I have a dream

[soulesailor]

My dream is to one day live aboard my boat and travel the world, working my way around. I currently live ashore and work for myself as a carpenter doing residential additions/remodels. I hope to take my skills on the road and use them to earn money for the kitty. What do you think are the chances and opportunities of finding carpentry work, either on boats or shoreside construction sites?

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by soulesailor

My dream is to one day live aboard my boat and travel the world, working my way around. I currently live ashore and work for myself as a carpenter doing residential additions/remodels. I hope to take my skills on the road and use them to earn money for the kitty. What do you think are the chances and opportunities of finding carpentry work, either on boats or shoreside construction sites?

Good dream, hope you make it...

However, learn how to work with brick and mortar, because outside the US and Canada, most countries's houses are made of brick and concrete. Specially in Europe..

Wood skills in many European countries will lead to starvation.

Welding/brick/concrete/plaster, OK...

[deniseO30]

My dream too! (heating, air, refridge) But, you have to realize most marinas have a monopoly doing work on others people's boats. They won't take kindly to freelancers Is my guess. It may be an awful lean way to get by, unless you have some real good self markerting skills. Not to mention the morning you go down to get your $ and the boat you just worked on shipped out destination uknown!

[soulesailor]

Masonry skills are also in my arsenal. I used to do a fair amount of wall building and chimney rebuilding, I just didn't think of it as a sailing job opportunity. That would be great, all those tools fit in a little bucket!

[Robby Barlow]

Sounds good, but most live aboards tend to be on a tight budget, so they would probably rather have you do the work for free or in exchange for something (not money). If your kitty depends on you working as you go along - you may not get very far, 'cause there's also a lot of others out there with the same dream (I'll include myself here).
Good luck anyway.

[GySgt]

Difference between a dream and a plan is if you start taking action on it.

[camaraderie]

FWIW...most countries have laws limiting the work foreigners can do and carpentry is not one of the big skills cruisers need so it is tough to do more than supplement your budget with an occasional "below the radar" job. Skills like diesel mechanic, electrician, rigger and refrigeration tech are more in demand among the cruising community and in boatyards that might hire along the way but even for them it is very tough to make "a living" in a foreign country.

A job as ship's carpenter on an old wooden schooner might be a more logical way to see the world under sail.

[HoffaLives]

bearing in mind that some folks do what you are planning on very limited money, and construction pays well. You might be better off earning that kitty at home and spending time abroad until it's time to make more money.

[sailingdog]

I think you're better off making money here...and then saving up to cruise, rather than trying to work your way around the world. As previously pointed out, at least among cruisers, barter is often preferred to paying cash... and most countries do frown on people working without the proper papers.

[Gryzio]

Originally Posted by soulesailor

My dream is to one day live aboard my boat and travel the world, working my way around.

One day I plan to do the same. What I have found. Around the States a person can find a little work here and there. When I help my brother do work on his boat. I live on board and find a few places within walking distance to eat and have a few beers. People always seem to be happy around the ocean and it easy to become friends with people. In conversation people usually ask; "What do you do"? I am a person who has the mentality; if, I can not fix it, I do not buy it. So, I can do a lot of things. I tell these people the area of my expertise as a Jack-of-all-Trades. I have done work for these people (Not because I needed the money at the time, but, as a friend). I save them money and I make a few bucks too. I not sure how this would work in the International scene, but, I feel, there be some times I may make a few Bucks. I look at the fact, I am not limited to only Boats in a marina. Also, I can deal with a Barter System as most the money I will need would be used for what people will give in trade anyway. I can not make a promise, but, this a short on what I know.