Whether you are an AB now or a skipper we all worked , or still worked as an AB some where along the way . Mostly , lets be honest , mostly it is grunt work . But there are some sweet jobs people have had I know .
My buddy was stationed with a clandestine type op where they had a disguised a cargo ship…a tramp … down South America that was really radio signal intercept ship . Not Navy …more of a CIA thing . He loved it…great pay , no real rigid structure and as long as you did not bring attention to your self , fun in the sun when you docked up !!! Best job he ever had…for whole crew…ABs included ! ! He happened to be the skipper…but he said for 3 years they had it made…just curious if any one else has had any cool gigs !
well in my fantasies I’ve been sent out by the bosun to apply lube on deck all around the pool area…
then I woke up and wanted to open a vein…
Yes. A couple of times I can think of offhand.
AB on Matson’s “Maui” when I sailed with the SUP. On the “Triangle Run”, San Francisco (Oakland) to Honolulu to Seattle to SF…nothing beats a steamship and a front end loader amount of dough every 2 weeks…LoL
Then there was my time as AB on APL’s C-10 class box ship, “President Kennedy”. Typical Far East run, 35 day round trip from San Francisco out and back usually with a stop in Dutch Harbor.
Very nice, comfortable ships. Professional officers and crew from top to bottom and a pleasure to sail with.
The first of the “Post-Panamax” ships built. The C-10’s were the reason I left the east coast to relocate out west, just to get a chance to sail in one. Saw a photo of the “President Truman” on the back of a Sea History magazine years ago, an ad for the MM&P, and said to myself, “I’ve gotta sail in one of those!”
And yep, the front end loader amount of dough at the end of each trip was nice too.
Abso-fuckin-lutely.
I was an A.B. from the fall of 1982 to 1984. I learned much. I also learned how much I didn’t know. I also was taught how much others pretend. This was probably some of the best time i spent in my career. (of course earlier time was good too) I spent time from when I was 11 to 21 as O.S. So I learned much then too. For instance, I always (miraculously) was always put on lookout in the early New England morning fog. I assumed this was because of my superior vision and attentiveness. Now (with hubris) I know it was because I was the most sober, awake of the crewman aboard. So, in retrospect, I had quite a good education when I was a kid. I learned how to fill a job (thanklessly) and how to work as a unit.
I can just hear the bitching from a current deckhand… Gee… Why do I have to stand here? There’s nothing out there… wah, wah, wah.
I liked working on cruise ships. The pay could be bad but the friendly shipmates were great!
[QUOTE=DeckApe;106863]I liked working on cruise ships. The pay could be bad but the friendly shipmates were great![/QUOTE]
Friendly shipmates? You just liked having all those extra women around! Personally I found it to be enough of a distraction that it actually made the work-place even more stressful and annoying. Had to run for it!
[QUOTE=c.captain;106823]well in my fantasies I’ve been sent out by the bosun to apply lube on deck all around the pool area…
then I woke up and wanted to open a vein…[/QUOTE]
That’s his daughter’s arse he’s greasing, Odd.
I have enjoyed being “taken down a peg or two” a few times from mate to AB, usually out of necessity to have an extra AB. Usually the pay stayed the same but it was never for long, usually a quick international trip where AB’s were in short supply. Ahhhh no real responsibility, just a little mop and sweep here and there, throw a line once in a while, sit back and relax. Not much you can really do underway in heavy Wx anyways. One time a particular old man gave me a big speech about him not caring about my license or having sailed in the wheelhouse, and to stay the hell out and keep quiet, so i politely refrained from helping him and the mates work the SSB, sat phone or weatherfax, because they didn’t need my help remember. No, yo no hablo español either!
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[QUOTE=Jeffrox;106874]That’s his daughter’s arse he’s greasing, Odd.[/QUOTE]
dirty, fat old man…just shows about celebs!
probably wouldn’t be worth a shit as an AB either…
Being an AB is the best job on the ship in my opinion. You work, get dirty doing it, and it’s generally rewarding when you look back at the final result. Unfortunately, it does not pay enough to stay at it for very long.
Heard from many guys they rather take jobs as ABs then bosun just to avoid the headache.
I have been given that speech as well.
Hey can you help correct some charts before the surveyor gets here?
Nope.
Why not?
Im just an AB remember? You told me my license doesnt mean squat on this boat.
Fine ill call the office and tell them about you.
Ok go ahead. Im doing them a favor, not you. The port capt will like to hear about your charts not being up to snuff before too I bet.
Assorted grumbles.
Ill be in the galley if you need something mopped.
I was fired for “making up to large of a grub list” once, working over on another boat. Captain had no steady crew, and was keeping the left over grub money for his flights home. I politely called him on it, and he fired me over it, so he goes to drop me off in the yard in SI, and somehow one of the office guys was there, who wanted to know why i was walking to my car, bags in hand. Well i didnt know it but the engineer dropped a dime on this captain, as we where downbound. This guy was so sleazy he was picking up grub reciepts in the parking lot, come to find out. Those where some good times as an AB.
I recall one specific AB job as the best I or I expect anyone could ever have. The last frikkin one that got me my time to go to the bridge!
[QUOTE=z-drive;106915]I have enjoyed being “taken down a peg or two” a few times from mate to AB, usually out of necessity to have an extra AB. Usually the pay stayed the same but it was never for long, usually a quick international trip where AB’s were in short supply. Ahhhh no real responsibility, just a little mop and sweep here and there, throw a line once in a while, sit back and relax. Not much you can really do underway in heavy Wx anyways. One time a particular old man gave me a big speech about him not caring about my license or having sailed in the wheelhouse, and to stay the hell out and keep quiet, so i politely refrained from helping him and the mates work the SSB, sat phone or weatherfax, because they didn’t need my help remember. No, yo no hablo español either![/QUOTE]
same thing when I go as a fill in DPO aboard…if the little shit punk “senior” dpo has a bug in his arse and wants to do every move himself or won’t allow me to take a reference offline without his expressed permission I just play the game and call him to do everything and sneak off to the bridge computer to check Craigslist for more cars. Some of these little darlins weren’t even born when I got my first license and were in gradeschool when I sailed first as a master but fuck’em…I just don’t give a microgivashitz anymore!