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There's always the option of taking the sea route between two places. People have taken advantage of the seas for as long a time as civilizations have existed. '''Boat hitching''' is propably more like working on the boat and paying for your fare that way.It is difficult to get onto harbour facilities. It is great when you know someone on the terrain.Ships and boats don't steam off every minute like cars. So be prepared and know what liner you want to get on.One could also write to shipping companies.

== Hitching a ferry =Yachts ='''Hitchhiking a ferryboat''' can be quite an endeavor for some but can be done if you put the right effort in it. It generally means finding sail boats that need an extra hand on deck, and become part of their crew. With boats, the procedure of hitching is easynot so much about finding someone going to your destination, but more about finding the right boat and/or captain for you. Simply ask drivers In general, a lot of captains are ready to take persons (crew members) on their boat to aid with watch keeping, general tasks, or truck drivers if just purely for company.  Finding a boat can take you a lot of time. Mostly boat-hitchers try hanging out at the harbor for a week, talking to almost anyone, possibly finding a pub where sailors tend to drink their beer. Another way people often get rides on boats in the [[Bay Area|San Francisco]] area is to go to the pier with some beers and offer them to folks who look like they are heading out. Be prepared to change your schedules and plans accordingly. Unlike with cars, boat rides are not happening every day - it can take from a couple of days to a couple of months to find a boat. The weather can be unpredictable, and so can the length of the voyage. All these things together mean that you can 't really plan on arriving at place X at time Y. Time takes a different shape and form on the seas. The best way of encountering a suitable ride is to visit popular marinas and anchorages that outbound captains frequent. They are probably there for overnighting, waiting for suitable weather and winds, provisioning or repairing. They might be short of crew because of some force majeure (people change their plans and get seasick and so on...) - this means that they could actually ''need'' your hand on board . Be helpful and interested in their trade. Even if you do not have any experience in sailing, be honest with the ferry in fact and state that you are eager to learn. Show respect towards their truckskills, their boat and the seas and the elements of nature. Learn about sailing, the races, the seasons and major routes. Be willing to help for works needed before the departure, like cleaning the hull. Be assured that once you hit the marinas everything will be pretty obvious. You will meet other boat hitchhikers and they usually only have will share their information with you. Basically you'll be putting up notices offering your help, pacing the docks approaching people cleaning their yachts, trying to make contact with sailors in the bar etc. Try to talk to as many people as possible. After a while everyone will know you and will give you hints as to pay which boat is looking for someone. There are lots of good captains out there, with good intentions. But there are lots of different "classes" of captains out there, lots of different boats for different purposes. So how do you find the vehiclegood captains out from the hasty, less benign ones? Well, start by analyzing how well they care for their crew. See also [Or their boat. How prudent they are about security. What kind of personal imbalance they might be experiencing based on their insistence on getting certain types of crew (like young, good-looking females). Read some very useful information from the captains' point of view [http:Category//www.yachtmollymawk.com/2011/03/hitch-hiking-across-the-atlantic/ here]. Don't let it get you pessimistic though:Ferries]] boat hitchhiking might take some effort and a long time, but it's definitely doable and amazing. It's generally a win-win situation for different routes that involve ferriescaptains (needing crew) and hitchhikers (needing to travel). For the hitchhiker though, it allows you to have all the excitement of sailing, without all the pains of owning a boat.   ===Prerequisites===*'''Experience''': Experience in sailing is not necessary -although a huge plus in getting a quicker lift-, but participating in duties and life on board of course is obligatory!*'''Tolerance to seasickness''': Most people get motionsick on a boat, but often the body gets used to it after a couple of hours or days. A few find out they can't just take it and must break off their trip. It's advised to important that you find out how you deal with seasickness (and eventually find your own tricks to cope with it), and let the captain know it. On Catamarans you will likely experience less symtoms of seasickness than on monohull sailing boats. There are drugs to cure some symptoms. Better pack some in advance if they charge especially in case you're planning a longer cruise and you don't yet know your reaction to exposure. Seasickness is no fun at all and can actually be dangerous for yourself and annoying for the rest of the crew, since you wont be able to fulfill any tasks below deck.*'''Some money''': These days many yachts will ask you to chip in for your food. Many boats ask 10 or €15 on food per day. The Atlantic crossing takes between 15 to 25 days, depending on boat and winds, so you'll need around 150 to €300 for the crossing alone -count on at least a week in the marina till you find your lift, too. It is possible to get an entirely free lift food included, mostly on bigger yachts where you'll be needed to scrub the deck and polish the silver railing. During the ARC regatta you can even expect boats ask as much as €50 per vehicle (day since inscription fees are pretty high.*'''Some stuff''': Head torche. Waterproofs and good) shoes are recommended although they are very expensive and if you don’t have them you can wait -the boat you get might provide them. The Canary Islands are cheaper when compared with mainland Europe and in Gibraltar for example apparantly there are sailor’s “jumble sales” so you might pay less. Don't forget your passport or ID, even when you're just travelling within Europe! The skipper must be able to provide identification documents for all crew members.*'''Language''': Obviously all foreign languages can help, but for the Atlantic crossing speaking at least some French can make a huge difference, since over 60 % of sailors on this route are French-speakers ===Online=== There a several online marine crew websites available that specialise in matching crew with boats. Find a Crew [http://findacrew.net] is the largest. Other options are Crewseekers.net [http://crewseekers.net] and Floatplan.com, or Vogue avec moi [http://www.vogavecmoi.com] and Bourse aux Equipiers [http://www.bourse-aux-equipiers.com], in french. ==Atlantic Crossing==Apart from making your way round the '''Caribbean''' or '''Polynesia''' by offering a hand onboard yachts which seems to be common and easy, the most common route is the '''Atlantic crossing''' from Europe to the Americas (mostly to the Caribbean or Brazil). ===East-West from Europe==='''When to go''': Boats go with the trade winds that start to move from East to West across the Atlantic in autumn. So the season is from ''September to January-February''. Top season is October, November. In the end of November each passenger as well year there is a regatta called ARC (badAtlantic Rally for Cruisers)leaving from [[Las Palmas]]. There will be more boats than at any other time in the marinas and it can be considered safer than leaving with a boat that is going unassisted. There will be more competition on finding a lift though, too.

== Hitching a boat =='''Hitchhiking a boat''' can be quite an endeavor Be aware that for some but can be done if you put the right effort in itpast three to five years the winds have started to go haywire a little bit, acting less predictably with more storms happening. Your best chances are to become part This is most probably because of the crewglobal climate change. In The way most sailors comment on this is "the [[Caribbean]] it's not too hard winds are going through a transitional phase to find sail boats that need an extra hand on decka new rhythm".

With boats'''Departure points''':*[[France]]: South: Antibes North: [[Brest (France)|Brest]]*Southern [[Spain]]: If you are English speaking: obviously [[Gibraltar]]/[[La Línea]] ("Alcaidesa Marina"), the procedure of hitching is not so much about finding someone going to your destination[[Malaga]].*[[Portugal]]: [[Lisbon]]: Marina de [[Cascais]], but more about finding the right boat and/or captain for you. In generalMarina Parque das Nações, a lot of captains are ready to take persons Doca de Alcântara; Algarve: Marina de [[Lagos (crew membersPortugal) |Lagos]] *[[Canary Islands]]: The biggest marina is on their boat Gran Canaria, in [[Las Palmas]].*[[Morocco]] to aid on the most mundane tasksCanary Islands: [[Essaouira]], or just purely for company[[Agadir]].*[[Senegal]]: [[Dakar]] and [[Casamance]] (see "Africa to America" further down).

Finding a boat can take ===East-West from Africa===If you a lot of time. Mostly boat-hitchers try hanging out at don’t want to pay the harbor for a weekferry in [[Algeciras]] it is possible to sail to [[Africa]], although unless you are extraordinairily lucky, talking you’ll have to almost anyone, possibly finding go via the Cape Verde islands which are a pub where stopover for many trans-atlantic sailors tend . They are between 10 and 14 days from [[Gibraltar]]. From there you’ll have to catch a new boat to get to drink their beer[[Senegal]] which is three days away. Another way people often get rides on boats It is an experience in and of itself although maybe not the perfect swap for a one-and-a-half hour long ferry ride that’ll cost you €25 You also miss out on [[Bay Area|San FranciscoMorocco]] area is to go to and the crossing of the pier with some beers and offer them Sahara Desert, which are highlights of any visit to folks who look like they are heading outAfrica.

Be prepared to change '''Departure points'''*From '''Marocco''': '''Essaouira''' is your schedules and best bet, you can also try Agadir. No one crosses over directly from here though, all boats will be going somewhere in the vicinity ('''Canaries''' or '''Senegal''' for example) with other plans accordinglyput up for later. Boat rides are not happening every day, and it can *From '''Senegal''': '''Dakar''' or '''Casamance'''. With a very likely stopover on the '''Cape Verde islands'''.*If you want to take days and days a flight to reach your destinationthe '''Cape Verde islands''': the biggest marina is in '''Mindelo''' on '''Sao Vicente''', unlike with carsthe second biggest one is on '''Sal''' where the international airport is. The weather *Since sub-Saharan Africa is out of the influence of the trade winds you can hitch from Senegal almost all year round, although the main bulk of boats will be unpredictableleaving when it is top season in Europe, that is October to December.*There are three sailing clubs in [[Dakar]]. All these things together mean that you “La Voile d’Or” with shallow water which therefore attracts catamarans only, the “CVD” (Club des Voiliers Dakar) where the majority of boats can't really plan on arriving at place X at time Ybe found and a third one also in the vicinity of the two ones mentioned. Time takes a different shape They are all situated not far from another to the South of the “Cap Vert” peninsula and form on the seastown centre. If you try to hitch from there it is strongly recommended you speak some French.

Be helpful and interested in their trade. Even if you do not have any experience in sailing, be honest with The Pacific being about 6 times larger than the fact and state that you are eager to learnAtlantic. Show respect towards their skills, their boat Most boats leave America and go through the seas and the elements of naturesouth Pacific Islands towards '''Australia''' or '''New Zealand'''. There are lots This is because of good captains out there, with good intentions. But there are lots of different "classes" of captains out there, lots of different boats for different purposes. So how do you find the good captains out from the hasty, less benign ones? Well, start by analyzing how well they care for their crew. Or their boat. How prudent they are about security. What kind of personal imbalance they might be experiencing based on their insistence on getting certain types of crew (like young, good-looking females)trafe winds.

Then there are some websites that can be helpful for getting the right crew and boat find each other. I would recommend Crewseekers.net [http://crewseekers.net] since FindAcrew.net [http://findacrew.net] fools either you or the captain '''East to pay exorbitant prices for the ability to communicate.West'''

For more info see [[User:Paxus|Paxus]] his [[hitchhiking a sailboat|experiences]] hitching [[Hitchhiking a sailboat|Sailboats]] in 1989/90Boats normally leave from central America, mostly '''Panama'''.

== Hitching a Barge ==Some inland routes are navigable. Big rivers, canals... Barges and private boat cruise them. Barges are very long and flat boats that can carry thousands of tons of goods, slowly along the river. If you're not in a hurry they are easy ''West to hitch.East'''

Barges won't stop if you wave at them There are two different options from the bank. The best place to get to them is a "lock", where they have to stop to be adjusted to boats start in the level beginning of the river-canal. But they usually have a restricted accessyear till mid of June.

Apparently they do not operate at night (10pm-6am). If you go to the main gate, there should be a button to call the operator (only one person is usually operating). From my experience in [[Germany]], they are very hitch-hiker friendly. If you explain to them what you're up to over the intercom, they let you in or even ask the boats for you over the radio.''Option 1'''

Traffic is low but the boat drivers are usually open to travellers. And during the time needed for Going through the south Pacific starting from '''New Zealand'lock'' to operate, . The route is called theroaring forties. Most boats avoid going there as the weather conditions are very rough. Also without sailing experience or just a little it is easy very unlikely that someone is willing to talk to them from the banktake you on board.

PlusStarting in '''Japan''' boats will go towards '''Alaska''', given '''Canada''' or the size Westcoast of the vehicle, '''US'''. There are only 10 to 20 boats doing this route each year and most will start between the beginning of June and mid of June as it is very comfortable. And depending on what river you're cruising, it can also be very beautifulnot that incredible cold and the taifun season normally has not started yet.

* [http://www.cruiserfloatplan.co.za Cruiser Logcom Floatplan]is a free to join sailing community, has some great information for when and where to find a yacht and an interactive member map. * [http://www.cruisercruiserlog.co.zacom/forums/crewfinder.asp Cruiser Log], has some very useful info], [http://www.cruiser.co.za/crewfinder1.asp some specific for hitchhikers], including a rough guide of movements of cruising yachts* [http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Hitchhiking_boats Detailed Account of hitching Yachts and cargo freighters on Wikivoyage]

<!-- probably not super useful== Resources for sailing ==* [httphttps://www.boatingcouchsurfing.co.nz Boating Info Centre]*http:com/groups/www.latsandatts.net sailing-sea-sun-and-blue-sky-> These sites might prove useful:* [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=586 fanatics CS Group: Sailing - ]. Forum about couch surfers and their interest in the Sea, Sun and the Blue Sky fanatics].* [httphttps://www.couchsurfing.orgcom/groups/group.html?gid=21961 vagabond-sailing CS Group: Vagabond Sailing]* [httphttps://www.couchsurfing.orgcom/groups/group.html?gid=27248 couchsailing-international CS Group: Couchsailing International]* [httphttps://www.desperatesailorstrustroots.com Desperate Sailorsorg/tribes/sailors Trustroots's "sailors" tribe]

* http://www.blueyachtmanagementcrewskeers.com

Weblog of two Dutch students hitchhiking across the world by ship:== Books ==* [http://www.gelderlanderoceannomad.nl/voorpagina/nijmegen/daglog/5433553/Logboekco Ocean Nomad] ''The Complete Atlantic Sailing Crew Guide -LiftendHow to Catch a Ride & Make a Difference for a Healthier Ocean'' by Suzanne van der Veeken (2017) = Hitching a ferry ='''Hitchhiking a ferry''' is easy. Simply ask drivers or truck drivers if you can board the ferry in their truck, they usually only have to pay for the vehicle. See also [[:Category:Ferries]] for different routes that involve ferries.It's advised to find out in advance if they charge per vehicle (good) or for each passenger as well (bad). = Hitching a cargo ship =There are stories floating around of people who always know someone else who managed to go for free on a freighter, but the only reliable stories really date back to the seventies. Regulations and insurances made it much harder to work abord in exchange for the passage. Cargoship travelling is commercialized now virtually everywhere: for quite an expensive fare you can rent a cabin on them.  = Hitching a fishing boat =It is generally very hard to hitch a fishing boat, even proposing your work abord -over-de-wilde-barenunless you know the captain, crew or boat owner. Most fishing boats leave and come back to the same harbor.ece  = Hitching a Barge =Some inland routes are navigable. Big rivers, canals... Barges and private boat cruise them. Barges are very long and flat boats that can carry thousands of tons of goods, slowly along the river. If you're not in a hurry they are easy to hitch. Barges won't stop if you wave at them from the bank. The best place to get to them is a "lock", where they have to stop to be adjusted to the level of the river- Weekly Blog canal. But they usually have a restricted access. Apparently they do not operate at night (201010pm-6am). If you go to the main gate, there should be a button to call the operator (only one person is usually operating). From my experience in Dutch)[[Germany]], they are very hitch-hiker friendly. If you explain to them what you're up to over the intercom, they let you in or even ask the boats for you over the radio. Traffic is low but the boat drivers are usually open to travellers. And during the time needed for the ''lock'' to operate, it is easy to talk to them from the bank. The cruising speed of a riverboat is circa 13 km/h. But counting the time spend in the locks, it can go down to 6 km/h. But as they stop only at night, it is still faster than walking. Plus, given the size of the vehicle, it is very comfortable. And depending on what river you're cruising, it can also be very beautiful.