Cost of a crew for an 80 foot yacht

It's going to be a wide range of costs. Typically for an 80' boat, you'd have a crew of 2 or 3 people. The salaries could run from $110k to $200k. Then add 15-20% for fringe benefits including taxes and insurance. So a total of $130-240k.

On top of that you may have other related expenses.

Are you asking about F/T crew, P/T crew or per diem crew? Do you need a chef? Will your crew be doing the washes, etc. or will you be hiring a service? I ran several boats around this size on a per diem basis. The owners and their family would generally be my crew for docking etc. For F/T crew a boat of this size will often have a husband & wife team. So you see there are a lot of variables. Depending on your needs and desires the cost could run anywhere from less than $1,000 each day you cruise to the numbers Olderboater stated. Very often with the boats I ran I was treated as family, and so would be included in meals and shore excursions

Crew travel, crew meals, crew uniforms if you use them, crew supplies, potentially crew lodging (boat in yard in distant location and so crew has to stay in hotel), crew covid testing for trips. Those are just some examples.

You do realize you're commenting on the value of the services of about half the members here?

We employee crew and best money we spend. I realize it's not affordable for all as boating isn't affordable for the majority. But for one's blood to boil if it's something they could afford strikes me as a bit much. Do you ever fly? Does your blood boil at what the pilots make? It's a profession that deserves reasonable compensation. What about business executives? Much of life is about how and where we spend out money. When younger we saved and spent little we didn't need to, although we still had a boat. Now, in retirement, we spend on things that make our life better and boat crew is sure a big part of that.

Haha. OB- way to watch out for the pros. That being said, this doesn't offend me. I get that professional crew isn't needed for every boat and every situation. Truthfully, I'd rather the folks who's blood boils at the thought stay in their budget and size-range. Having an owner who resents costs isn't good for anyone who's involved with the situation.
Personally- I'm happy to pay $100/week to the kid that washes my personal boat. That's what fits in my budget.

I'm not offended either but then it's not my profession. Just we offend take offense at what professions earn. Take a group like lawyers but sure are valuable if needed.

You're so right about an owner who resents the costs and tries to scrimp. It's like any business owner or executive, the people making $300k a year fighting about $15 an hour.

And it didn't cause you palpitations to buy a B.O.A.T.? lol. As someone who earned his living on boats I'm not at all offended btw. I love seeing and helping people save their hard earned bucks, but most of those I worked for paid me well upwards of 150% of what I charged. So I can't really remember anyone grumbling about what I cost. Personally I consider big boats a big life complication with little reward since most spend most of their lives tied to a dock. Besides crew cost just coordinating with crew is a complication. I like smaller boats cause, besides the costs, just having to coordinate schedules with a crew is a pain unless you have them F/T and on call. I like to see the weather when I wake up and then decide then if it's a boating day. Most of my summer schedule was booked up by February. Not how I'd like to boat if I were an owner.

All true, but the tag line of the forum is "We know Big Boats" ( even if mine is barely mid size) ! BTW I think hat 4349 was just referring to his general inclination to not spend money on things without a financial return, even though he obviously does. A bit of self deprecation more than criticism of the cost of able crew and services.

It opened things up for a response, didn't mean any of us were offended. It also led to starting a thread on the subject of cost of yacht crew.

Not offended either, I am worth every penny..

I have seen both sides being an owner and a Captain, and I hire guys to work for me all the time, divers, detail guys, specialists in systems, etc.
Rarely had to hire a Captain or a Mate, but be happy to if I want to drink rather than drive.
(I keep getting the occasional request for Captain Services, but always turn it down, instead posting on a web site for local Captains and get 15-20 responses from young and hungry Captains needing to make $300-$400 in a day to make ends meet. Probably sharp and hard working guys, if I get too many charter requests I just may hire one of those guys. All good)

So I am considering getting a larger maybe 70 Hatteras MY leaving FT Laud area. Capable of running fixing etc. myself but like the idea of having a capt to do these things so I can enjoy the trip and the fruits of his experience places to stop etc. on the way to the Virgin islands. On this type of extended trip how would one pay a captain. How long of a trip would it be doing it casually ?

Typical rate would be $400-500 per day. Most captains also will not run without a mate.

That’s a long trip. I see captain rates a 300 -450 a day. And of course there is room to discount if you are doing an extended period. I would interview well and if you have time, hire your favorite for a day each on the boat. Even if just at the dock you ll get a sense of skills and more importantly who you enjoy being with.

Add on a stew for 200-300 a day that can prep light meals, handle lines, etc. Now your yachting! Lol.