Crew Numbers

Crewing on Different Types of Yachts
The range of people required to run a yacht is a lot bigger than some might anticipate. The right amount of crew for a yacht depends on a variety of different factors.
The most important considerations when deciding on crew numbers are: the size of the vessel, the type of vessel, the number of guests and the level of service required.

A Rough Guide to Crew Numbers
1.  Smaller yachts of between 50 to 70 feet (15 to 20 metres) will need a captain and possibly an assistant. Yachts this size are not considered ‘super’. Two people can comfortably run this size of vessel and in terms of size/guest ratio you are looking at around two crew to four/six guests.

2.  Next are the 70 to 90 foot range. (20 to 27 metres) (Yachts from 24m up are classed as superyachts.) These are the more difficult ones to crew on as frequently the crew/guest ratio is not all it should be. A yacht this size can sleep up to 8 to 10 guests with still only four crew. Crew may find themselves doubling up and the workload can be substantially heavier. The chef must be able to work on deck, the mate must be able to do heads and beds, and the captain must be able and willing to do anything! Teamwork is important on every yacht but it is even more so on yachts of this size, where each crew person must be prepared to wear multiple hats, competently, safely and, importantly, happily.

3.  The next level of footage can be ideal in some respects. Yachts from 90 to 120 feet (27 to 36 metres) generally carry four to six crew consisting of a captain, chef, stewardess or two, a mate and sometimes an engineer, as well. Guest numbers usually remain at around eight to ten. A yacht of this size should ensure enough crew to perform their duties properly and provide a higher level of service. Some yachts at the upper end of this size range will have two stewardesses on board especially if they are chartering and want to deliver the level of service expected.

4.  Yachts from 120 to 150 feet (36 to 45 metres) will have crews of 6 to 10. Usually, they comprise of two or three stewardesses, a deckhand (or two), a mate/first officer, an engineer, a chef and a captain.

5.  Yachts above 150 feet will have assistants or 2nds in many positions, three or more stewardesses, a purser, sous chef and/or crew cook, mates become ‘officers’ and chief deckhands become bo’sun. 150 to 200 feet (60 metres) yachts carry a complement of 10 to 16 crew.

Yachts over 200 feet begin to carry crew in much larger numbers. Crew numbers of 50 to 60 are not unheard of. When it comes to crew numbers on these larger vessels, much will depend on whether the yacht is sail or motor, charter or private.
Vessels of this size will generally have more than enough crew for a very high level of service and require a higher number of crew due to the overall level of maintenance required on both the interior and exterior of the vessel.

It is interesting to note the differing ratio of crew to guests depending on the size of vessel in the following example:

M/Y Lia-a: 27m vessel taking up to 12 guests has 4 crew.

M/Y Skat: 71m has no more than 6 guests to 14 crew.