Aquaholic
Crew Member
What is it that you do for a living?
Fishing and Boating Business
- Thread starter kaelc
- Start date
kaelc
Crew Member
So tempting to snark on him but we can leave troll comments and move on.
My realtor buddies will be selling homes and condos to people who need them. Real demand for housing isn’t slowing down.
It looks like rates may increase one more time and then settle. Definitely figures into business investment decisions but a good business makes 15% profit kicking butt on savings accounts, bonds and the stock market where banks/brokerages take a share and we have no control.
Aquaholic
Crew Member
Isn’t there a strong demand for mobile marine mechanics? Is that a viable business option? A crew of trained mechanics that you set up a fee schedule for and offer them benefits so they stay?
InterMechanico
Well-Known Member
As a self-employed mobile heavy equipment mechanic, I can confirm the demand for mobile repair is very high for equipment (and marine vehicles) that are not easily moved. Customers have the perception that avoiding a brick and mortar shop will save them time and money.
kaelc
Crew Member
I own www.redsealrecruiting.com and work with both Marine and Heavy Duty Mechanics. Some mechanics have started what you describe but you quickly need safety officers, hr, warranty, estimators so we don’t compete with customers but can facilitate contracting in addition to long term hiring headhunting. I’ve thought about developing an app that would make independent mobile mechanics lives easier by taking payments, giving estimates, letting customers know when they are are enroute but like another app we were looking at launching for service firms like electricians, hvac and plumbing companies the path to profitability is very rocky. I may revisit the later idea, but selling to independent mechanics is a tough go.
yeah those customers are the cheap ones. where when I know a mobile mechanic I am happy to pay what ever they want as they save me time. Driving my boat out to a boat yard is a pain!
Aquaholic
Crew Member
A friend is a mobile marine electronics specialist, mostly commercial but some sport fishing related. He just does not need to market or advertise, as his workload is non stop. I try to get him out fishing for a respite but it’s not easy.
I feel that these marine specialist skilled trades have a severe shortage like the building skilled trades do. At what age or education level can youth be convinced to get into a trade? Power mechanics was my favourite class when I was in high school, how do we rekindle something like that?
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Totally agree, a real lack of mobile marine mechanics and less brick and mortar places now (e.g. SG Power). Even more need for good quality marine electrical/electronics specialists. This work is getting more complicated over time and the average guy can't do it well, so need professional help. However, very few on the island that are any good. Wasted lots of $$$ over the years at boat repair places and their inability to fix tricky electrical and electronics problems.
kaelc
Crew Member
We have got to start in elementary school, my wife, a VP did a Maker Fair and invited tradespeople and contractors, and it was a hit! Unfortunately, there are no rewards for good teachers and administrators to do things like this and she moved to another school, and isn't teaching now due to a long story better told trolling on a slow fishing day. High School is often too late to introduce trades, in my opinion, start in elementary school and reinforce them in high school. I have dreams of building a boat with my kids and should start buying everything and just do it because if we wait for the government to inspire training in our youth, it will never happen. Would love to build an Aluminum or Tolman, I'm handy just not quick and handy so would need to take time off and I want to take time off to cruise and travel with the family.
Recruiting Marine Technicians is very difficult as there is heavy competition, mining and some equipment dealers pay $50+ and benefits packages that are likely well above $25 an hour, to be competitive marine shops need to be in $150+ range for hourly rates. Automotive shops are good targets to recruit mechanics from as electronics can be just as challenging, but due to flat-rate auto shops and marine shops not wanting to pay top dollar to train Automotive guys it's tough to move them. Canadians aren't used to paying $150 hour, but down in Seattle $130 USD and up is likely the norm now, still, they have difficulty for all the same reasons. Apprenticeships can't keep up with guys becoming service managers, becoming disabled or becoming realtors and leaving the industry (I don't know many marine/hd mechanics who have become realtors, but I do know Red Seal Carpenters who have).
There is good money in marine maintenance, and I know of a great opportunity I would need $10M ish that I don't have!
Aquaholic
Crew Member
This is true, for on a personal note, I and others noticed my mechanical inclination at a young age, the patience to take something apart to see how it worked or to untangle a mess. This started me on a skilled trade career (Glazier) that got me to my own custom glazing business for many years. Working on the boat now seems therapeutic, even tying leaders and cleaning up the gear is a joy.
This is probably why so many tradespeople and those that worked with their hands are on the "What's for dinner tonight" page, as cooking is another creative outlet that satisfies the mechanical/problem solving/assembly part of our brain.
Some of my friends in the US talk positively about an ad program they run down there about how a skilled trade is a worthwhile career choice, and of the looming shortages within the trades. How do we build all the needed housing up here without increasing the skilled trades? Immigration is ramping up, there needs to be a push for skilled trades to help with the housing supply.
kaelc
Crew Member
Perfect trade to introduce kids too, Glazier! Industry groups are best suited to spearhead a push into schools. One of my team is trying by herself but I'll see if we can pitch the Roofing Contractors Association. I need to get on that thread, I have a little bit of fish to cook through!
Someone should buy the Sunny Shores property and turn it into something great. Awesome property with tons of potential but a total start from scratch as it has rotted away. Current owner obviously has no interest in reviving. Probably just waiting for a developer to offer. I have heard lots of rumors of how a past deal fell through but a non refundable deposit was paid out putting the owner in a good financial position. But just rumors to me. I know a couple of you on here know the owner and know more than me. I have great memories of "Sooky Sam's" from my childhood. Once was a cool campground with Super Slide and mini golf, gas bar and quality moorage ...
Rum Buddies
Well-Known Member
Same goes for boat tops, upholstery, etc - they're all run ragged with more business than they can possibly handle. All dummies... If one of them read a business book they'd figure out to raise their prices until their workload was manageable. They'd make 2x the profit and work 50% less.
sly_karma
Crew Member
Just hold off with that crazy talk until all my upholstery and bimini projects are complete, thank you very much.
MikePA
Well-Known Member
I think some are pretty pricey already.. I bent one of the poles on my Bimini, needed a button replaced on another piece, $450 later. The same place wanted $800 to replace the eisenglass in just the front window of the same bimini top. Still has a 5 month backlog.
Aces
Well-Known Member
They would still be backed up for months
Irishwolf
Crew Member
Interesting thread! I've been shopping for a new thing to do for a while now. Also prefer it to be in fishing, but unfortunately, as many have said on this thread already, the fishing industry is sunsetting. There is a reason lodges and charter boats/businesses are up for sale. And I don't see this changing anytime soon under current government mandates and environmental conditions.
Unless you have a show stopping new marketable idea, I'd stick with whatever is in demand, which seems to be trades or vacation rentals. Problem is the latter is saturated already, meaning if you don't already have a property, prices for properties are unattainable for most.
Trades are interesting however. They seem to be able to charge whatever they want. For example, my downdraft retractable kitchen fan broke recently and needed replaced. It's a contained unit. All venting already installed. I called around for pricing for installation, keeping in mind all they had to do was unplug and lift out the cooktop and old downdraft and drop in the new ones. Best quote was 4 hours @ 180 per hour! And they are booking 1.5 months out at these rates! Pardon?! I ended up doing the work myself. Took me maybe 2 hours taking my time. And based on what I did, not much skill was involved, although I did have to make one cut to enlarge the counter opening.
I also recently replaced the clutch in my ranger after getting quotes in the 3k range for a job that would take a day in the shop. Sure the work took me 50 hours - took my time as I didn't want to break anything, but I had fun, gave me a mental break from my finger typing desk job, and used it as a teachable moment for my kids. Now they know more about how cars work! Cost me 500$ in parts and 200$ in shop supplies.
Also recently got a quote from an electrician for 2500$ to run 20ft of copper tek cable around the back of my house. Again for a day of work.
Seems to me the cost of anything labour/trades related have almost doubled in the last 5 years. I really don't understand how consumers can afford these prices, but apparently they can as most labour related shops have 3-8 week lead out times. I'm seriously thinking of getting a trades ticket and starting my own biz!
Unless you have a show stopping new marketable idea, I'd stick with whatever is in demand, which seems to be trades or vacation rentals. Problem is the latter is saturated already, meaning if you don't already have a property, prices for properties are unattainable for most.
Trades are interesting however. They seem to be able to charge whatever they want. For example, my downdraft retractable kitchen fan broke recently and needed replaced. It's a contained unit. All venting already installed. I called around for pricing for installation, keeping in mind all they had to do was unplug and lift out the cooktop and old downdraft and drop in the new ones. Best quote was 4 hours @ 180 per hour! And they are booking 1.5 months out at these rates! Pardon?! I ended up doing the work myself. Took me maybe 2 hours taking my time. And based on what I did, not much skill was involved, although I did have to make one cut to enlarge the counter opening.
I also recently replaced the clutch in my ranger after getting quotes in the 3k range for a job that would take a day in the shop. Sure the work took me 50 hours - took my time as I didn't want to break anything, but I had fun, gave me a mental break from my finger typing desk job, and used it as a teachable moment for my kids. Now they know more about how cars work! Cost me 500$ in parts and 200$ in shop supplies.
Also recently got a quote from an electrician for 2500$ to run 20ft of copper tek cable around the back of my house. Again for a day of work.
Seems to me the cost of anything labour/trades related have almost doubled in the last 5 years. I really don't understand how consumers can afford these prices, but apparently they can as most labour related shops have 3-8 week lead out times. I'm seriously thinking of getting a trades ticket and starting my own biz!
Aquaholic
Crew Member
Did they also learn how to cuss?
Whenever my non mechanic brother would work on his stuff, the kids were sent inside beforehand to shelter their ears, as my brother wove a tapestry of obscenity that as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Chemainus.
Cookie's Cutter
Well-Known Member
I think what we are all getting at….
You can have fun and make money. But you can’t do both at the same time.
You can have fun and make money. But you can’t do both at the same time.
RiverBoy
Well-Known Member
Ron Jeremy is on line 2 for you
Irishwolf
Crew Member
Haha I was good. Interestingly I brought my wife out to help me line up a pesky tranny bolt from the wheel well while I was under the truck fishing the tool through and omg the profanities comin out of her mouth after 30 seconds of trying! She’s like how the hell do you have the patience for this! Well, it’s gotta get fixed…
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