The Complete Guide to Becoming A Sailor and Marine Oiler

It's a decent overview, but I was hoping for more specifics on the actual hiring process. The chapter on day-to-day work was pretty accurate from what my uncle (a marine oiler) tells me. I just wish it had gone deeper on what the pay really looks like after taxes and union dues. Three stars because it's solid but not complete.

I'm a career-changer in my 30s and this was a good reality check. The self-assessment in chapter two made me realize I'd hate the schedule even though the pay sounds fine. The author doesn't sugar-coat the months away from home, which I appreciated. It's a bit dry in places, but the numbers check out based on what I've seen on government sites.

This guide finally gave me the training path spelled out clearly. I'd seen other sources say 'get your STCW' but they never mentioned the costs or the order to do things. The comparison table in chapter three is worth the price alone. I feel like I can actually make a plan now instead of just wondering about it.

It covers the basics, but I felt like some sections were too general. The chapter on what you'll earn gave a good range, but I'd like to see more about overtime opportunities and how port time affects income. Still, it answered my biggest questions about whether I'm cut out for the work. Not bad for an intro.

As a parent, I wanted to understand what my son is considering. This helped me get past the 'cool job' fantasy to the actual reality of 12-hour shifts and galley food. The chapter on growth was helpful to see there are paths beyond the deck. It's a solid resource for talking through his decision.

I've been going back and forth on whether to apply to a maritime academy and this helped me see the tradeoffs. The honest bits about sea sickness and the constant noise on the ship were things I hadn't seen anywhere else. I have it underlined in a few places. It's not perfect, but it's a good start.

This is the book I wish I'd had three years ago. I just finished my first contract as a deckhand and had to figure everything out by asking older guys on the crew. This guide is exactly the kind of straight talk that would have saved me a lot of confusion about the training and the paperwork. The salary chapter inspired me to start planning for my QMED license already.