A pampered and spoiled well-to-do young boy named Harvey Cheyne, Jr. (Kenny Vadas) ends up on a fishing trawler where his money and airs do him no good. Falling off his luxury liner, the boy is rescued by irascible but fair-minded Captain Matthew Troop (Robert Urich) who runs a tight ship. Instead of being returned to his normal surroundings, Cheyne must endure hard labor at a basic pay rate, like any sailor. In the process, he learns the value of money and becomes close to real people, learning lessons for a lifetime, especially when his new friend and captain’s son Dan Troop (Kaj-Erik Eriksen) takes him under his wing.