What makes a good deckhand?

[Capt. Mark]

Its all about positive attitude and willingness to work hard

Mark

[tom s]

ahicapt hit it on the head.If a sport boat you will be working close to 24 hour trips back to back all summer.Long hours.If a 6 pack the days will be shorter,more personal contact.Do you have a ticket?If so,longer hours on the wheel.On the sport boats fish cleaning will be the life blood of the tip money.On the 6 pks more at the mercy of the capt splitting it.Tom

[atomicitalian]

thanks again everyone. I'm takin it all in and getting ready for the interview on Tuesday. I'm pretty excited.

I appreciate all the advice, and I'm glad to know there's people here willing to help out a newbie. Thanks again!

[000's]

You have some good advice,keep us posted and Good Luck.

[captainviv]

good luck ......

[Captain Michael Buffington]

So listen

All thats well and good...

Keep your head on a swivel.

Learn your engine room.

Learn, Learn, Learn...

If this is what you want to do you have to understand from now on you are a jack of ALL trades.

Watch your angles...NO ANGLES, NO TANGLES...

Learn your reels. Take them apart, put them back together.

Read...Listen...ABSORB

KNOTS, KNOTS, AND MORE KNOTS...EVERY KNOT YOU COME ACROSS. CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. FAST AND PERFECT EVERY TIME.

GAFFING...Take an empty water bottle and a gaff somewhere wet. Toss the water bottle in the water EMPTY. WHEN YOU CAN SNATCH IT OFF THE WATER EVERYTIME YOU ARE GETTING THE IDEA.

Work for good people. Be willing to do ANYTHING for the right job. This will almost always mean relocating to start. Don't be afraid of this. It will give you an edge over the guy who stayed in one port his whole career. There is certainly nothing wrong with staying where you start but every region has new techniques that can be modified for any region. Enjoy it while your young and try to stay out of trouble...

Mike

[atomicitalian]

Thanks cap! I've got my first job lined up for this Friday, for any of you who are following the thread. On a boat out of San Diego called "The Legend".

I appreciate the above, and once I land a spot I'm gonna work on all the things mentioned.

The relocating thing is actually something I'm looking forward to. I figure I'll stay here till the end of summer, and if I can't get a job with any of the guys who work through the fall/winter (Legend only seems to have jobs lined up through like October, I believe), then I'd be more than happy to go anywhere--from Alaska to Mexico, and anywhere in between.

[Charl]

It's all work mate. Knots, enjin room, reels, gear ext.

What ever When ever. This is your boat and you need to know every thing on it. The Capt should never have the privilege of asking you to do some thing. You should ask him what you should do, he's the King, the Boss, your God for now.
“Capt what do you what me to do” use you head, common sense. No name’s unless he said so.
Make sure he's happy all the time and every time.

Never sit still.
If your sailing fix, prepare, rig, practice, learn the noises of the boat. Sharpen your senses hearing, smell and feeling. Ask questions and make sure you get it right. Get you shelf in to shape, fitness is vital, if your a fit guy you don’t get exhausted, Especially your cranking arm. If the lures are going over, make sure you have glove on. Practice the art of wiring a fish, this could cost you your live so make very sure you know it !!!! Tuffin your hands and fore arms you could split you skin when you pulling a cow. That line look thick mate but I can tell you it will split your skin like a knife. Keep your eyes on that fish, they are full of madness and will take you down.

Eat good stuff and lots of it your gonna need the energy. Phone’s stays off, tell you wife, girl friend, mom, or whom ever your gonna work, they could leave a message.

NEVER BE LATE. Never use Foul language. Smoking is bad. You wanna check with you Capt on that. Make friends and not enemy’s don’t be cocky with the other mates, your gonna lose that fight. You’re the Green Horn, slave, rat or what ever they call you, except it and prove them wrong.
The more you do the easier it will become.

Your hands are your tools so look after them, and buddy the best hands are worthless if the brain that drive them is not healthy and on the job. Keep clear of the Gutter Shit.

Good luck Buddy. Have fun your gonna be just fine..

[El Gato Dos]

Thanks cap! I've got my first job lined up for this Friday, for any of you who are following the thread. On a boat out of San Diego called "The Legend".

I appreciate the above, and once I land a spot I'm gonna work on all the things mentioned.

The relocating thing is actually something I'm looking forward to. I figure I'll stay here till the end of summer, and if I can't get a job with any of the guys who work through the fall/winter (Legend only seems to have jobs lined up through like October, I believe), then I'd be more than happy to go anywhere--from Alaska to Mexico, and anywhere in between.

Stop by and say Hi sometime. I run the first boat on the left when your coming down the dock.

Also buy, if you don't have... deckboots, slickers, a good fillet knife, stone and tools (dykes and needle nose) and a belt.

Those tools need to be an extension of your hands.

Best of luck.

[marlinguy]

Do as your told, pay close attention, be quick but safe, be friendly, offer to help out even if you don't feel like it, don't let your head get to big, and don't forget to buy your Captain a beer at the end of the day! Good luck