Ownership Guides
How to Choose the Right Crew for Your Yacht
$5
The difference between a yacht you enjoy and a yacht you manage is usually the crew. Get it right and the boat is ready when you are; get it wrong and you have bought yourself a second job.
This guide starts with how much crew your boat actually needs — the answer changes sharply around 70 feet — then works through what each role does, when occasional crew beats full-time staff, how yacht management services handle placement and compliance on your behalf, and what it takes to hire well and keep good people aboard.
What's inside
- Crew requirements by size: under 70 feet often runs on an occasional captain, over 70 feet generally needs full-time staff
- Occasional versus full-time crew, and the cost and flexibility trade-off between them
- What each role actually covers: captain, engineer, steward or stewardess, chef, deckhand
- When yacht management services earn their keep — crew placement, training, daily operations and legal compliance
- The Designated Person Ashore requirement under the ISM Code, and who provides it
- US Coast Guard licensed crew versus international crew, and what your flag decides for you
- Hiring properly: screening, interviews, reference checks, and contracts drafted with a marine attorney
- Visa and work permit considerations for international crew
- Keeping a crew: ongoing training, clear expectations, and handling problems before they escalate
Who this is for
Owners taking on crew for the first time, and anyone who has had a crew arrangement go wrong and wants to understand why. Worth reading before you buy, too — on a larger boat, crew is a real part of the ownership number.
$5 · Instant PDF download · Yours forever
2026 Minted Yachts | Fort Lauderdale, FL
For informational purposes only. Not legal, financial, or professional marine advice.