All roles/Dual roles/Deckhand / Engineer
Dual roles
Deckhand / Engineer
You work the deck like any deckhand, then go below to keep generators, tenders and systems running. On smaller yachts this dual role is often the difference between a reliable boat and a broken one.
- Department
- Dual roles
- Reports to
- Captain or Chief Engineer
- Yacht size
- 24m to 50m
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,000 per month
What the job is
A Deckhand / Engineer splits the week between the deck and the engine room. On deck you wash down, polish stainless, handle lines, drive tenders and launch water toys. Below, you run daily engine room checks, change filters, log hours and help the engineer or captain with servicing. On a 30m to 45m yacht with six to ten crew, there is rarely room for a full time engineer and a full deck team, so one person covering both is common and valued.
On some boats the captain holds the engineering ticket and you are their hands in the engine room. On others there is a sole engineer and you are their assistant and relief. Either way you learn the systems properly: generators, main engines, watermakers, black and grey water, air conditioning, hydraulics for passerelles and cranes, and outboards on the tenders. When a guest's jet ski will not start or a bilge alarm goes at 02:00, you are often the first one there.
The role suits a practical deckhand who likes tools, or a mechanic who wants a life at sea. It is one of the clearest routes into yacht engineering, because you build sea time and hands on experience while studying for your AEC and MEOL. Captains hiring for it want someone who can do both jobs to a proper standard, not someone who dodges one. Expect long days in season, but more variety than almost any other entry level job on board.
What makes a good one
- Engine room checks and logs
- Basic diesel and outboard servicing
- Tender driving and line handling
- Exterior care and detailing
- Calm fault finding under pressure
A day in the life
- 06:30Engine room rounds before breakfast. Check oil and coolant levels, generator readings, bilges and the watermaker, then fill in the log.
- 07:30Wash down the exterior with the deck team, chamois the windows and set up the aft deck and sunpads before guests wake.
- 09:30Fuel and check the tender and jet skis, then launch the water toys from the swim platform.
- 11:00Drive the tender to take guests ashore for lunch in town. Wait on standby and keep the boat clean.
- 13:30Back on board, change a fuel filter on the generator with the captain and clean out a sea strainer that was flagged in the morning check.
- 15:30Run the toys for the afternoon, spot guests on the seabob and fix a sticking throttle cable on a jet ski.
- 18:00Recover and wash down the toys, rinse outboards with fresh water and stow everything before dinner.
- 20:00Prepare for the overnight move. Help with the anchor, then do pre departure checks on main engines and steering.
- 22:30Final engine room check, log readings and hand over to the night watch.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a Deckhand / Engineer on a 24m to 50m yacht, with food and accommodation included. Charter yachts add tips, typically 10% to 15% of the charter fee shared among crew. Pay rises quickly once you hold AEC 2 or MEOL (Yacht).
- France and Monaco
- €3,000 – 4,200
- Spain
- €3,000 – 4,000
- Italy
- €3,000 – 4,000
- United Kingdom
- £2,600 – 3,600
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,300 – 4,500
- Caribbean
- US$3,300 – 4,500
- UAE
- AED 12,000 – 16,500
- Australia
- A$5,000 – 7,000
- New Zealand
- NZ$5,500 – 7,500
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- AEC 1
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Recommended
- AEC 2
- MEOL (Yacht)
- RYA PWC
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Trade background as a mechanic or electrician
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
- Deckhand
- Deckhand / Engineer
- Engineer / Deckhand
- Third Engineer
- Second Engineer
- Chief Engineer
Deckhand / Engineer jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need engineering experience to get this job?
Not always. Many captains hire a deckhand with AEC 1 and some mechanical background, such as car, bike or outboard work, and train them on board. A trade qualification makes you much easier to place.
Is it more deck or more engineering?
It depends on the boat. In season most days lean towards deck and tenders, with engine room work in the morning, evening and during maintenance periods. Over winter and in yard the balance shifts towards engineering.
Does this role count towards my engineering tickets?
Yes, if your time is properly documented. Keep an engine room record book and make sure the captain or chief engineer signs off your hours, as this sea time supports your MEOL and Y4 applications.