Follow the masts with your mouse

Boatcrew.net

$10 a month; $100 annually

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The era of hanging around docks for stray crew gigs has been replaced by the virtual marina. This site puts budding salty dogs together with boaters in the market for crew members. A click of a mouse links you to a vast global database of boating enthusiasts who can be researched by vessel type, time frame and trip location. The outings range from weekend trips to Catalina to sails across the Pacific. An auto-notify feature updates you whenever the boat of your windward desires is found.

An active message board connects to essential info for the bootstrapping boatster, from firsthand advice to stories, photos and video clips. As you develop your network of fellow mariners at boatcrew.net, it’s always possible that you could wind up with a paying gig on a 90-foot yacht on its way to the Seychelles. Or a wave-tossed gut.

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Michael Koehn