Captains and crew

If you need a boat captain for hire in Tampa Bay, Well Played Editions can help, whether you own a yacht, run a charter or are planning an event. We match captains, mates, deckhands, stewards and full crews to the boat and the day, and every one of them is vetted first.

A boat captain for hire in Tampa Bay

A captain on a private charter is more than a driver. He knows the water, reads the weather, decides where the boat anchors and sets the tone for the day. Ours are people we have worked with and trust. Jason Durnin, our COO, is also the head captain, and he holds the people who work with us to the standard he sets for himself.

That standard is simple. A Well Played captain arrives before the guests, walks the boat, knows the owner's rules, and runs a safety brief that takes two minutes and covers everything. He calls the weather honestly and early. He knows the sandbars, the tides at the passes and where the dolphins were yesterday. And he leaves the boat the way he found her.

Who this is for

• Yacht owners who need a captain or a mate for their own boat, for a season, a holiday weekend or a single day: a delivery down the coast, a family outing with a professional at the helm, or a standing arrangement so the boat gets used.
• Charter guests who would like to know who will be at the helm. On our charters you approve your own captain from our approved list.
• Events and hosts who need deckhands, stewards or a full crew for a larger gathering on the water, or a second boat alongside.

Crew we can place

• Captains
• Mates and deckhands
• Stewards and service crew
• Full crews for larger yachts and events

Crew are matched per charter or event, according to the yacht, the group and the day. A 32-foot day boat and a 68-foot motor yacht want different people, and a bachelorette and a client lunch want different manners. Tell us what you need and the office finds the right people.

How a placement works

Send the date, the boat, where she lies and what the day looks like. The office comes back with a captain or crew, their profile and the rate, in writing. For an owner's own boat the captain usually meets you at the dock a few days before to walk through her systems and your rules. On the day the crew arrive early, the boat is ready at the time booked, and afterwards you get a short note on how she ran and anything that needs attention.

Rates are quoted per day or per season, and the crew are paid through Well Played, so there is one invoice and one point of contact.

Browse captains online

Captains who are available for hire are listed on a separate page with a profile each, and you can get in touch from there. Browse captains for hire.

How it fits with a charter

When you charter with Well Played, the captain introduces himself before the day, and the weather is his call on the day. You can see the whole journey on our yacht charters page. Owners who would like help running their yacht should read yacht charter management, and anyone planning something bigger can see events.

Ask about crew

Every Well Played charter already includes the captain and mate. For crew on your own boat or event, use the form below and tell us your date and the kind of crew you need, or send an enquiry.