What should I review in a tour boat’s crew roster and deckhand training?

Look at the roster first. Who works every trip and who fills in? If the same few people cover most days, losing one could cancel trips. Ask about returning staff versus first-year hands, and find out how the owner recruits before each season.

Then turn to training. Ask what a new deckhand learns before working with passengers: safety briefings, emergency drills, lines and docking, customer service. Is it written, signed off and repeated? Ask to see a few files. A well-run operation can show you who completed what and when.

Ask how crew are engaged and paid. Employees and contractors are treated differently, so have your lawyer review the arrangements. Now think about the handover. Which crew members will you want to keep, and what would persuade them to stay? Meet them, with the seller’s permission, and ask what they like and dislike about the job. Finally, ask what happened after any incident or near miss and what changed as a result. Check whether the crew know where the safety gear is and how to use it. Ask them to show you, rather than tell you. Crew who can do this without hesitation show training that has stuck, and that is worth more than a binder.

Key takeaways

• Check who covers most trips and what happens if they leave.
• Ask for signed training records for each deckhand.
• Meet key crew before you buy and learn what keeps them.