The more mariners that go yachting, the more jobs left for the rest of us. I’m not the right personality type to have a career in yachting, but I occasionally do some yachting. It’s nice to have the option, and it can be fun. If nothing else, it provides a little variety.
Right now the oil field job market sucks. Tugboats are busy. Yachting has recovered and is growing like crazy. We all benefit directly or indirectly from yachting.
[QUOTE=Topsail;168820]I was once ordered by a pseudo seaman to take off my 400$ Mephisto soft sole shoes upon boarding,[/QUOTE]
$400 shoes? you really are a pilot!
[QUOTE=c.captain;168823]$400 shoes? you really are a pilot![/QUOTE]
… 
I carried by seaman bag on steel decks for such a while that I finally developed Heel Spurs. No choice but Orthopedic Mephisto to rectify the problem…
[QUOTE=Swampfox;168815]I know, I know, but it supports me and my family. I don’t care what or who it is. Joe Boss is Joe Boss. Steel, fiberglass, or wood. I’ve told people in the past, I’ll drive your bathtub if you paid me enough. Just make it float![/QUOTE]
I agree, the principles of seamanship don’t change from sector to sector. From where I"m at judging wind speed and direction, sea state are still as important as ever but having a black belt in Microsoft Outlook matters too.
I once asked a black belt Microsoft Outlook mate what was the wind direction and speed during a pitch dark night. He then noticed that the anemometer was out of order. I am still awaiting for the answer! 
A spacecadet came to me once with is cadet-book and ask me at noon, blue sky, flat calm and while we were on docking pre-approach; « Mr. Pilot… what is the weather? »
etc… etc…
[QUOTE=Topsail;168830]I once asked a black belt Microsoft Outlook mate what was the wind direction and speed during a pitch dark night. He then noticed that the anemometer was out of order. I am still awaiting for the answer!
A spacecadet came to me once with is cadet-book and ask me at noon, blue sky, flat calm and while we were on docking pre-approach; « Mr. Pilot… what is the weather? »
etc… etc…[/QUOTE]
My point is that the basic principles of seamanship are the same in every sector even though other skills, which might not seem directly related to seamanship are required as well, and that having those other skills does not mean that the basic skills are not needed. My job requires a lot of communicaton to various parties which means being able to get certain non-seamanlike tasks (using MS Outlook) done quickly is a huge help. Likewise being on a yacht crew requires skills and doing tasks that we don’t normally necessarily associate with seamanship.
Not sure what your point is. That you’ve run into crewmembers that you consider lacking in basic skills? I think that has happened to most of us that have been going to sea for any time.