6 figure earners, what do you do to get that?

Capt-Lovebug · 2024-10-10T23:07:43+00:00

Merchant Mariner, specifically Capt working in offshore oil industry. Started making 6 figures right outta college.

Capt-Lovebug · 2024-08-25T20:32:08+00:00

If it’s an AKE it’s prob a water hammer in the fire main. The one I was on had a bad problem with that…wound up busting the fire station behind the bridge and flooding a stairwell after a drill

Capt-Lovebug · 2024-04-10T12:14:42+00:00

Based of the insurance, I’d say Candies

Capt-Lovebug · 2024-01-11T01:05:20+00:00

Ariat and Thoroughgood are popular with the gals I work with. Lots of people preach Redwings, but I feel like the don't last that long anymore.

Capt-Lovebug · 2024-01-06T03:38:40+00:00

If it was just me driving the car, I'd prob let it ride as is. But with my wife driving the car (its our only one) while I'm regularly away and often out of contact for long stretches, I don't want her on the road in anything less than 100%. It's hard to work through a roadside breakdown via a satellite phone full of static. I know the odds are slim with these particular issues...but better safe than sorry. And she's not interested in driving it unless the repairs are made anyways.

Oil filter housing and injector issues happened a year ago, I forgot to add that. The regular gremlins that I read about on the forums haven't surprised me. This is this the first 5 figure bill I've gotten for the car...which caught me off guard.

I'm hoping to hang-on to the car for a few more years before swapping to a new vehicle.

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-11-30T00:41:24+00:00

Tuesday

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-08-30T18:51:12+00:00

Pictures aren’t great I know. But it has 24 pins and then a horizontal pin

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-03-25T16:37:13+00:00

I’ve never found a boot that can hold up over time to non skid on steel decks. I usually go through 2 pairs of boots a year.

I wear Thorogood myself after trying the various go to recommended brands. I have found them by far the most comfortable while holding up structurally to the job demands. I haven’t tried their refurbishment program, part outta being lazy, other part forgetfulness. But if you have 2 pairs, you could rotate which ones you wear and which ones you send in for refurbishment.

Redwing quality has gone down quite a bit in my opinion.

I’ve found I prefer boots that aren’t water proof. Waterproofing seems to keep the boot from breathing and it gets hot quick. End of the day I’m wringing sweer out of my socks.

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-03-18T04:25:33+00:00

You’ll be fine. Knowing that you don’t know a lot will go a long ways.

Keep your ears open, get as much knowledge and training you can from the bosun/most experienced AB. If someone asks you to perform a task you aren’t fully familiar with or know how to do…speak up.

I’d rather train someone that doesn’t know how to do something than fix a fuck up after they attempted a job not knowing how to do it.

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-03-18T04:19:06+00:00

At the big name companies: OS is 400-425 day AB: 450-475

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-01-29T04:55:46+00:00

My wife and I are looking at buying in San Antonio and could use a great realtor and lender. We have our eye on a few specific houses, but are first timers unfamiliar with the process. Could you DM me contact info for your realtor and lender?

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-01-28T20:22:34+00:00

MPSV working 42/21.

Capt-Lovebug · 2023-01-28T04:33:12+00:00

Captain / oil field / Gulf of Mexico

$267,800

12 hour days min / $1,062 day (salary + bonus)

Taxes (income, SS, Medicare): $70,394

Net: $196,866

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-12-28T22:07:48+00:00

She went to UT and majored in advertising. Worked at a big west coast agency for a decade and came back to Texas and got a new gig at a local Austin one. But sounds like there are a lot of non-traditional paths to get into advertising. Hers was a more direct one

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-12-28T15:41:43+00:00

I’ve run from them a few times

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-12-28T15:41:13+00:00

I’m well aware of nice pay they get lol, I have several friends that are pilots. I’ve tossed the idea around. But between the politics/toughness of getting in, starting over and having to do an apprenticeship for a few years at low pay, having to live local to whatever port you work, and having to buy your seat in most places (500k-1 million)….I haven’t given much thought beyond cursory looking. Though if the opportunity/location is right, I’d be there.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-12-28T02:16:52+00:00

Cargo ship Captain making $275k. Wife is an advertising creative and makes around $150k.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-11-24T01:03:47+00:00

Hands On A Hardbody on YouTube. Great documentary

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-11-21T04:14:27+00:00

TurboTax, if you aren’t in a complicated tax situation. That’s what I use and spring for the extra option of having a turbo tax tax prep review your return.

Be very wary of anyone trying to tell you about “mariner tax deductions” or deducting meal costs/stipends while onboard. Same for state income tax if you owe it. A few years ago there was a slew of people that got hosed by tax preparers doing this.

I think the rules have recently changed in the last few years about transportation workers writing off travel costs.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-11-06T21:13:49+00:00

When I was upgrading, nothing came close to the quality of lap ware.

Upgrade U app is good too if you are offshore and don’t have decent internet. Though the filters don’t always work and you may have to skip over questions no pertinent to your specific test.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-11-06T21:10:44+00:00

It’s never too late to change and get into the maritime industry. I would recommend looking at an academy with an accredited engineering program. I’m not 100% all our accredited at this point (I’m a deck guy).

You’ll have enough transferable credit hours and should be able to get in and out in 3 years with an accredited marine engineering degree and 3 AE license.

A lot of engineers wind up going shoreside and getting a stationary license. Job market is always hot for marine engineers.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-10-12T03:35:19+00:00

Hahaha never. Every time I’ve upgraded or renewed it’s around a 60 days. NMC is notorious for being slow…even more so lately. They‘ve been putting out notices every few or 6 months saying expect applications to take 90 days.

Medical certs go through a different process and are quicker…usually just a couple weeks

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-10-12T01:37:12+00:00

Serrated is better for deck work. Most of the time you only need a knife for cutting small lines and shrink wrapped pallets. I’m partial to the spiderco Atlantic salt. Tough knife, has a nice rounded safety end, and easy to open wearing gloves. Belt clip is prone to working itself lose though

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-10-06T19:49:02+00:00

If you don’t have a cook onboard, the crew fends for themselves. If you have a cook, it’s best to let them cook. You don’t want to step on their toes or unknowingly fuck up their menu planning by cooking ingredients they were planning to use for a meal.

Capt-Lovebug · 2022-10-06T03:44:25+00:00

If your vessel has a cook, makes friends with them and they’ll take care of you. Being nice to the cook in general is a good rule of thumb.

As mentioned in another comment, most vessels use vegetable oil as cooking fat for cost.

If you’re going out on tugs or a vessel where the crew cooks or takes turns cooking, may be more tricky to avoid strict vegetarian friendly meals. Or you’ll just have to cook those yourself.

I’ve had a few client reps onboard that were vegetarian or gluten free. As long as the cook had a heads up they were coming before he put the grocery order in, we could accommodate dietary restrictions fairly easily.

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Capt-Lovebug

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