All roles/Deck and Bridge/Deckhand / Carpenter
Deck and Bridge
Deckhand / Carpenter
A full deck crew member who also looks after the yacht's teak, brightwork and interior joinery, fixing wood damage on board so the yacht stays at owner standard without waiting for contractors.
- Department
- Deck and Bridge
- Reports to
- Bosun / Boatswain
- Yacht size
- 50m to 150m+
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,500 per month
What the job is
A Deckhand / Carpenter is a full member of the deck team who also carries the yacht's woodwork. You stand watches, wash down, drive tenders and handle lines like any deckhand. On top of that, you look after the teak decks, caulking, cappings and varnished brightwork, and you repair the interior joinery that takes a beating from guests, crew and sea motion. Larger yachts value this because a good carpenter on board saves weeks of contractor time and thousands in yard bills.
The woodwork ranges from routine to fine. Routine means re-caulking seams, replacing lifted plugs, sanding and oiling handrails, and refitting hinges and drawer runners that work loose at sea. Fine means matching veneer on a chipped bulkhead panel, building a custom storage box for the lazarette, or making a step for the owner's dog. You need your own hand tools, an eye for the yacht's finish standard and the judgement to know when a job needs the original builder's joiner.
The role suits a trained joiner or boatbuilder who wants to go to sea, or a deckhand who has learned carpentry in refit yards. Captains hire for it on yachts from around 50m upwards, where the teak area and interior joinery justify the skill. During charter you are mostly a deckhand. The carpentry fills the gaps between guest trips, the winter maintenance period and the refit, when you often work alongside yard joiners and check their work for the captain.
What makes a good one
- Teak deck caulking and plugging
- Fine interior joinery repair
- Varnish and oil finishes
- Tender driving and line handling
- Neat, clean working around guests
A day in the life
- 07:00Deck meeting with the bosun over coffee. The plan is a full wash down, then two days to clear the snag list before the next guests arrive.
- 07:30Wash down the upper decks and sundeck with the team, chamoising the glass and stainless before the sun gets on it.
- 09:30Walk the teak with the bosun, marking lifted plugs and a split caulking seam near the aft deck bar with tape.
- 10:00Rake out the damaged seam, prime it and lay fresh caulking, masking carefully so nothing gets on the surrounding teak.
- 12:30Crew lunch in the mess, then a quick check on a stewardess's note about a guest cabin drawer that sticks.
- 13:30In the guest cabin with drop sheets down, remove the drawer, reset the runner and touch up a scuff on the lacquered fascia to match.
- 15:30Back on deck to plug and trim the marked holes, then sand and oil a section of cap rail on the bow.
- 17:00Help the team bring the tender alongside and refuel it for the morning, then clean tools and log the joinery jobs for the bosun.
- 18:00Sand the cured caulking seam flush and give the deck a final rinse. Off watch at 19:00 unless you are on the night roster.
Pay by country
Monthly crew salary on yachts of 50m to 100m, paid in EUR or USD whatever the flag. Carpentry skill adds roughly €300 to 800 over a standard deckhand. Charter tips are extra and can add one to two months' pay per season.
- France and Monaco
- €3,500 – 4,800
- Spain
- €3,500 – 4,800
- Italy
- €3,500 – 4,800
- United Kingdom
- £3,000 – 4,100
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,800 – 5,200
- Caribbean
- US$3,800 – 5,200
- UAE
- AED 14,000 – 19,000
- Australia
- A$5,800 – 8,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$6,400 – 8,700
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Carpentry or joinery trade qualification or proven experience
Recommended
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
- RYA PWC
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
- Proficiency in Survival Craft
- Medical First Aid
- Advanced Fire Fighting
Visas
- Schengen visa (for non EU crew in the Mediterranean)
- US C1/D crew visa
- US B1/B2
- Australian MCV for yachts cruising Australia
Where it leads
Deckhand / Carpenter jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need a formal carpentry qualification?
A trade qualification such as a joinery or boatbuilding apprenticeship helps you get shortlisted, but captains also hire on proven refit yard or high end joinery experience. Bring photos of your work to interviews.
Do I bring my own tools?
Usually yes for hand tools and small power tools, as most yachts only carry a basic workshop. Keep the kit compact and agree with the captain before joining what the yacht will supply.
Will I be doing carpentry all the time?
No. During charter you work as a deckhand first, on watches, tenders and wash downs. Most of the joinery happens between trips, in the off season and during refit.