So you want to be a deckhand...

On the nice, sunny days, lots of passengers ask, "how do you get a job like this?" (They're too busy puking on rough sea days) Clearly, I had no prior experience working on boats, but I do have a sense of adventure and a love for all things Alaska. I also had the wonderful Gary LaPay telling me to apply for a job up here...So, I filled out an online application in January, and had a Skype interview in February or March, and got a job as a deckhand at Kenai Fjords Tours! Seriously, it was that simple. But I'm also pretty awesome, so I'm sure that helped land me the job :) 

As a deckhand, we're responsible for the safety and well-being of the passengers, we maintain the safety/integrity of the boat, we respond to emergency situations, handle lines while docking...we keep busy! I've worked almost exclusively on the 9-hour Northwestern Fjord Tour, so things may be a little different on other tours, but the general gist is the same. Here goes. 

We get to the boat at 7am, and begin putting away the stock that has (hopefully) been delivered to the boat. Our boat can have 140 passengers, so we can go through a lot of supplies in one day. 

Now, let me remind you that all this stock has to fit into the very small galley you see there. We have two smallish refrigerators, and a dorm-size freezer, and it's always a challenge to make things fit in there. On the NWFT, we serve a free breakfast of cinnamon rolls, fruit juice, and fruit cups, so the cinnamon rolls have to be baked and iced, and the fruit stuff needs to be arranged on the counter. We're usually icing the rolls as the passengers are boarding at 830, and I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people say "oh that smells so good" etc etc. I've run out of funny things to say back to them. 

The boat leaves the dock at 9- I handle either the bow or stern lines when we go. that part is pretty easy, just releasing the line from the cleat that they're tied around. Here's what a cleat looks like:

(I found the pic online)

We then head out to Fox Island, which takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to get there. Again, I handle either the bow or stern line to tie up, making sure the lines are secure, and making sure I don't get my fingers wrapped in the lines. I'd like to come back to Florida with all 10 digits on my hands:) Once we leave Fox Island, we're on the open water until 6pm. We pretty much immediately start putting lunch together- chicken Caesar wraps or veggie wraps. I cannot eat chicken Caesar for a LONG time after this. 

Our assembly line for lunch. 

One of us will fill/stuff the chicken wraps, and another will roll/wrap them up. The third deckhand (there's only 3 of us total) is working on the veggie wraps, and assisting passengers. We also pass out water for lunch, so the cups need to be filled.

Chicken wraps and a lonely leftover cinnamon roll. 

Lunch baskets and water, the stuff of champions!

Anytime there's a wildlife sighting, we stop what we're doing and head outside- not just to see the animals, but mainly to ensure no passengers are doing stupid things like standing on seats or climbing on the railing. People do stupid things, what?!?!? Who'd of thunk??? What do you mean, it's a bad idea for me to SIT ON THE RAILING??

On the bow, on "foot patrol."

We get to Northwestern Glacier around noonish and hang out there for about 30 minutes. We relax a bit, then head to my favorite place, Cataract Cove. We relax a bit. 

Selfie in the fjord! 

Someone miscalculated the number of wraps we'd need this day...

In the late afternoon, we bake chocolate chip cookies. Another annoyance- "what smells so good?" "When can I get a cookie?" I hate cookie time. It makes me unreasonably angry. We walk through the boat and pass them out, and I've had a passenger follow me down the aisle, coughing on my neck and tray of cookies. I've had people reach onto the tray and grab for cookies, and I slap their hand. Cookie time is the worst. Aside from puke. 

We get back to the dock around 6, and again, we have to handle lines and tie up. Once all the passengers are off, we clean the boat, take out the trash, and our day is finally over. It's usually 630 at this time, and we're pooped. But not too pooped for a drink at Chinooks or the Breeze. 

So that's the basic idea of my day. Keep in mind we're constantly interacting with the passengers, ringing things up in the galley, driving the boat sometimes...and checking the heads as much as possible. We have 3 heads on board and they clog easily, so we have to be vigilant. Why do people put brown paper towels in a marine toilet?? Can someone please answer that question for me? Paper towels = death of the toilet. 

Now don't get me wrong- a deckhand job is a lot of work, but it's also awesome. I've been super lucky to work with a steady crew from early on in the season, and we all get along really well and have fun with each other. Regardless, your job is what you make of it- if you have a poor attitude about who you're working with/what you have to do for the job, etc, then YES your days are going to suck. It's up to you to make the best of your situation. And the crew on the Alaskan Explorer certainly makes the best of any situation! 

Best. Picture. Ever.