The Pontoon & Dock Company Ltd.’s Post

- Crewing What does it take to be a good crew member for an athlete doing an ultra marathon? Having recently crewed James Riley at the Tor Des Geants these are my observations and thoughts. - Be prepared. Organisation is key when crewing. Knowing the course, where you are going to meet your athlete, being ready and waiting for when they arrive at the aid station, and all their food & kit neatly laid out as much as possible really helps. - Know the race. Being aware of the race rules, what you are allowed to do as crew, where you are ok to assist and where you aren’t. Knowing how far until the next aid station, the elevation gain and loss plus a rough idea of how long it will take the athlete, means they can leave with all the information they need. In longer races knowing the weather conditions is really helpful and important in order to make sure the athlete takes out the appropriate kit. - Quick Decision Making and problem solving. Whilst crewing an ultra our athletes are getting increasingly fatigued, especially races that last multiple days. This means it will become more challenging for the athlete to make quick (and possibly good) decisions. A good crew will be able to make quick decisions and be able to problem solve so the athlete doesn’t have too. - Be proactive. Don’t sit back, take control. You are there for your athlete and the more decisions you can take out of their hands the better. - Know your athlete. The better you know your athlete the better you will be able to crew them, do they like a bit of banter, or do they just want a relaxed organised vibe? What food do they like that will you be able to get it? - Foot care. Knowing how to deal with wet, sore, blistered feet can be the difference between a finish and a DNF. "Fixing Your Feet” by John Vonhof is the go to book for all things feet! Above all else you are there to support, motivate and look after your athlete, to help make their ultra journey as smooth as possible. Crewing can be a hugely rewarding experience and I know some of my best results came thanks to the help of my crew

🌊 Exciting News from OdysseyOne Marine! 🌊 We’re thrilled to announce that OdysseyOne Marine will now be distributing the innovative Portless Boats across Australia! 🚤🇦🇺 Already making waves in Europe and the US, these uniquely designed inflatable tri-hull vessels are set to revolutionize Australia’s boating scene. 🌟 According to Wayne Dart, owner of OdysseyOne Marine, "Australia is the perfect environment for these amazing inflatable vessels. The tri-hull design maximizes space and provides incredible stability for an unmatched experience on the water." Whether it's for family fun or a party with friends, Portless Boats offers models like: ⚓ The Dinghy – Fits up to 4 adults, ideal for small families or couples ⚓ The Trinity – Perfect for 6 adults, featuring a rooftop sunbathing area ⚓ The Deluxe II – Room for 10 adults, complete with a rooftop deck and optional slide! 🛝 🚚 Easy to transport, these inflatable boats fit in the back of a ute or large SUV, with setup taking just minutes! And the best part? Portless Boats are powered by Epropulsion electric motors, providing quiet, reliable, and eco-friendly propulsion. No fuel, no noise - just smooth sailing! 🌱⚡ Stay tuned for more info on how you can order your Portless Boat and get ready to make unforgettable memories on Australia’s stunning waterways! 🌊☀️ #OdysseyOneMarine #PortlessBoats #BoatingAustralia #InflatableBoats #EcoFriendlyBoating #Epropulsion #BoatingLife #WaterAdventures #MarineInnovation #ElectricBoats #BoatLife #FamilyFun #AustralianWaters

🛥 Dockwalking in 2024: Is It Still Relevant? Dockwalking has been a key method for aspiring superyacht crew to secure jobs, offering face-to-face networking in hubs like Antibes and Palma. While it's still useful for making personal connections, the digitalisation of recruitment with platforms like CrewPass is transforming the industry. Why It Matters for Employers: ✅ Verified, CrewPass Approved crew offer faster, safer hiring ✅ Trusted by agencies like Quay Crew and VIP YACHT CREW ✅ Combines traditional dockwalking with verified, pre-checked candidates for a more efficient process As the yachting job market evolves, a hybrid approach—leveraging both dockwalking and digital tools—can optimise recruitment, ensuring candidates are both trusted and pre-screened. 👉 Read more (link in comments) #SuperyachtRecruitment #CrewPassApproved #YachtingJobs #MaritimeHiring #Dockwalking

Most people think of skydiving as a one-time bucket list item. But for a select few, it’s a career. And like any career, it needs a map. At our skydiving drop zones, we’re building a Skydiving Career Map—a clear guide for how someone can grow from first-time packer to tandem instructor, rigger, or even drop zone manager. This isn’t a typical career ladder. Our roles are often contract and seasonal, with most of the work happening on weekends. Many of our team members hold other jobs, and legal requirements mean you can’t start too young. Progression depends on experience, certifications, and training—none of which happen overnight. On top of that, some roles are physically demanding, so career paths aren’t just about “what’s next” but also “what’s sustainable.” We’re building this map to give people clarity on what’s possible and how to get there. When people see a path forward, they stay engaged longer. That’s true on the ground and in the air. How do you help your team see their next step? I’d love to hear how you think about growth paths in your business. #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #Operations #EmployeeGrowth

Exploring the Benefits of Having a Boat Lift at Your Dock

The Demand For Charter⛵ It is always interesting to see how the demands of yacht crew change. It used to be, if you want top talent, you should offer rotation and high salaries. So why are boats who have implemented that still struggling to find great candidates? 80% of deck crew (Deckhands, Lead Deckhands, Bosuns) I speak to, are looking for charter yachts. They are open to taking a salary cut and less leave to get onboard a yacht that charters. When interviewing candidates who you are very interested in, it is perhaps a good idea to bear this in mind and try and highlight the advantages of joining your Private programme. Any comments or thoughts on Private vs Charter are appreciated. #deckcrew #yacht #charter

* MEET OUR PEOPLE * Employee Name: RUSTY BARBER Job Title: MOTORMAN - BOSS Rig 408 Time with Unit: 31 Years What attracted you to this company/position? - The available work. Can you share a significant accomplishment you’re proud of? - Having a steady career. What’s your favorite part of working here? - The money! What motivates you in your daily work? - Knowing I get days off ahead. What are your hobbies or interests outside of work? - Camping & fishing What’s your favorite book, movie, or TV show? - Gunsmoke What advice would you give to someone new joining Unit? - Begin contributing to your 401K quickly, you can save up fast. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? - Do the best you can and work safe. What are your professional goals or aspirations for the future? - To keep working until I can retire. #ONEUNIT

The Importance of Crew Training: Preparing for the Unexpected Investing in your crew's training is not just about compliance—it's about safety, efficiency, and well-being. Being prepared for any situation can save both lives and resources. A well-trained crew understands the need to continuously update their skills, and more importantly, it reflects a yacht’s commitment to their growth and development. This dedication shows that you value not only their physical well-being but also their mental well-being. For the deck crew, understanding and adapting to all weather conditions—whether extreme heat or freezing cold—is vital. Proper knowledge ensures that the yacht’s paint is protected and remains in top condition, preventing unnecessary damage. A supported, skilled, and knowledgeable crew is the foundation of a safe and successful yacht. #YachtCaptains #DeckCrewTraining #YachtManagementCompanies #YachtCharter #Bosun #YachtFirstOfficer #YachtWorld

How can yachts attract and retain the best crew? This isn’t exactly a novel topic, but I often find captains wondering why an open position on their yacht isn’t attracting an avalanche of top notch CVs. Here are the most effective ways to get the best crew onboard, and keep them there: ⚓️ Number one: salary! Captains often say to me ‘I want to attract crew who aren’t just in it for the money’ and yes, I totally agree. However, if crew were in it for the money solely, they’d be applying for big M/Y jobs rather than the sailing yachts that I work with. The simple fact is that if you offer even just a slightly higher wage than other similar sized yachts, you will attract the best candidates. ⚓️ Leave package. Could you offer 6 weeks, instead of 4 weeks, leave per year? Then do it! Great candidates can afford to be picky and choose the position that offers them the most holidays. ⚓️ The R-word. Rotation is impossible to implement on smaller yachts, but if the owner agrees to get even just the captain and engineer on rotation on a larger yacht, the position will suddenly become a lot more popular. The most experienced captains and HODs have families or other commitments and can no longer commit to a full time contract. ⚓️ A friendly, happy team. If you have crew leaving left right and centre, take a look at the atmosphere onboard. So many crew tell me that they just want to find a calm, settled program with happy, welcoming crew. HODs might be excellent at their day-to-day job but useless at managing their team - could they do a management course during a less busy period onboard? ⚓️ Perks such as a training budget, charter tips and a thirteenth month bonus all help make a package look more attractive. ⚓️ And then we have other aspects such as itinerary, cabin size and type of yacht. These are going to be really important to some crew, and less to others - some crew will dream of heading to the Pacific whilst others will seek jobs in the Med near their families. What is the most important part of the package for you when you are job hunting? Let us know in the comments! 📸 @theboatnetworkltd

Quick question: What do you define as “good crew longevity”? As recruiters, we are often asked to provide crew with “good longevity” however, everyone seems to have a very different interpretation of what this actually is.. Naturally, yachting longevity differs significantly from land based longevity, although even land based longevity is nowhere near where it used to be (another post for another day). From my experience, Captains and HoD’s often define “poor longevity” as multiple permanent contract jobs of under one year… …so then if this is the average understanding of poor longevity, what is considered to be “good longevity”? This benchmark seems to be a much more subjective, obscure number. I have heard of Captains defining good longevity as 4+ years in a single position and would not consider any candidates with less. Of course 4+ years in one position is good, but is it fair to consider anything less as average or even poor? - What are your thoughts on what defines “good crew longevity”? - Do the majority of vessels even provide working environments conducive of producing significant onboard longevity? Any thoughts are appreciated. #mycrewagency #yachtcrew #yachting #superyacht #maritime