All roles/Deck and Bridge/Lead Deckhand / Senior Deckhand
Deck and Bridge
Lead Deckhand / Senior Deckhand
The lead deckhand is the senior hand on deck, running small teams under the bosun, driving tenders, handling water toys and keeping the yacht's exterior to a guest-ready standard every day.
- Department
- Deck and Bridge
- Reports to
- Bosun / Boatswain
- Yacht size
- 40m to 120m+
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,500 per month
What the job is
A lead deckhand is the most experienced deckhand on the crew and the bosun's right hand. You still wash down, polish stainless and drive tenders, but you also run small teams, check the work of newer deckhands and keep jobs moving when the bosun is busy with the mate. On yachts without a bosun, usually 40m to 55m, you may run the deck day to day under the chief officer.
The work is physical and outdoors. Mornings start with washdowns and setting up the toy deck. Through the day you drive guests in the tender, launch jet skis and seabobs, handle lines when mooring and anchoring, and watch safety around the water. On passage you stand bridge watches with an officer. In the yard or off season you lead maintenance: teak care, caulking, varnish, sanding, small fairing repairs and servicing the water toys.
Captains hire lead deckhands for judgement as much as skill. They want someone who can teach a green deckhand knots and fender work, spot a chafed line before it parts, and hold standards on a 14 hour charter day without being reminded. Most people reach the role after two or three seasons as a deckhand, and use it to build sea time and tickets toward bosun or Officer of the Watch.
What makes a good one
- Tender driving and close-quarters handling
- Leading and training junior deckhands
- Teak, varnish and exterior detailing
- Mooring, anchoring and line handling
- Water toy operation and safety
A day in the life
- 06:30Start the washdown with two deckhands, chamois the windows and dry the teak before guests wake. Check the tender fuel and the lines from overnight.
- 08:00Crew breakfast, then a quick brief with the bosun on the guest plan: beach lunch at Cala Saona and toys after.
- 08:45Launch the tenders and set up the swim platform with the slide, seabobs and paddleboards. Brief the junior deckhand on who watches swimmers.
- 10:30Drive guests ashore in the limo tender, then run the beach setup with an umbrella, cushions and a cool box for the stews.
- 13:00Lunch in shifts. Take the jet ski out with a guest for an hour, staying close and keeping the swim area clear.
- 15:30Recover the toys, rinse them in fresh water and log any damage. Help the bosun weigh anchor and stow fenders for the short move.
- 17:30Med moor stern-to in Ibiza, working the aft lines and passerelle. Wash the salt off the side decks before the evening.
- 20:00Run guests ashore for dinner and stay on tender duty with a radio. Hand over to the night watch once everyone is back aboard.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for a lead deckhand on a 45m to 80m yacht, 2026 market. Charter tips are on top and can add €1,500 to 4,000 a month in a busy season. Larger yachts and those without a bosun pay towards the top.
- France and Monaco
- €3,500 – 4,500
- Spain
- €3,500 – 4,500
- Italy
- €3,500 – 4,500
- United Kingdom
- £3,000 – 3,900
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,800 – 4,900
- Caribbean
- US$3,800 – 4,900
- UAE
- AED 14,000 – 18,000
- Australia
- A$6,000 – 7,700
- New Zealand
- NZ$6,500 – 8,400
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
Recommended
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
- RYA PWC
- Proficiency in Survival Craft
- Advanced Fire Fighting
- Medical First Aid
- PADI Divemaster
Visas
- Schengen
- US B1/B2 or C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
- Junior Deckhand
- Deckhand
- Lead Deckhand / Senior Deckhand
- Bosun / Boatswain
- Third Officer
- Second Officer
- Chief Officer / First Mate
- Yacht Captain
Lead Deckhand / Senior Deckhand jobs open now
Questions crew ask
How much experience do I need to become a lead deckhand?
Usually two to three seasons as a deckhand, with solid tender hours and some yard period work. Captains also look for a reference showing you have trained or supervised newer crew.
Do I need my Yachtmaster to get hired?
Not always, but it is strongly recommended and many larger yachts ask for it. Yachtmaster Offshore plus your EDH puts you on track for the OOW (Yacht) 3000gt.
What is the difference between a lead deckhand and a bosun?
The bosun runs the deck department, plans the work and manages stores and maintenance schedules. The lead deckhand leads on the ground, carrying out that plan with the team and stepping up when the bosun is off.