CA,<br> Not at all…<br> I have found your posts to be very professional and offered as good advice…<br><br> Trying to get out of a profession that I have spent 20 years investing in ,isn’t easy…I’m just trying to do dilligent research so that I don’t make too many mistakes in a new one…That’s why this site has become one of my favorites…You guys seem to tell it like it is…I for one, really appreciate it…
This place is full of straight shooters, and I like that. There is some pretty high quality dry humor around here too, and I really like that.
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt]<font face=“Times New Roman” size=3>Hello all, this is my first post… Been looking around for a while and I kind of like what I’ve seen so far so… I thought I’d sound in.<br><br>The direction the industry is heading is not easily predicted, or I would be playing with the stock of the publicly traded maritime companies instead of spending two thirds of my time away from my family, but times right now are good. Good for well managed maritime companies as well as their mariners. I have been sailing for 23 years and I have never seen it better as far as the pay, currently the GOM is higher than that of the East or West coasts for similar positions. The treatment of the company’s mariners, I find the companies to be more people orientated than years past. (The fact that the number of mariners <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal]<span style="text-decoration: underline;]qualified</span></strong> to man the vessels are dwindling, and everyone can find another job by the time you get your bag packed has obviously contributed to this.) Finally, the quality of the newer vessels, better manning requirements and the whole crapload of many other things make it good times right now. <br></font></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt]<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /><o:p><font face=“Times New Roman” size=3><br>Just getting started? You have a difficult road ahead of you. Lots and lots of hoops to jump through. You seem like a smart guy, just remember the rewards are there, you just have to work to get them. </font></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes]</span> </P>
Nice input ChEng…and nice to have you aboard with us!!!
The comment about showing up with your bags packed… Just what should one bring with them? Anyone have a list? I have never been out to sea and not sure what to bring… I assume you are either working, eating, or sleeping. I am all for a good laugh but I don’t want to show up looking too green.<br><br>I will spend as much of my down time trying to learn as much as possible… are there books and such that I can study on board? I have my own, but don’t want to drag 200 lbs of books and document my greenhorn status.
This’ll get you started:<br><br>Buy Carhartts. Pants, shirts, socks, overalls, coveralls. 5 days worth that you’ll plan to get very dirty. You’ll be able to do laundry on the vessel. <br>A couple pair of good work gloves. Ironclad is a good brand, they make a very good cold weather work glove that is not bulky. And yes, it gets cold in the winter in the GOM. I spent 28 days in Fourchon in January 1996 having brought only levis and t-shirts. Brrrr…<br>Foul weather gear, Grunden’s IMHO is the best.<br>Deck boots, Xtratuf makes the best deck boots. Get insoles for them for comfort.<br>Sunglasses<br>Sunscreen<br>Bandannas<br>Suspenders<br>THE BEST KNIFE YOU CAN AFFORD. Spyderco Harpy is a good one.<br>Sharpener for your knife.<br>Flashlight and spare batteries<br>Float Coat<br>Binoculars. Boat binoculars suck ass.<br>Your own set of high quality plotting tools. Boat plotting tools suck ass.<br>A journal to keep track of every day you work, and anything that needs to be put into writing that could save your ass someday.<br>The highest thread count twin set of sheets and pillow cases that you can afford. Boat sheets suck ass.<br>Your favorite pillow. Boat pillows suck ass.<br>iPod<br>iPhone<br>Your favorite DVDs<br>Travel guitar<br>Waterproof pouch or a length of PVC with caps for your license and STCW etc.<br>Waterproof pouch full of family pictures<br>Camera and/or video camera<br>A good quality Dopp kit for your personal eau de toilette<br>Multi-day meds dispenser if required, and plenty of meds to make it through the hitch<br>Advil<br><br><br><br>Get a laptop and stuff as many maritime publications as you can on it, and back them up to a memory stick. You can download Coast Pilot and light lists, for example. Get on the Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners distribution list and you’ll always be up to date.<br><br>
…and a pair of your girlfriend’s panties in a ziplock.
…not, if you please, to be left on the galley table…
Bring some hand lotion or astroglide. Oh yeah and a hand towel.
Those will be the first things I pack… I buy in bulk. Any good “reading” material onboard? What time do we sail?
I DID say bring your favorite DVDs…
Nice list CA…<br><br> Besides non desirable bedding…What does the average boat supply, that is worth a darn?<br><br>
Depends on the cook…
some companies provide you with work essentials : steel toe boots, coveralls, PPE.
Is there someplace local to buy the boots and foul weather gear? Would prefer to try on before buying and I am leaving tonight so shipping is out of the question anyway.
Hell, just look down. After Gustav there’s all kinds of shit just waiting to be scavenged.
<P>Thanks for the advice… If I find some panties in a bag I will post them here for all to enjoy.</P>
I will only enjoy them if they are a man’s panties. Don’t see too many of those around.<br><br>But to get back to the original topic. I visited one of the maritime colleges in my country and because I had never been at sea they advised me to try it first, which seemed like sound advice to me. I contacted one of the companies they recommended and they arranged it that I could sail on one of their ships for a week. If I like it I will go again next year and go a little longer so I can actually work too.<br><br>I was surprised at how flexible they were and how much they are willing to assist you. The woman I spoke even though I got the impression she must be pretty busy, took all the time to explain things.<br>I was also surprised to find that schools were not competing with each other and were not mass marketing their courses to attract as many students from wherever they could. They do not seem to be holding the students’ hands to in order to have higher percentage of graduating students. They will help you as much as they can but they will not do the work for you. It left a very positive impression with me. The current industry I am is very different.
Sounds like excellent progress Aspiring! I’d like to hear more, and certainly keep us posted.<br><br>Capt. Lee may be able to help you out with the “man panties”, and maybe even his famous (or is it “infamous”) “Daisy Dukes”…but beware of any other “gifts” he may be bearing!<br><br>Have a great weekend…
AspiringM,<br><br>Good for you! You’re entering the industry at a good time. You’ll find that they are as flexible as you’ve seen because they are desperate for good prospects. The industry worldwide faces major shortages of qualified deck officers. You will be able to capitalize on that both financially and advancement-wise. <br><br>It is a time for caution, however, due to the ever decreasing average experience in years of the industry’s deck officers. It calls for extra vigilance on everyone’s part. Mistakes will be made that once were unheard of. <br><br>Sail safe!<br><br>P.S. I’m sure Minni has a pair of panties he’d love to send you… 