Tender Driver / Tender Operator

A tender driver runs the yacht's tenders, moving guests, crew and stores safely between yacht and shore. Every guest's first and last impression of a day ashore often happens in your boat.

See Tender Driver / Tender Operator jobs Register as crew

Department: Deck and Bridge
Reports to: Bosun / Boatswain
Yacht size: 50m to 150m+
Contract: Seasonal or permanent
Starting pay: €3,000 per month

What the job is

On larger yachts the tenders carry most of the guest programme. You drive the limousine tender to the quay for dinner reservations, run the open tender to beach clubs and towing toys, and shuttle crew and provisions at the end of the day. On smaller yachts the role is folded into Deckhand / Tender Driver, but from about 50m upwards many captains want one person whose first job is the boats.

Driving is only part of it. You own the tenders: daily checks, fuel, cleaning, fenders, lines, safety kit and the logbook. You plan runs against weather, swell and harbour rules, know where to land in Monaco, St Tropez or Porto Cervo, and brief guests on lifejackets and boarding. Smooth, dry rides matter. A wet dress or a hard landing on a stone quay is remembered by the owner.

When the tenders are not running you work as a deckhand. That means washdowns, polishing stainless, launching and recovering boats with the crane or garage, line handling when the yacht moors stern to, and night watches. You take radio instructions from the bridge, stay on standby during guest dinners ashore, and often wait hours at a quay ready to leave in minutes. Patience and good judgement count as much as boat handling.

What makes a good one

Precise close quarters boat handling
Reading weather, swell and harbour traffic
Calm guest handling and briefing
Basic outboard and jet drive care
Clear VHF and radio discipline

A day in the life

Aerial view of a yacht and its wake — A charter day, 65m motor yacht at anchor off Cap Ferrat

06:30Morning washdown of the tenders and swim platform with the deck team. Wipe seats, dry cushions and check the overnight mooring lines.
07:30Daily tender checks: engine oil, fuel levels, bilges, kill cords, VHF, lifejackets and flares. Log hours and anything that needs the engineers.
09:00Run a crew member ashore for fresh provisions and the morning flowers. Collect a parcel from the yacht agent on the quay at Beaulieu.
11:00Launch the open tender with the water toys. Tow guests on the inflatable, then stand by while the children use the Seabobs inside the swim zone.
13:30Take six guests in the limousine tender to a beach club lunch in Villefranche. Brief them on boarding, land gently and confirm a pickup time by radio.
15:00Back on board, refuel from the yacht's fuel station, rinse the tender and help the deck team polish stainless on the bow.
17:30Collect the lunch party, then change into evening uniform. Prepare the limousine tender with towels, chilled water and dry cushions.
20:00Run guests into Monaco for dinner. Wait on standby at the quay, phone and VHF on, ready to leave as soon as the chief steward calls.
23:45Return guests to the yacht, recover the tender into the garage with the deck crew, secure it and hand over to the night watch.

Pay by country

Monthly salary for a dedicated tender driver on a 50m to 80m yacht, higher on larger yachts and with experience. Charter yachts usually add tips, often 5 to 15% of the charter fee shared across the crew.

France and Monaco: €3,000 – 4,000
Spain: €3,000 – 3,900
Italy: €3,000 – 3,900
United Kingdom: £2,600 – 3,500
USA (Florida): US$3,300 – 4,400
Caribbean: US$3,300 – 4,400
UAE: AED 12,000 – 16,000
Australia: A$5,000 – 6,700
New Zealand: NZ$5,500 – 7,400

Required

STCW Basic Safety Training
ENG1 medical
PDSD
RYA Powerboat Level 2 (commercially endorsed)

Visas

Schengen visa (non EU nationals)
US C1/D crew visa
US B1/B2
Australian MCV for Australian cruising

Where it leads