plenty of variety in a piloting job. Tug or big ship, the river will still be the river. Piloting on the Columbia (river or bar, they're separate jobs) pays quite handsomely. But the biggest difference is the 'driving'. Tugs are more 'fun' and 'hands on'. Ships are kinda like the E F Hutton ad---- 'When the 'pilot' speaks, the ship's crew listens'. You 'drive' with words!

I sure liked it though........