The deck department's working supervisor — part mechanic, part team lead.
Photo: Zoshua Colah / Unsplash
The bosun (boatswain) runs the day-to-day deck programme: organising maintenance schedules, briefing deckhands, overseeing tender and toy upkeep, and acting as the hands-on link between the deckhands and the officers. It's usually the first supervisory step after a few seasons as a deckhand.
What the job actually involves
Planning and delegating the daily and weekly maintenance schedule
Training and supervising junior deckhands
Overseeing the condition and servicing of tenders, toys and deck equipment
Coordinating line handling and anchoring with the bridge
Ordering deck stores and managing the deck budget
Getting hired
Several years of deckhand experience, usually across more than one yacht
STCW Basic Safety Training and a valid ENG1
Powerboat Level 2, and often a PWC (jet ski) qualification
A Yachtmaster or similar certificate of competence is common at this level, along with a first-aid or PSSR-related course
Typical pay
Bosuns typically earn in the €3,500–€6,000 per month range, depending on yacht size, itinerary and experience, though this varies widely.
