All roles/Deck and Bridge/Tender Captain
Deck and Bridge
Tender Captain
The Tender Captain drives and maintains the yacht's tenders, moving guests, crew and stores safely between ship and shore. Every landing reflects on the yacht, so their boat handling, timing and judgement must be faultless.
- Department
- Deck and Bridge
- Reports to
- Bosun / Boatswain
- Yacht size
- 60m to 150m+
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €4,000 per month
What the job is
On larger yachts the tenders are run as a small fleet, and the Tender Captain is the person who drives them. You run the limousine tender for guest transfers, the open tender for beach trips and water sports, and often a chase boat on passage. You plan each run around weather, swell and port rules, brief the crew handling lines, and land guests dry and on time. Most guests see more of you than of the captain.
Off the water you own the boats. You keep a maintenance log for each tender, change oil and impellers, flush engines after every day in salt water, check fuel, and keep upholstery, teak and stainless spotless. You work with the engineers on bigger jobs and know how the launch and recovery systems work, whether a crane, a davit or a stern garage door. Safety kit, flares, radios and first aid bags on every tender are your responsibility.
You sit in the deck team under the Bosun and take direction from the Chief Officer and Captain on operations. On charter the hours are long and the timings change by the minute, so you keep a radio on, stay sober and stay ready. Expect early shore runs for provisions, late pickups from restaurants and nightclubs, and the odd night tied up at a dock waiting for guests. The rest of the time you work as a senior deckhand.
What makes a good one
- Precise close quarters boat handling
- Reading weather, swell and landings
- Outboard and inboard engine maintenance
- Calm, discreet guest manner
- Clear radio and team communication
A day in the life
- 06:30Check the overnight weather and swell forecast, then start and warm up both tenders. Walk round each boat checking fuel, bilges, safety kit and radios.
- 07:30Run the chef and a stew ashore for fresh fish and bread. Collect a parcel delivery from the agent at the fuel dock on the way back.
- 09:00Wash down and dry the limousine tender, wipe the glass and lay fresh towels and chilled water. Brief the deckhands on lines and fenders for the boarding platform.
- 10:30Take six guests to Cala di Volpe for a beach lunch. Radio the bridge on departure and arrival and agree the pickup time with the chief stew.
- 12:00Back on board, help launch the jet skis and Seabobs from the garage. Stand by in the open tender as safety boat while guests ride.
- 15:30Recover the toys and flush their engines. Collect the beach party early because the afternoon breeze has picked up, choosing a sheltered landing.
- 17:00Freshwater flush both tender engines, check the impeller on the open tender and log engine hours and fuel used.
- 20:30Run guests into Porto Cervo for dinner, then wait at the quay with the boat ready. Keep the radio on and stay in contact with the bridge.
- 00:45Bring the last guests home in calm water, secure the tender alongside and hand over to the night watch before turning in.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for crew on yachts of 60m to 100m. Larger yachts and those with heavy charter programmes pay at the top of the range. Charter tips are usually 10 to 15 per cent of the charter fee shared across the crew and can add a month's pay or more per season.
- France and Monaco
- €4,000 – 5,500
- Spain
- €4,000 – 5,400
- Italy
- €4,000 – 5,400
- United Kingdom
- £3,400 – 4,700
- USA (Florida)
- US$4,400 – 6,000
- Caribbean
- US$4,400 – 6,000
- UAE
- AED 16,000 – 22,000
- Australia
- A$6,800 – 9,300
- New Zealand
- NZ$7,400 – 10,000
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Advanced Powerboat
- RYA VHF SRC
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Recommended
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
- RYA PWC
- RYA Diesel Engine course
- Proficiency in Survival Craft
- Medical First Aid
- Advanced Fire Fighting
Visas
- Schengen
- US B1/B2
- C1/D
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Tender Captain jobs open now
Questions crew ask
What is the difference between a Tender Driver and a Tender Captain?
A Tender Driver is usually a deckhand who drives the tenders as part of wider deck work. A Tender Captain is a dedicated senior role on larger yachts, responsible for the whole tender fleet, its maintenance and planning, and normally holds Yachtmaster Offshore.
Do I need Yachtmaster Offshore for this job?
Most yachts of 70m and over expect it, often with a commercial endorsement, because tenders may run offshore or as chase boats. Some smaller yachts will hire on RYA Advanced Powerboat with strong experience, but Yachtmaster makes you far easier to place.
Will I only drive boats?
No. When the tenders are not running you work on deck with the rest of the team, washing down, varnishing, handling lines and helping with water toys. Expect to be the deck crew member who knows the tenders best.