Curiosity About These "Crew Wanted" Posts

DRFerron · #1 06-19-2012

My curiosity is getting the best of me.

In reality, how many inexperienced people find crew positions from posting here (or any forum) and if you are a skipper, do you really look in these forums for inexperienced crew? If a potential crew member has never sailed or only sailed a few hours on a local lake, do you really want to take a chance that you get an inexperienced person offshore and they become violently sea sick? Or suddenly decide that sailing isn't for them and wig out?

I know you have to start somewhere, but it seems to me that cultivating a relationship over a few months would be a better bet than taking on total strangers (whether skipper or crew).

Just thinking out loud.

Dog Ship · #2 06-19-2012

Personally, I would rather have an inexperienced crew that I get along with rather than a crew member who has experience and I don't like. You can always teach someone how to sail but you can't teach someone to get along with everyone else.

DRFerron · #3 06-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Ship

Personally, I would rather have an inexperienced crew that I get along with rather than a crew member who has experience and I don't like. You can always teach someone how to sail but you can't teach someone to get along with everyone else.

OK, I get that. But unless you get to know the person, which you really can't if you're leaving in say a week (and there have been requests for immediate crew needs), how do you know before you get to the point where you're ready to hide the body?

I guess it's just a chance you take if you go that route.

Dog Ship · #4 06-19-2012

Well in short, you can't.
I look at crew lists locally for weekend racing. I will try to get a name and then I do my home work.
I don't know about the US but here in BC criminal records are public so that's a good place to start. Facebook is also a good place to get an impression of someone too. Google there name, you would be surprized at what comes up. As an employer I find a little bit of foot work can avoid problems down the road.
Or just call them fish bait.

blowinstink · #5 06-19-2012

I had tons of responses to my crew wanted posting. A few might have worked out if there'd been more time. Many were simply way off target. I imagine for someone who really wants to crew and who presents themselves well, it wouldn't be difficult to hook up with a boat. The feedback I've heard from skippers is a bit more mixed -- they seem to get plenty of responses (as I did) but not many are acceptable and those that seem to be are still hit or miss when it comes time to get on the boat.

Stumble · #6 06-19-2012

I haven't used a board to fill out a crew roster, though I have gotten jobs from them before. I think for professionals it is a good tool to get your resume out, and certifications and experience ad easy to check out.

For the inexperienced, I doent really know. I usually start filling out a crew by looking for watch captains first, then ask if they have any friends they would like to bring along. In addition to the people on my list. I also keep a spreadsheet with past crew members, how they did, and contact info.

Even if I don't get enough people from my list, I can almost always get enough recomendations from people I trust to not worry about looking for crew off a message board. For short trips though I have thought about trying it just to offer someone new to sailing the oportunity.

CapnBilll · #7 06-19-2012

I haven't gotten a real big response rate, but then there aren't many sailnet members in my local. I have made contact with a couple of locals though, and expect a sail with them when schedules and weather cooperate.

After meeting online a personal meeting in a neutral place like a local coffee shop allows you to get to know them a little before going out to sea.

Capt Len · #8 06-19-2012

It usually takes 3 or 4 days at sea before murder becomes a rational and tempting option. Solution to compatible crew is shorter trips while still mellow.

capttb · #9 06-19-2012

Quote:

do you really want to take a chance that you get an inexperienced person offshore and they become violently sea sick? Or suddenly decide that sailing isn't for them and wig out?

I once had both, at the same time, from supposed experienced sailors so maybe someone willing to admit to inexperience might be just as reliable. The ex yacht club commodore I'd known for years got deathly sick, and his experienced friend was not much help when we got hit by a little gale, they hadn't ever been caught in a nasty way at sea before.
When you tell people "We ain't gonna die but it's gonna be real uncomfortable for a day or so" some will believe you, some will believe you in a few hours and some never will.

Stumble · #10 06-19-2012

Meh,

Tracy Edwards (first female Whitbread skipper) was notorious for getting sea sick.

Ian Walker (Abu Dhabi Open 70 skipper) gets sea sick.

The question is does it incapacitate you, or do you just push through it anyway. Some crew get a little quezy and refuse to do anything from there on out, others just puke from the rail and get on with it.

This is why I think it is so important to know people personally before setting off on a long trip. The longer, the more I want to know them ahead of time.