1. Do you stay on the ship for the entire season or get a break onshore occasionally?
There really is not season. they fish year round. You will get off the boat while they unload, if they unload at a port. Unloading can take from a week to a month depending on how many boats are in line, what needs to be fixed on the boat and how much stuff they need to tak onboard ( fuel, food). Many of the Korean and Taiwanese boats trans-shipp, which means they unload on another boat at sea on ina harbor so you may not get off the boat.
Fishing is lsow these days from what I hear so expect 3+month trips
As George said monthly only, tonnage would be bad these days. I hear the monlty is 4500 or so these days with a month's bonus if you complete your 6 or 12 month contract and dont bend anything.
Again, negoiate for some food money for yourself if you are on an Asian boat.
2. Do you get a dogbox to yourself or do you have to share?
Yourself or sharing with a mechanic. way better than the 6-man room
3. Which month does the season start?
Which ever month they lose the current pilot and need a new one
4. How many hours would a pilot get in a season?
these days figure 400-600 hours year
5. What do you do when your not flying?
sleep, read, play x-box, watch korean porno, run laps around the pilot house for hours, teach your self how to navigate, find new ways to occupy your mind. Help your mechanic get your a/p.
Boats do perfer pilot/mech, but desperation is usualy how it is and they will take whoever they need when the time comes.
Some guys like it , some dont, you will get to go into and see places mosdt of you friends have never heard of. For me it was a way to get 500 time and has made my careerr in many ways. It got me my next job beaqcuse of the 500 time. I dont regret it at all, but was ready to leave the boat when I did. Everyonce and a while I think about doing a trip (usually I am drunk or the missus has just kicked me to the curb).
If you have the oppertunity go for it. you can alwys walk off the boat when it gets into port!
RB