I may be doing my first paid job on a yacht delivery next week. A friend of mine is a semi-retired commercial captain with 18,000 plus hours running sea-going tugs. If he gets the job, I'll be his first mate (and the only other person on the 47 foot boat). We'll be taking the boat from Cape Cod to Brewerton, NY (about the half-way point on the Erie Canal). If I like the work, I'll probably get my Captain's license over the Winter and partner with him when I retire from my regular job (which is scheduled for 3 years from now, maybe less...).

My friend is top notch when it comes to operating a boat, but he lacks technical and mechanical skills, having always had at least one ship's engineer under his command for those things. I have a good reputation around the marina as a guy that can fix things so he hired me (it's how we met) to fix a bunch of electrical stuff, do some electrical engineering and installation work, fabricate some stainless steel swim platform braces, and install some Weaver Davits, on one of his personal boats before he cruised it from NH to FL last year (all my work held up perfectly even through his punishing 28 knot open ocean cruising speed both ways). I'd like to learn the seamanship side of the job from a pro plus I think it would be just plain fun regardless. I have delivered a couple of 45+ foot boats for friends (no pay involved) already , and I really like the work.

That sounds like my kind of retirement. Always dreamed of doing something like that. Keep us posted.

Hey Dave,

It sounds like a nice adventure and something you could do in retirement.

Seems like a perfect fit and a perfect way to spend some retirement time while utilizing your skills. My Dad retired early and its been great for him b/c he has stayed active with his hobbies and involvement in his community. Some people dream of retirement but don't really plan out how they will fill the time. I should probably take my own advice...

Dang, Dave, I'd give my left one to get a job like that. I have no idea how many hours I have on boats but it isn't anywhere close to that 18,000 number.

Keep us posted if you decide to take this one.

That sounds cool.

The purchase of the boat I may deliver has not been finalized yet, but I'm told the job is ours when the time comes. My captain friend has a two week trip from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico and back, towing a 580 foot barge, scheduled to start June 7, so our delivery may be delayed until after that, or cancelled, if there's too much delay in the purchase of the boat.

Hopefully it all works out. Sounds amazing.

Please be sure to "take" us along if you go on the trip.

Whoow. That sounds like a cool "job".

The delivery trip kept getting postponed and then cancelled. The new owner decided to make the trip himself with his family, a great decision, IMO. There will be more opportunities, I'm sure.