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Connect with hosts who need help with boating and sailing.

Though you don't necessarily need a certificate for boat handling, you must be experienced in order to meet your host's requirements. Getting started with the fundamentals and best practices of boat handling and sailing is quite simple, but it can take years to be an expert at it.

Practice is key to efficient and safe operations. Boat handling skills improve with time, and boaters become more confident as they gain more experience.

Host: Irina Grechishnikova, Tambon Ao Nang, Thailand

Some of the important boat handling skills include:

  • Slip and slide
  • Parallel parking
  • Spin cycle
  • Tying and knots
  • Setting two anchors
  • Crabbing
  • Smart control in the event of an emergency ('man overboard' situations)
  • Docking

Some of the important boat handling skills include:

HOSTS

Host: Michalis Kanakakis, Heraklion, Greece

Do you need a boat handler for your leisure, educational or commercial project?

Sailing and boat handling are among the many skills that the volunteers at Hovos possess. Leverage the skill and experience of boat handlers who're essentially travelers looking to provide their services in return for free stay and meals. Besides boat operations, you can discuss assigning cleaning duties such as cleaning boats and boat docks, trash removal, sweeping of indoor/outdoor pathways, and other tasks, with volunteers.

Get in touch with interested volunteers immediately. Ask the right questions and have them send copies of their driver's license before bringing them on board your project.

Wins from this experience

a host with boating projects you will learn to cooperate with and take care of your volunteer(s). You’ll be able to get more work done without any huge increases in costs. Furthermore, a host will learn more about the country, background, culture and lifestyle of their travelers – it’s a great experience and exchange.

Travelers interested in boating projects

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VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer: Tanguy Quéméner, Nantes, France

If you're a qualified boat handler, you can apply for any projects immediately. You will get the opportunity to interact with people from various cultures and backgrounds. Hauling your hosts and/or their guests over the water is an enjoyable and refreshing activity. If your host is engaging in an eco or lab project requiring sea trips or collection of water samples, you can have a quiet, relaxing experience in a tranquil environment.

Expect hosts to ask for previous experience in sailing and boat operations. Some may require you to have a driver's license and clean driving record. Experience reading maps may come in handy for some projects. If you have the requisite qualifications as well as the physical dexterity to accomplish the tasks asked, get in touch with hosts today.

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Wins from this experience

As a traveler participating in boating projects you will have unique experiences, but you will also learn how to live abroad with another family far away from your familiar surroundings. You will gain insight into their lifestyle and traditions. It's a win-win situation for both sides. Hovos brings hosts and travelers together.

Hosts that need help with boating

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What is the cost to sign up as a Host or Traveler?

Traveler Membership: $10/Year This gives them full access to all hosts as well as a FREE Travel SIM. However, they can create an account for free so they can start ‘favoriting hosts’ and build their profile - but advanced features such as contacting hosts will be unavailable until they become members.

Host Membership: $0/Year It is free for hosts to sign up and they can begin contacting travelers immediately.

An additional advantage of being a member is that you become more trustworthy and therefore members will be shown first on the website. Members can build up more trust by verifying their mobile phone and passport as well.

Are you interested in different types of work?

If you’re not interested in boat handling or you need help with a different type of project, there are many other categories available. Once you sign up, you can select as many different categories as you like.

Hovos offers language practice, help with art projects, gardening, internet support, tourist support and many other options!

animal care | art projects | child care / au pair | boat handlers | charity work | child care | computer help | construction | eco projects | elderly care | farm work | forest work | hostel support | fruit picking | gardening | house sitting | help in the house | internet support | language practice | maintenance tasks | pet sitting | music practice | spiritual projects | teaching projects | tourist support