I did a few gigs on bunkering tankers when I was a cadet. I was also paid for my cadet observer stints. bouchard paid cadets the regular deckhand rate. I did pretty well for the summer.
Reinauer on the other hand paid me but not much, and they screwed it up. They write seatime letters based on payroll records, so i first had to get paid for my last two weeks before I could get an accurate seatime letter.
I knew of cadets in the 2000’s who worked for small outfits like Vinik during their summers after cruise. Guy can barely manage his own life let alone a company but… he was paying them $175 a day reliably.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone with a license or a reputation go there unless you have to. Like for your last stop.
I agree with you 100%.
His tugs parted lines (I was told he only uses secondhand lines) attempting to tow the Empire State to the drydock and a few years before that one boat caught fire assisting her off the dock for a cruise.
But he’s free!
This is worthy of its own thread.
Fortunately I never had to work there. However I had one relief captain and two mates of mine come through there.
They all confirm, old rusty non working equipment, dirty, leaky greasy stuff, no grub, only m&ms and Polly O string cheese. Every piece of line was stolen off another company’s barge. With all that said they all say that the worst part is dealing with the man’s eccentricities.
I have met the guy personally and he seems like a decent guy but I never had to work with him.
With Subchapter M and oil vetting, I honestly do not know how he stays in business.
The best thing he can do is stay off the boats. I remember when people dreaded working with Paul Mahoney on the Pegasus. Then he took a heart attack and now has his daughter running things, now its a pleasant place to work.
