Due to the advent of technology it has never been easier to continue working while living on a boat. People like myself who are not quite ready to retire but are cruising full time can instead work online, taking advantage of technologies like Starlink satellite internet to stay connected.
If you want to become a sailing digital nomad but aren't sure of where to start, check out these 21 digital nomad jobs for liveaboard yacht cruisers.
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who works online while on the road. It doesn't matter if they are sailing the world, backpacking or going on road trips across continents, digital nomads can work from any location as long as they have a computer and reliable internet. As a result becoming a digital nomad is often the answer for people asking how to make money while sailing around the world.
Types of digital nomad jobs
There are lots of different jobs that digital nomads can do which broadly fit into these three categories.
Work remotely for one company
Freelance work for a range of companies (read more on that here)
Building and running your own business
Digital nomad job ideas for people living on boats
So, how can you earn money online while sailing the world full-time? Let's take a look at these 21 solutions for making money as a digital nomad while living on a boat.
1. Remote Work
Remote work is an arrangement where employees perform their normal job duties outside of a traditional office setting. This could include working from home, a co-working space, or any other location with an internet connection, including a boat. It provides a steady source of income, often with set hours and expectations.
2. Consulting & Coaching
Establishing yourself as a guru in your field of expertise enables you to make money through coaching or consulting. It could start as one-on-one work with a company or individual, then after gaining some experience you may be able to develop other related revenue streams such as creating an online course, starting a related YouTube channel or making yourself available to conferences or companies.
3. Course Creator
If you have expertise in a field people are eager to learn about you could turn straight to teaching by creating online courses. To accomplish this you'll need an in-depth understanding in a certain field, the ability to create and host teaching materials, and the ability to communicate and teach your knowledge in an effective manner.
Platforms like YouTube, Skillshare and Udemy can be a useful place to start, but having your own website to host it can maximise your income. An example of a travel content creator who's successfully done this is Christian Le Blanc, through his Lost Creator Academy. A sailing specific example is Sailing Zatara, through the Bluewater Cruising website.
4. Virtual Assistant
Taking the role of a traditional assistant into the modern age, virtual assistants remotely help clients with a range of important activities like social media management, data entry, travel logistics, and customer or client support. Doing this type of work has the added bonus of providing valuable insight into how industry professionals are running their businesses, which could prove useful in your future endeavors.
5. Online Store
For sailing digital nomads, creating an online store offers an opportunity to generate income while maintaining the flexibility that can make it easier to explore new places. Starting a store usually involves choosing a niche or product you want to sell then setting up a store on an ecommerce platform before marketing the store and selling products. These products could be physical or digital products, including household items, eBooks, artwork and clothing.
If you were a teacher in a past life like I was, don't forget about the potential of Teachers Pay Teachers!
6. Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is a business model that's commonly associated with digital nomads, including those that sail, as it allows them to sell physical products without having to personally maintain and store inventory. Instead, when a store sells a product, it purchases the item from a third party and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller never sees or handles the product.
To start a drop shipping business you generally need a website to advertise your product that has e-commerce features and integrations, like Shopify or Wix, and a fulfillment partner who handles the inventory and shipping. If you're wondering how Amazon sellers do it, you can take a look at the Amazon FBA program.
7. Tutoring
Many digital nomads turn to online tutoring as a means of generating income, especially if they have a background in education or specialize in a certain learning area. For nomads living aboard a sailboat it may be slightly more restrictive as there's generally a set schedule, but at the same time it allows you to share your knowledge, expertise and passion for learning with students around the world.
8. Freelance Copy Writing
Today it's become almost essential for companies to have an online presence and as a result there's a growing need for freelance copywriters. As a copywriter, your job is to write instructive, informative content intended to advertise the brand. It's a career path that tends to build up over time, where you'll attract better clientele as you gain experience writing for a certain industry.
See our blog on becoming a freelancer for more ideas on how you can go about becoming a freelance copy writer. My favourite platform for beginners is UpWork, which I use, but you will need to put time and effort into building a profile to really get going.
9. Freelance Content Writing
While copy writers focus more on advertising a product, content writers tend to focus on writing interesting content that attracts an audience. It could include blog posts, e-Books, articles, email newsletters and social media posts. There are times when content writing and copy writing overlap, and you may end up doing both for some clients.
10. Proofreading & Editing
Proofreading and editing jobs are perfect for sailing digital nomads because as long as you meet the deadline, you can work the hours you want. There's many different ways to approach getting proofreading and editing work while living on a boat, including freelance platforms, content agencies, publishing companies, academic editing, translation services and remote writing platforms.
11. Translation & Localisation
Translation and localization jobs are another excellent option for live aboard cruisers, because once again they generally allow for remote work and can be done anywhere with internet. There's a range of avenues you can go down to get into this field, such as joining freelance platforms, translation agencies, AI human language learning companies, becoming a remote interpreter and doing technical translations, subtitles and captioning.
12. Voice Artist
If you have an expressive voice or certain accent you may be able to turn your boat into a voice artist studio. There are opportunities to do this for YouTube channels, transcription companies and even audio books, and it doesn't always require you to have special equipment.
13. Marine Photography & Videography
Living on a boat gives you a unique perspective on the world and a chance to see things that others don't. If you have the right equipment and background you may be able to offer your services as a marine photographer or videography, either for a stock agency or as a freelancer.
14. Script Writing & Video Editing
Some people enjoy being on camera, others prefer to be on the production side of things. For sailors interested in script writing and video editing there are many opportunities to make money doing this from a boat. You could get started on freelance platforms then build your own website and portfolio to advertise your services. Niches to get involved in include YouTube videos, short form social media videos, E-learning platform videos, corporate training, commercials, documentaries, podcasts and event coverage.
15. Graphic Design
Despite advancements in DIY graphic design platforms like Canva, there are still a range of career paths available for graphic designers. Most focus on some aspect of illustration, web design or branding design. As a fun boat related project, you may want to offer custom graphic designs to adorn the hulls, based on the boat name and preference of the owners.
16. Website Design
If you're a techy individual there's always web development and computer programming. If you have a preference for developing a particular kind of website then you could develop a reputation in that niche, or you could choose to focus on a certain website builder and computer languages you're familiar with.
17. Digital Marketing
For those who like to do a bit of everything, freelance digital marketing can be a creative and profitable career option. It can involve social media, email campaigns, content creation, and search engine optimisation (SEO), and you could specialise in a certain area, for example a Google Ad specialist or backend SEO specialist.
18. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketers use their preferred platform to build an audience and convince people to buy certain products, getting paid a percentage of any successful sales. Affiliates typically market to a niche audience, often establishing themselves as a brand or person with knowledge in that area.
If you want to learn more about affiliate marketing I recommend watching a few YouTube videos by Adam Enfroy who's an expert in the area.
19. Podcasting
With the right equipment you can start a podcast, providing interesting audio content to an audience. In order for your listeners to know what to expect it's a good idea to stick to a schedule and have a niche the show revolves around, but don't be afraid to experiment to find things that resonate with people. Sponsors and advertising can help monetise the endeavour.
20. YouTube
Speaking from personal experience YouTube is a lot of work, but if it takes off there's plenty of ways to monetize including AdSense, sponsors, brand sales deals, merchandise and fan membership programs. To have a successful YouTube channel it's often a manner of consistency, knowing your audience and providing value in your content.
21. Blogging
Finally there's blogging! Nomadic content creators who enjoy writing can publish their expertise and experiences online through a blog. Like other forms of content creation it's important to know your niche and connect with the audience, adding and creating value through your content. Once the blog starts to gain traction it's possible to monetise it through various avenues including affiliate sales, advertising deals, selling you own products and even consulting.
People I enjoyed learning from when I started blogging were Adam Enfroy and Goats on the Road.
Making money sailing the world
If you think the liveaboard cruising lifestyle is for you but are worried about sailing with no money or making money sailing, then becoming a digital nomad may be the way to go. There's a wide range of paths you can go down and there are always opportunities to try something new or build on what you have. With as little as a laptop and internet connection you can step out of the office and onto the deck, feeling confident that you can make money while sailing the world.
