot hit one of the oil platforms outside Long Beach LA harbor. So figure out if people have some experience at sea, or in a simple but similar activity, like hiking or camping.

Number 2, patience in dealing with people; on a vessel, people with short fuses are a problem. I ask for a sailing resume of potential crew. If someone does not have the time to type up a one pager, how diligent will they be in the middle of the night when a fix is supposed to be entered into the log, and a dot put onto the chart.

I guess I am actually taking about judging people, not boats or equipment.

[carstenb]

Back when I used to hire management types, I always took them out to dinner. One to see how thye treated the waters, two to see how they controlled their drinking and three to see how they ate their food in a modestly stressful situation.

If they treated the staff politely and well, were reasonably relaxed eating and were able to sip their wine etc without going overboard - they worked out.

We like to find out just how experienced and capable a crew is - a few questions can usually tell us just how much a person knows.

This goes the other way with interviewing skippers also.

We sail a dry boat when on the water (the exception being if we are motoring in dead calm - then we allow 1 glass of wine or 1 beer with lunch or dinner). We do this because if things turn nasty - we don't need the effects of alcohol hindering us in managing the baot.

I ocassionally(4, maybe 5 times per year) smoke a cigar in the cockpit when at anchor or in a marina (I happy to sit downwind of everyone else). I can skip the cigar if someone doesn't like it.

No drugs unless they truly are for medicinal purposes.

Once at anchor or in the marina - well, we enjoy G&T's, and wine.

We reserve the right to put anyone ashore we feel doesn't belong on the boat

[jackwantstosail]

This is a GREAT question. Thanks for identifying problems before they happen.