Down and dirty
Whether a yacht has a strong brand identity or not, Geoff Moore, the general manager for yacht management at Royale Oceanic, stresses the importance of practicality in the design and selection of uniforms. He believes that while branding is important, a well-designed yacht does not require gimmicks to enhance its kerb appeal.…
Some yachts have striking designer uniforms, which are fantastic and have been created for events, parties, boat shows or simply because there is no budget. However, a uniform must first and foremost be practical. Crew, believe it or not, get ‘down and dirty’ with many jobs on board, no matter what clothes they are wearing. A uniform is not only a stylish representation of the yacht and her owner, but it is also the lifeblood of the crew. They wear it for the vast majority of the summer season and are proud to wear it. They want to look good and this can be assisted in the initial selection of design and materials.
A smart and well-presented crew reflect positively on the yacht and her owner, especially when they carry themselves well. Pride, passion and presentation are key characteristics of any professional yacht crew. Pride in their appearance will reflect positively in the pride for their yacht. A yacht alone is a valuable asset but a yacht operated by a professional crew can be a prized possession.
Simplicity is key. Colour is effective, as is the use of artwork and design to mimic the yacht’s outline, layout, logo or unique selling point. Practical items such as rash vests have made a big difference to deck crew, and these have in some cases been branded and utilised among the entire crew. M/Y Kogo, for example, has every male crewmember, apart from the engineers, wearing rash vests, regardless of whether or not they are involved in ‘wet duties’.
Shoes are one of the most expensive single cost items of a uniform, and, cleverly, the popular clothing manufacturers change their designs every few years. Therefore, in order to avoid having crew in different style shoes, full sets need to be purchased every few seasons at incredible cost. This has brought about the standard operation of having ‘guest on’ and ‘guest off’ shoes. This makes it possible for the purchase of cheap, comfortable and maintenance-free shoes such as Crocs, which can be used during the majority of the year when no guests are on board.
For the charter market, any advantage you can get over rival yachts is crucial. If a positive crew reputation – known for their ability, friendliness or appearance – can be used to promote the yacht, the captain, owner and broker will be sure to utilise this. However, a yacht uniform, while important to the general appearance of the yacht, is not significant in any degree compared to the professionalism or ability of the crew wearing it.
A full article on the importance of crew uniform design as a part of a superyacht's branding can be found in Issue 10 of The Superyacht Owner. Members can read this article online here. The become a member, click here.
A smart and well-presented crew reflect positively on the yacht and her owner, especially when they carry themselves well. Pride, passion and presentation are key characteristics of any professional yacht crew. Pride in their appearance will reflect positively in the pride for their yacht. A yacht alone is a valuable asset but a yacht operated by a professional crew can be a prized possession.
Simplicity is key. Colour is effective, as is the use of artwork and design to mimic the yacht’s outline, layout, logo or unique selling point. Practical items such as rash vests have made a big difference to deck crew, and these have in some cases been branded and utilised among the entire crew. M/Y Kogo, for example, has every male crewmember, apart from the engineers, wearing rash vests, regardless of whether or not they are involved in ‘wet duties’.
Shoes are one of the most expensive single cost items of a uniform, and, cleverly, the popular clothing manufacturers change their designs every few years. Therefore, in order to avoid having crew in different style shoes, full sets need to be purchased every few seasons at incredible cost. This has brought about the standard operation of having ‘guest on’ and ‘guest off’ shoes. This makes it possible for the purchase of cheap, comfortable and maintenance-free shoes such as Crocs, which can be used during the majority of the year when no guests are on board.
For the charter market, any advantage you can get over rival yachts is crucial. If a positive crew reputation – known for their ability, friendliness or appearance – can be used to promote the yacht, the captain, owner and broker will be sure to utilise this. However, a yacht uniform, while important to the general appearance of the yacht, is not significant in any degree compared to the professionalism or ability of the crew wearing it.
A full article on the importance of crew uniform design as a part of a superyacht's branding can be found in Issue 10 of The Superyacht Owner. Members can read this article online here. The become a member, click here.
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