Learning to loathe snotty yotties.

[TravellerNick]

Hi there. I've gotta say that I like it here at STP. I'm from england so I don't have much to contribute to a site that seems mostly American but we're certainly coming from the same place as far as lifestyle is concerned.
So, I've been trying to get some info on sailing from a couple of other sailing forums (these seem mostly American dominated) on how I might earn a living while sailing and I've had no end of nasty sarcastic comments. The last fella who replied to me said that I seem to be English which is nothing to be ashamed of with having bad teeth and that. I thought WTF, if it's nothing to be ashamed of, why are you saying it?
Some other bloke told me that if I try and get work in other countries I'd get beaten up and handed over to the police and kicked out the country. And one old dear must have been looking right down her nose at me when she suggested I try piracy, smuggling and child porn!! I mean WTF man! Point is, I suppose, is that it doesn't matter what country you come from, there will always be arse holes ready to put you down. So I better just stay away from the effin Snotty Yotties and stick with people like us[emoji3].

 

[ped]

I feel you bro. The whole cuntry is insufferable to me. But you're in luck a guy posted here a week ago needing someone to help him sail.

 

[TravellerNick]

Yeah, I'm looking for crew to go adveturin with but I'm not having much luck this side of the pond. I will though. Eventually.

 

[ped]

https://squattheplanet.com/threads/looking-for-a-family.29546/#post-214882

 

[Durp]

Ahoy! ya most those forums are full of know nothing gutless wimps anyways, who spend most the day under power or wasting thousands upon thousands on trying to make a slow boat "fast." Twats.... And fucking cheaters too. I was racing one of those types and caught him motoring trying to catch up!

As far as work goes, there is plenty! Get good at low voltage electronics repair (gps, radar, ect), 12v electrical systems, fiber glass repair, varnish work, diesel repair and you will be able to charge those same ass holes $200+ an hour just for labor fixing things they are too useless to fix themselves. I made $4oo a hour rewiring some ass hats gps unit away from port. There was a sharp edge and the wire rubbed against over time and just needed a crimp connector, the edge filed and a wire clamp to hold the bridle away. He was a prick, so it took me 3 hours instead of 15 min to fix The perk about learning these skills yourself is that you are going to need this work done on your own boat anyway, so you can learn something, or pay someone else buckets of money.

I usually use all hand tools for the people I charge an hourly rate, and power tools for folks I am helping out for barter or just cause I feel like helping, or my own work. I feed them the line that we are remote and only carry hand tools if they ask, but most of em don't even know the names to simple tools. Show up with a box of stuff they don't know what it is, and they don't ask many questions long as you fix it.

Also, power boat people are super impressed if you actually go somewhere in a small boat, and are usually willing to hire you to help clean or fix things on their boats. You can't charge them as much because they typically hire help, so you have to be reasonable when negotiating with them. Let them start the bidding and work up from there. When working for snotty yachties, it's typically because their electronics are fucked up and they can't actually navigate without the chart plotter. Also the electronic self steering goes out quite often. The point is they can't sail that well, don't know much, and are over reliant on fragile systems without the ability to troubleshoot and repair. That means I get paid, and if they are an asshole, that figures into my price. I prefer to help other sailors with work on their boat, for help with work on my boat.