8 Below Deck Franchise Alums Whose Yachting Careers Crashed And Burned After Appearing In The Franchise

The Below Deck franchise has elevated the careers of countless yachties, but some cast members' careers in yachting came to a screeching halt after the show. Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5 finally wrapped up, and certain cast members proved they're not cut out for the yachting life. Danni Warren and Diana Cruz didn't do much on board except complain and make Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher's life a living nightmare. Meanwhile, First Mate Gary King had to fire Deckhand Emma Crouch for incompetency and laziness.

Below Deck Down Under season 3 is on the way, and there are sure to be some terrible yachties whose careers begin and end in the Seychelles. While there are stars like Chief Stews Aesha Scott and Kate Chastain, who set themselves apart on the show, there are others who come in hot and leave just as suddenly. Here are eight Below Deck franchise stars whose yachting careers crashed and burned after appearing on the show.

8 Dani Soares

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Dani Soares starred in Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 as a Stew, but her career in yachting ended as quickly as it began. She had a romantic relationship with fellow cast member Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux, which led to the birth of her daughter, Lilly Rose, in May 2021. Initially, he denied paternity, but in January 2022, Jean-Luc confirmed through an international DNA test that he is Lilly's father.

Following her yachting career, Dani decided to pursue a new path in healthcare. She enrolled in nursing school in early 2021 and loves her new life as a mom and healthcare worker away from the cameras. In May 2024, Dani graduated from nursing school, officially becoming a registered nurse. Throughout this journey, Dani has been open about the challenges of raising her daughter alone while managing work and studies. Jean-Luc hasn't remained a big part of Lilly's life.

7 Hannah Ferrier

Below Deck Mediterranean

Hannah Ferrier was a beloved cast member on Below Deck Mediterranean season 5, but her career as a yachtie came to an abrupt end after she was caught with an unregistered vape pen and Valium aboard. This violated maritime law, and while controversial, Captain Sandy Yawn felt she had to adhere to the rules. Bosun Malia White turned her in to Captain Sandy, which also stirred up unrest among fans.

Hannah's departure from Below Deck Mediterranean was controversial, but she's made the most of her impromptu firing.

Following her exit, Hannah left yachting and ventured into business. She co-founded the Ocean International Training Academy, an online platform designed to educate aspiring yacht crew members about the realities of the yachting industry. In her personal life, Hannah married Josh Roberts in March 2022, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Ava Grace Roberts, in October 2020. She took on the role of cruise director in the reality series The Real Love Boat and launched a podcast titled Dear Reality, You're Effed!, a testament to her entrepreneurship.

6 Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Jean-Luc had to leave the Below Deck franchise after impregnating Dani and denying paternity, but he's still tangentially involved in the yachting industry. He refused to believe he could be the father of Lilly until taking a paternity test, and even now, he's not too involved in his daughter's life. It's unclear whether this was his choice or Dani's, but it wasn't a good look for the North Carolina-based Deckhand.

Jean-Luc is still enjoying traveling the world as a yacht employee, but he's not coming back to the franchise. He has had a girlfriend, Jennifer, for over a year, which he commemorated in an Instagram post in December 2024. Jean-Luc understands he's not the most popular cast member from Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and he has comments turned off on his Instagram. Jen appears to be a CFA and has an airplane emoji in her bio, meaning she shares Jean-Luc's love of travel.

5 Ashton Pienaar

Below Deck

Ashton Pienaar's career crashed and burned after Below Deck seasons 6 and 7. After two rocky seasons, he was ultimately forced to retire from the yachting industry. Initially gaining attention in season 6 after a near-fatal accident where he was dragged overboard, Ashton's return in Below Deck season 7 as Bosun was nothing short of a disaster. His aggressive confrontations, particularly with Chief Stew Kate Chastain, drew widespread criticism.

Ashton is remembered as one of the more problematic Below Deck cast members.

In an incident that ultimately led to his firing, an alcohol-fueled altercation led to Ashton punching a van window during a heated exchange with Kate. She was so shaken she had to take some time off. Reflecting on his actions, Ashton expressed regret and vowed to change, which it appears he has done. He admitted to struggling with deeper issues that came out in full force on the show. In response, Ashton embarked on a journey of self-improvement, focusing on health, fitness, and sobriety. He is allegedly still sober today.

4 Eddie Lucas

Below Deck

Eddie Lucas was a big star on Below Deck, but he's taken quite a turn since leaving the show. He starred as a key crew member beginning in the inaugural season of the hit series. Over subsequent seasons, he advanced to the roles of Bosun and First Officer, becoming one of the most trusted confidantes of Captain Lee Rosbach. His tenure on the show was marked by his great leadership, but he did have a tenuous relationship with Raquel "Rocky" Dakota during season 3.

After departing from Below Deck, Eddie transitioned to a career with Moran Towing Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland, drawing upon his strength as a yachtie. Starting as a Deckhand in 2017, he diligently worked his way up to the position of Captain. While it's not the same as working on a luxury yacht, Eddie seems happy with his new life. In fact, Eddie and his towing crew rescued two stranded mariners in Baltimore Harbor in 2024. While Eddie could've become a replacement for Captain Lee, he's more at home in his new career.

3 Raquel “Rocky” Dakota

Below Deck

Rocky had a short stint on Below Deck that ended in disaster. While she had a secret boatmance with Bosun Eddie, he didn't want people to know about it. The two frequently hooked up in the laundry room, but Eddie denied the relationship when confronted by the crew. This led to a dramatic confrontation, with Rocky exposing their affair. Many cast members had no problem with Rocky, but she clashed with Chief Stew Kate repeatedly.

The Eddie debacle wasn't her only overreaction. After Chef Leon Walker got fired, Rocky made her dissatisfaction known by literally jumping overboard. She later returned to the yacht despite the assumption that her dive into the ocean was her resignation. Rocky left yachting for good, having burned pretty much every bridge in the industry. Today, she's focused on self-growth and spirituality.

2 Luke Jones

Below Deck Down Under

Luke Jones was an incredibly problematic character on Below Deck Down Under season 2 who ruined his chances at a continued yachting career through a sexual misconduct incident. Bosun Luke followed Stew Margot Sisson to her cabin after a drunken evening and entered her room, naked, without her consent. Chief Stew Aesha and Captain Jason swiftly handled the situation, but Luke ended his yachting career on the spot.

Laura Bileskalne even came to Bosun Luke's defense, which, paired with misconduct of her own, terminated her tenure as well. Captain Jason does not tolerate sexual misconduct and prioritizes crew safety over everything else. Bosun Luke's mistake should serve as an example to other yachties regarding how their actions onboard have consequences.

1 Gary King

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Gary King's yachting career is still going strong, but his sexual misconduct could come back to haunt him in his future job prospects. The worst of Gary has been captured on reality TV, between drunken nights out and inappropriate flirtations. Additionally, he allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct towards former Bravo employee Samantha Suarez when she was asked to escort him back to his room after filming confessionals. While she was able to get away, she was left shaken by the situation. Gary denied all allegations.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht	Gary King
Age	36
Job	First Mate
Hometown	Knysna, South Africa

Gary tried to get his life together on Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 5, but he couldn't stick to sobriety. He also deliberately disobeyed Captain Glenn, who still, bizarrely, forgave him and even wanted to train him to be a Captain one day. Luckily, Captain Glenn believes in him, but Gary's yachting days on Below Deck could be behind him.

Below Deck Down Under airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.

Source:Jean-Luc Cerza/Instagram