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Yacht Captains & Crew

Our captains are available upon request and if we happen to be fully committed for any reason, not to worry, we work with a network of some of the best captains and crew in the area with a ton of local knowledge. We’ll even help you find someone in the Bahamas and Caribbean who’s available for anything from yacht deliveries, trips to the Bahamas or day trips around beautiful South Florida. We offer captain services as a part of every management program at an industry standard rate so you can spend more time with your guests and family without the worry of driving the boat! We also provide stewardess and deckhands for servings cocktails and handling lines and fenders.

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Our captain rates are $500 per day.  Contact us now for more information.

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We can also provide Stews and Deckhands if you are the owner/operator that just needs a hand with lines and fenders or someone to serve food and drinks! These rates vary upon needs and experience.

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YMS can place crew for your yacht at an industry standard rate. Please contact for more information.

Marine News from the Great Lakes

Move your boat hassle-free with yacht captain 4 hire.

Published: Friday, May 13, 2022 12:00 pm By: Nicole Tatum

  Ahoy boaters, cheers to spring and bringing your boat home!

I was contacted by someone who purchased their new boat in Connecticut, 2,000 nm’s to get her home for this summer’s use. When the owner considered booking with my business, Yacht Captain 4 Hire , his biggest concern was the St. Lawrence Seaway would not open for 2 more months, and he needed to get her home for preparations for all the summer outings. I listened and said let me see what I can do. I was able to work with the right contacts obtaining a special permissions passage for delivery of their new vessel pre-season. Let’s just say we gathered approval from almost 20 persons in the Seaway to do this trip. With that said we were on our way with our crew of 5 to bring her home.

Whether it is for a boat owner, crew, or us being contracted to deliver a vessel - one of the things Yacht Captain 4 Hire specializes in is what is takes to move a vessel through various countries and waterways by relationships with necessary approvals to do so. If you are planning to transit new areas I can help you with documents for approval, customs and immigration procedures and document’s, fees and paperwork for certain passages, fuel deliveries/stops, dockage or landings to fuel/provision for a touch and go, additional crew experienced in these areas and certified to work on vessels of larger size if needed, transportation and logistics of crew/parts/uncommon requests, etc. I can streamline it all for you based around your needs .

Transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway is an epic passage to get your boat to the Great Lakes. Some come for the summer and some stay but the whole experience is like no other. There can be many lobster or crab pots out, there can still be ice and snow in the distance atop the several ski resorts hills. There can be a few icebergs still floating through. For our trip we went from dodging lobster pots to dodging iceberg's. Throughout this the sea life of sea lions (which I call a sea dog after seeing how they pick their head up and watch the boat drive by like a lab dog) and whales, many various light houses, many local fishing boats, and shore side views are gorgeous. If you have time and wish to stop into some of these towns and cities you will be full of rich culture and history, great food, and drinks, and wonderful museums and hikes. I was even taking in and given a Canadian Thanksgiving experience while I was in port last year, everyone is so nice. Two dishes I had pleasure to experience with local seafoods are the Canadian seafood poutine and had a homemade Nova Scotian chowder for another home visit we were offered and take in for. On top of the generosity ashore depending on which route you take around Price Edward Island you can view the rare Northern Gannet bird's native to only that area and take your boat right by the Perce Rock - is one of the natural wonders of the world being one of the largest arches over the water. My favorite town to see is Peggy’s Cove and my favorite hike is to Cape Split followed by a traditional lobster dinner on the Bay of Fundy experiencing the largest tide range in the world that can be 52’ at times. You can see the tide move in and out incredibly fast.

Of course, how could you fit in to an article the real experience? I can tell you if you wish for me to take you and your boat here, I can take you to all the spots to experience the trip of a lifetime.

tags: Beyond the Great Lakes , Service , Vessel Documentation , Yacht

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Our US Coast Guard Licensed Yacht Captains specialize in both motor yachts and sail boats are available for boat deliveries and yacht deliveries on the Pacific Coast of the North American continent from Alaska to Panama and everywhere in between.

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Welcome to Seabound Yacht Services. If you are in need of a professional licensed captain to relocate your power or sailing vessel, you have come to the right place. Our team of experienced captains is dedicated to ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of your vessel, with a commitment to excellence in every aspect of our work. Trust us to deliver your yacht with the highest level of professionalism and care, no matter the distance or location.

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How To Hire The Right Yacht Captain

By Rob Bowman | Posted On Feb 25, 2021 Updated On Dec 12, 2023

"Hiring the right captain and crew for your yacht is the single most important thing you can do when it comes to enjoying your time on board," said Captain Jeff Palmer, longtime motor yacht captain turned professional yacht broker. "Especially for first time yacht buyers, the captain can really make or break the experience."

The reason people purchase a motor yacht is to enjoy their free time, relax in a stress-free environment, and to share this moment with their loved ones. When everything from the perfect weather, to the right destination, and the synergy among your guests is all aligned, the feeling is indescribable. It doesn't take but one mistake from the captain or a difficult crew member to put a damper on your plans. In extreme cases, hiring the wrong captain could even result in damage to your yacht, whether aesthetic or mechanical.

So where does a new yacht owner turn when hiring a captain? United Yacht Sales spoke with 3 longtime motor yacht captains to get their advice on what new buyers should do, as well as longtime owners looking to make a change.

Captain Ken Gibson

Captain Ken Gibson has seen it all. Since 1981 when he first got his captain's license, Ken has been both a captain for private owners setting out on month-long voyages to tropical destinations and for charter yachts earning income as a business. Ken has over 1 million miles on the water. He is currently in charge of a 136' Horizon Yacht that was sold in 2020 by United Yacht Sales broker Greg Graham . One advantage of working with a professional yacht broker is the referral of a reputable captain that broker knows and trusts.

Known for being very thorough and detail-oriented, Captain Ken spent 24 years in the Coast Guard and retired as a Commanding Officer based at the station in Fire Island, New York. His training has given him the skills needed to properly manage a crew and a yacht simultaneously. "I run the crew on board like a team," said Captain Ken. "Everyone on board has everyone's backs. Everything good and bad that happens on the boat comes through me and I am responsible for being the communication to the owner. A chain of command and a structure is very important when managing a large yacht. Good crew appreciate that structure as well"

He continued on the advantages of hiring the captain first and allowing that captain to hire the right crew members. "I don't take a job unless I am responsible for the hiring and management of the crew," says Ken. "I look for crew members that can do multiple jobs so our team is cross-trained and can be efficient."

So what did Captain Ken have to say about finding the right yacht captain? He says to look for these things:

• When you're reviewing resumes, look for the captain's experience in terms of longevity. How long have they been on their boat? Have they moved around a lot? Longevity is a sign of stability and maybe a glimpse into the owner's overall happiness with the job they're doing.
• Does the captain have leadership and management experience outside of yachting? Being able to motivate and get along with the crew is essential. I would advise new owners to look for some kind of overall management training or experience.
• Good captains are going to work 7 days a week for you and be on call 24 hours a day during the time they manage a yacht. 
• Does the captain already have crew that want to work for him? This is an important sign as good captains generally have several crew members they have worked with for years and could be recommended.

Another question that often comes up is, "How much does a yacht captain earn?". Captain Ken says there is an often-repeated misconception that $1,000 per foot is the going rate for a yacht captain, which may have been true 25-30 years ago. "The best advice I can give is to find the right captain for you first and then discuss the compensation. The salary is dependent on a lot of details with that specific job. Especially if the captain will be working 7 days a week, they're essentially giving up months of their life at a time."

Finally, Captain Ken encouraged yacht owners to seek out the Private Facebook Group called (COC) Captains On Call . This is a private group you have to request to join. Only yacht owners and captains are allowed to be members. If you want to know more, Captain Ken can be reached at [email protected] . 

Captain Ben Pollon

Captain Ben Pollon grew up in the Turks and Caicos Islands in a family of sailors who instilled in him a strong passion for the water. After owning a marine repair business in Fort Lauderdale, Ben became a full time captain, "Mainly on 50 to 60 meter yachts." he says. Ben went on to earn his 3000GT Masters License and spent over 15 years managing multiple high-profile charter yachts. "Some boats had 15-plus crew on board," Ben continued.

Ben knows what it takes to successfully manage a crewed yacht placed into a charter program and the demands it requires. “If you’re a new yacht owner, the best thing you can do is choose a Captain and thoroughly explain your needs and expectations,” Ben elaborated that running a large modern yacht is akin to running a small business with the Captain at the head of it "Giving a captain the tools he needs to run the boat effectively will ultimately result in a better experience for the owner when they step on board."

Captain Ben gave some additional pointers on where to find a captain and what to look for:

• Referrals can be great, but do your homework. If you interview a captain that was a referral from your yacht broker or a friend, make sure you ask to speak with past yacht owners they've worked for.
• Choosing a captain is size dependent. It's important that the captain's experience be relative to the size of the yacht you own.
• There's nothing wrong with going to a crew agency and letting them know you're looking for a captain. Getting the word out in the yachting community is important to getting a good selection of resumes.
• Don't rush your interviews. Ask for a second interview as you narrow down your choices. It's important to find a captain that fits within your program, whatever that may be. Find the right fit!

Captain Ben also agreed that $1,000 per foot for a captain's salary was dated. "Be open minded about the salary you're going to pay your captain," said Ben. "The pay is definitely commensurate on experience and I recommend working on finding the right fit, before discussions on salary even begin."

Captain Jeff Palmer

Captain Jeff Palmer has done everything there is to do in the realm of boating. He started as a welder and search rescue team member on the USS Dahlgren in the U.S. Navy, later becoming a deckhand on several yachts throughout the Caribbean. Jeff moved on to becoming a captain in 1992 and has managed everything from sailboats , to Hatteras Yachts , to "GEORGIA", the world's largest sloop at 159'. Mostly Jeff captained 180-foot plus motor yachts. Today, he's not only a professional yacht broker, but he's also part owner of United Yacht Sales.

Jeff has engrained himself in South Florida as the head recruiter for UYS and often speaks with brokers, captains, crew, and owners. "It used to be that boats over 60 feet had a captain and a crew member," said Jeff. "Now with the advancements in technology, that size has grown to over 75-feet on average. People want their privacy."

Still, Jeff is adamant with yacht owners about hiring a captain, "Seriously consider hiring a captain to eliminate the work and worry, while also getting to know your boat," he says. Jeff's top takeaways when it comes to hiring a captain include:

• Word of mouth is a big thing with finding a captain. Your yacht broker should definitely be able to introduce you to a captain or at least put the word of mouth out there. United Yacht Sales has a broker forum where all 200+ of our yacht brokers communicate with each other.
• Good captains don't have a lot of turn over. When you're conducting your interview, look for longevity in both the captain's employment, as well as how often crew changes positions.
• It's a huge benefit if the captain also has a mechanical background. A good captain will be able to guide you with servicing your yacht and be able to negotiate fair prices for repairs.
• References are great from past owners, but also ask for references from past crew as well.

Jeff confirmed what both Captain Ben Pollon and Captain Ken Gibson said about what salary to pay a yacht captain. "1,000 a foot has been around forever and it's archaic," he said. "A lot of what you're going to pay a captain depends on the program. Is it seasonal? Full time? What size boat and how many days on board? Will the captain get charter tips? There are a lot of variables to the discussion."

As a professional yacht brokerage firm in the industry since 2002 and with over 250 yacht brokers on our team, United Yacht Sales has the network of buyers, sellers, and captains to assist you in your yachting plans. Contact us today at 1-772-463-3131 whether you are looking to buy a yacht, sell your existing boat, or just want advice on finding a captain.

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Captain for Hire

Captain mamo.

Since 1971, when my parents purchased a RinkerBuilt Tri-Haul, I have had a love for boating. We still own that 1971 boat and she still runs and looks great today. I tell you this to let you know how important it is for me to keep a vessel looking and working at top notch conditions. I have experience in the Great Lakes, Canada, River Systems and Locks, Florida East and West Coast, Florida Keys, BVI, and the Bahamas. We were Great Loop Fleet members in 2019/2020 and have been traveling from the north to the south and back many times.

I take safety very seriously and will do everything in my power to protect passengers and vessels safe from danger and damage. As a retired Electrical Contractor, I am very experienced in leading and getting along with crews, doing preventative and routine maintenance, and keeping things clean. For weather, I have been to many seminars and classes and for major crossings, I use Marine Weather Center – Bahamas & Caribbean Marine Weather Services ( mwxc.com ) as a valued partner for predictions.

Rest assured that if you decide to use me as your Captain, you can expect me to always be reliable, professional and a gentleman. Even though, “Yes, I am a Pirate, 200 years too late.” – Jimmy Buffet.

Credentials

USCG Master 50 Ton Captain

Near Coastal Endorsement

Assistance Towing Endorsement

Basic Life Support: CPR and First Aid Provider

Chapman School of Seamanship Graduate

Licensed Master Electrician

Licensed Builder

Services Offered

• Yacht Transport

Teaching Captain

Day charters, weekly & monthly captain contracts.

• Crossing Captain in the Gulf, Atlantic & Bahamas

Transport Captain

Crossing captain in the gulf, atlantic & bahamas, testimonials.

“Just a note to say thanks for directing me to Dave Mamo. We did an 80 mile Intracoastal boat transit on Monday and Dave was superb. Beyond the actual trip, Dave’s pre planning and organization was invaluable. Five stars.”

Call, Text, or Email for current rates

(248) 670-2681, [email protected], seasonally based out of lake saint clair, mi and jupiter, fl.

Captain for hire, Transport Captain, Charter Captain, Florida, Bahamas, Michigan, Great Lakes, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Rivers, Off Shore Boat captain, Private yacht captain, Day charter, Delivery Captain, US Coast Guard Licensed Captain, Training Captain

Captain for Hire, Lessons  & Boat and Yacht Management

9 1 4 . 2 1 6 . 8 4 5 6.

Our rates are not standardized - but are fully customized based on many factors including the vessel, location and length of trip, ect.

 $95.00 per hour with a 2 hour minimum.

Captain Cost

Starting at $650.00 per day for power vessels and up to $800.00 per day for larger vessels.

Deckhand/Mechanic Cost

$250.00 per day per deckhand.

Crew Required

Captain +1 first mate/engineer or more deckhands  required, larger boats will require more hands.

 Food and water (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for each crew member per diem while on the vessel.

Travel and Other Costs

Transportation cost round trip (from our base to your vessel departure point and return travel to our base from your vessels destination for all crew members) using practical means: Rental car +fuel, Amtrak/Train, Uber, Lyft, Taxi, Bus or Airfare.

Fuel Cost 

Fuel, oil or other consumables used during the trip will be at the owner's expense.

Dockage Fees

We do not ad onto the cost of dockage fee. Power vessels on the intercostal will likely occur marina docking fees. We don't run the boats 24 hours a day so we will sleep on the boats in marinas if appropriate anchorage is not available.

Transit Fees or Port Cost, (Locks) At owner's expense no add ons.

A deposit is necessary to schedule you on my calendar and commission crew.  Unless otherwise specified, the final payment is balance due including travel and expenses on completion of delivery or termination of our services for any reason including vessel breakdown or alteration of destination, and is due at the time service is rendered. 

Payment Methods

Cash in person, Wire Transfer, Credit Card or Online through PayPal, Venmo. Checks must be cleared prior to the trip.

Cancellation Policy

Captain Gary at his sole discretion may cancel or postpone a delivery due to weather conditions or any unsafe condition of vessel or unforeseen circumstances beyond his control. Every effort will be made to reschedule the delivery under the same terms and conditions. Captain Gary is not responsible for any loss incurred by the customer as a result of a cancellation except for the fees paid, any fees would be refunded. If the customer cancels the reservation for any reason, 50 % the deposit amount will not be refunded.

Moscow River Boat Tours

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Moscow River Boat Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

An abandoned, burned boat and 2 missing men: South African authorities investigate maritime mystery

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African authorities searching for a missing charter boat captain are concerned about possible foul play after they discovered his vessel burned and abandoned on a beach in neighboring Mozambique, but no sign of him or the unknown man who hired him.

The National Sea Rescue Institute raised the alarm over captain John Matambu and his passenger after they didn’t return to Sodwana Bay on South Africa’s northeastern coast on Saturday evening having gone out early that morning.

The charred wreck of Matambu’s speed boat, Magnum Too, was discovered by a search plane on Sunday in the Dobela area of Mozambique, some 170 kilometers (105 miles) up the coast.

“Both men remain missing in unknown circumstances,” the National Sea Rescue Institute said.

Matambu’s cousin told local media that a petrol canister and a medical kit were found near the boat.

The NSRI said some of the circumstances “appear to indicate that foul play may be involved.”

The man who hired Matambu to take him out on the 21-foot (6.4-meter) boat apparently gave false contact details, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said. The booking was made for a man, his wife and a child, but only the man boarded the boat, Lambinon said.

“Hopes are that this has all been a misunderstanding, and foul play was not involved, but at this stage all possibilities are being examined,” Lambinon told national broadcaster SABC. “The fact that the boat has been found across the border is obviously the difficulty now.”

The NSRI received a report that the boat was spotted at 10 p.m. Saturday night heading north toward Mozambican waters, it said, the last sighting before its charred hull was discovered the following day.

The Police Sea Borderline Control agency and the Police Search and Rescue unit are also involved in the search. Authorities described Matambu as a well-known, experienced and respected boat captain in Sodwana Bay.

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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