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Full Time Captain Compensation --- 50 - 60' Yacht in St. Thomas

Discussion in 'Yacht Captains' started by K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016.

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  1. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #1
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    I need some help as I consider a yacht purchase. I am in the early stages of purchasing a yacht and will likely purchase a 50 - 60' Sunseeker, Sea Ray, Azimut, or something of similar quality (2011 - 2015 age range). I am looking to dock the boat in St. Thomas USVI and I am interested in having a full time Captain to run private day trips/ charters (St. Thomas through all of USVI/BVI).

    Any advice on how much a Captain would be compensated for this type of role? I am expecting to pay this person an annual salary and am realistic about the number of monthly trips. I would expect 5 - 10 (max) charters per month in the early years of this project.

    Any guidance on how a person like this would be compensated? I'm open to input.
  2. ychtcptn, Aug 17, 2016
    #2
    ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

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    Not sure about the annual salary for a job like this, but whatever you do make sure they have skin in the game. By this I mean, tie the compensation to the amount of trips they do. Make it worth while for them to drum up business and get trips booked.
    If not, they will find many excuses not to do trips while cashing your checks!
  3. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #3
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    Thanks. That is exactly what we were going to do. We were going to tie salary to the number of trips done per year. So, we were going to treat the Captain as an owner/partner. We were going to start him with a below market salary and let it scale up as they do more charters.

    Is that an easy role to fill? Would a Captain like the idea of being a partner? More importantly, would they work to get more customers?
  4. 101TUG, Aug 17, 2016
    #4
    101TUG

    101TUG Senior Member

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    I can contact a friend in BVI can help you for that, he doing yacht charter in Tortola

    Hugues
  5. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #5
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    That would be great. Thank you. Any insight would be great.
  6. 101TUG, Aug 17, 2016
    #6
    101TUG

    101TUG Senior Member

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    I just made him email but you can contact him directly Luka Timeless Yaching. I know he's now in vacation in Europe, we now in BVI with our boat wonderful place and good timing not boat at this period

    May be see you one day somewhere in caribbean

    Hugues
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 18, 2016
  7. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #7
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    Thank you. Really helpful. Much appreciated. Love the area.
  8. Capt J, Aug 17, 2016
    #8
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I would pay the Captain something like a standard salary, say $1k per foot per year plus living expenses if he lives aboard, and then a bonus for each day there are charter guests on board like $100 per day. Keep in mind you're also going to need a mate or stewardess that can help with the lines with charter guests on board.
  9. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #9
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    Thanks. This is helpful.
  10. Pascal, Aug 17, 2016
    #10
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I think it s a good plan. On the 70'i used to run I would bill the owner by the day for maintenance and owners trip and we d get 20% of the charter fees for charter work (both of us) It worked out pretty good. Do you need this kind of incentive? Not sure. The charter tips are a good incentive anyway...
  11. K Campbell, Aug 17, 2016
    #11
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    Thank you. Really helpful.
  12. RichardG, Aug 30, 2016
    #12
    RichardG

    RichardG New Member

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    I do chart trips from Puerto Banus, Spain for the season (June - August) on a Ferretti 80. I agree with Capt J but depending on the number of guests you might need extra help to serve them (food/drinks). But the bonus has to be base on the number of guests or just tips. You might leave it open to negotiation as you both go about...
  13. K Campbell, Aug 30, 2016
    #13
    K Campbell

    K Campbell New Member

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    Thank you. This is really helpful.

    Kevin
  14. Capt J, Aug 31, 2016
    #14
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes, but you cannot depend on tips. You can provide some idiot charter guests impeccable service, and they will never tip because they don't know any better.
  15. K1W1, Aug 31, 2016
    #15
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Ain't that the truth. I have chated with a Captain on a large yacht in the Med this summer who had a very HNWI onboard who would be known to many who said he and his family had the best time ever and left without leaving a cent gratuity.
  16. Pascal, Aug 31, 2016
    #16
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I look at the average... Yes there are a few guests tip the bare minimum even though they ahd a great time or we had to go beyond the "regular" service but there are some who tip well over 20%. I think over the years we have averaged around 20% so I don't loose sleep over the few cheapos.
  17. olderboater, Aug 31, 2016
    #17
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    The charter service we used before purchasing made it very clear tips were expected and, if anyone objected, they'd just increase the price a little. If someone got a reputation for not tipping, they didn't go on a black list, but a very grey one.
  18. Pascal, Aug 31, 2016
    #18
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Actually some brokers don't and end up on captains grey lists... The two worst tips we ever got were thru the same broker.

    Bottom line is that in a charter operation it s reasonable to assume will get tips where figuring out salaries and bonuses
  19. K1W1, Jan 16, 2017
    #19
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    I know this boat is 15ft bigger than the one in this thread but this just popped up in a FB Gp someone showed me. Looking for local to South Florida Captain/Engineer for a 75 foot motor yacht as an only permanent crew. Please only apply if you are experienced in engineering, local to South Florida and currently do reside around Fort Lauderdale. Salary is $4,000 a month. Please specify that you are applying for a job # 617-C/8.

    It does not seem like a $1000 per foot per year to me
  20. olderboater, Jan 16, 2017
    #20
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    That is really sad. On the salary guides and charts I have, that is listed as the lower end of a Captain on a 60 to 100' boat, with the range shown as $4k to $8k. It's also in range for an unlicensed engineer. I don't know a captain or engineer who would consider that rate. Now, perhaps there are some gold clad benefits that come along with the salary, but somehow I doubt it. Where did you see that ad?
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