I love my sailboat. I putter on my sailboat. I'm fussy when it comes to having work done on my sailboat. I like to play with gelcoat, teak, and repairs. So...where can I learn to make good money working on sailboats? I think that there is a real shortage of skilled people who can do quality gelcoat repairs etc....based on my experience. Looking for comments on the best jobs for people who want to do good quality work. After working in the rat race for 25 years, and making a real good living, I'm thinking that working/playing at something that I really love may be a better way live. Comments please.
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Beer pay
Come work on my boat and I'll buy your beer! ha ha. Good luck on your search. There was a thread some time ago about West Marine starting a service that would install parts/accessories purchased through them. Any chance of you being the Maytag Man of West Marine? Anybody heard more about this?
Come work on my boat and I'll buy your beer! ha ha. Good luck on your search. There was a thread some time ago about West Marine starting a service that would install parts/accessories purchased through them. Any chance of you being the Maytag Man of West Marine? Anybody heard more about this?
Boat Bum
Life gets interesting when you find out you need insurance to be hired as a contractor in many marinas. Most marinas will be happy to pay you ten bucks and hour and bill you out at sixty. Been there, done that, keep your day job
Life gets interesting when you find out you need insurance to be hired as a contractor in many marinas. Most marinas will be happy to pay you ten bucks and hour and bill you out at sixty. Been there, done that, keep your day job
Good luck
I understand the question. Walkiing down the pier with a bag of cleansers may get you offers of a job. But making REAL money or a decent living, is another story. I, (kind of off topic but actually the same)at 1 time was offered work at a motorcycle manufacturer doing what I truly had a passion for. Things you love to do seldom pay realistic wages because other people love to do it too. Smearing fiberglass on a boat probably pays less overall than working in a body shop smearing bondo on a car. $$$ vs loving what you're doing. If you're good at it, start your own part time business. Very personal decision.
I understand the question. Walkiing down the pier with a bag of cleansers may get you offers of a job. But making REAL money or a decent living, is another story. I, (kind of off topic but actually the same)at 1 time was offered work at a motorcycle manufacturer doing what I truly had a passion for. Things you love to do seldom pay realistic wages because other people love to do it too. Smearing fiberglass on a boat probably pays less overall than working in a body shop smearing bondo on a car. $$$ vs loving what you're doing. If you're good at it, start your own part time business. Very personal decision.
Boat jobs
Hi I had the same idea lately. Would'nt it be nice. I guess the trick is to try it as a part time job on the side and build a customer base and good word of mouth first. If you like it and its fits you then expand. I am having the same thoughts. I'm happiest completing projects. The hardest part is collecting all the tools and parts and many projects need two people to complete. You might want to document you work with a digital camera to use as a sales pitch. Theres nothing better than doing something that you enjoy!
Hi I had the same idea lately. Would'nt it be nice. I guess the trick is to try it as a part time job on the side and build a customer base and good word of mouth first. If you like it and its fits you then expand. I am having the same thoughts. I'm happiest completing projects. The hardest part is collecting all the tools and parts and many projects need two people to complete. You might want to document you work with a digital camera to use as a sales pitch. Theres nothing better than doing something that you enjoy!
You Might Be Right
$10.00 per hour is probably what I might get paid. Not enough to make it real. All that I can say is that not one gelcoat/fibreglass repair person is able to properly match nonskid on my boat. I got sick of looking. I would have paid plenty to get it done properly but the talent is not there. If there was someone who could have done it I wouldn't care of the cost just to have it done properly. Saying that, I think boaters will pay the big bucks for a well done job and if I developed my craft part time on the side and took the learning as a hobby first (so as to perfect my craft) the work would line up at my door. I think that someone who can match a nonskid texture (a real art to blend the new to the old pattern) would be in high demand. So I think that if I should practice first as a hobby and study. When you know it, take it to the market.
$10.00 per hour is probably what I might get paid. Not enough to make it real. All that I can say is that not one gelcoat/fibreglass repair person is able to properly match nonskid on my boat. I got sick of looking. I would have paid plenty to get it done properly but the talent is not there. If there was someone who could have done it I wouldn't care of the cost just to have it done properly. Saying that, I think boaters will pay the big bucks for a well done job and if I developed my craft part time on the side and took the learning as a hobby first (so as to perfect my craft) the work would line up at my door. I think that someone who can match a nonskid texture (a real art to blend the new to the old pattern) would be in high demand. So I think that if I should practice first as a hobby and study. When you know it, take it to the market.
later....
David.....been there done that.....I have to go to work now but later today (when I have some time to write) I will tell you the real truth to working on boats......
David.....been there done that.....I have to go to work now but later today (when I have some time to write) I will tell you the real truth to working on boats......
The problem with
boat repair work is that it is seasonal. And weather dependent. And scattered all over the map. Try hanging your shingle and seeing if you can get enough part time work to interfere with your sailing time. You probably will need a full time income for another twenty years so do the math carefully.
boat repair work is that it is seasonal. And weather dependent. And scattered all over the map. Try hanging your shingle and seeing if you can get enough part time work to interfere with your sailing time. You probably will need a full time income for another twenty years so do the math carefully.
Try other Boating venues
David, There are other things you can explore based off your skill and knowledge. What about trying to get a job within the industry? Work at a company like Harken or Garmin for example. Or perhaps a trade-show organization that runs boat-shows? What about taking a stab at writing or selling advertising for a publication? It might be a different rat-road race but practical
Based off the responses below - its fun to work on our own boats but when it comes to making $10 an hour and climbing into someone elses bilge...it might be a different story. The folks all here come her because we love sailing and talking shop about our boats, experiences and dreams - leverage that and perhaps you will figure out a way to make a living off it! Good Luck! Rob
David, There are other things you can explore based off your skill and knowledge. What about trying to get a job within the industry? Work at a company like Harken or Garmin for example. Or perhaps a trade-show organization that runs boat-shows? What about taking a stab at writing or selling advertising for a publication? It might be a different rat-road race but practical
Based off the responses below - its fun to work on our own boats but when it comes to making $10 an hour and climbing into someone elses bilge...it might be a different story. The folks all here come her because we love sailing and talking shop about our boats, experiences and dreams - leverage that and perhaps you will figure out a way to make a living off it! Good Luck! Rob
Hey rad! (Glen Cove)
Same name small world,I run a business in Glen Cove (Electricial Contractor) and live and play on the south shore.Hey you guys are right there's a shortage of a lot of skilled people in all sorts of trades cause young people don't want to start at the bottom and go thru the learning process. I need some gel coat repairs any one interested? Bay Shore area RAD s/v Free Spirit
Same name small world,I run a business in Glen Cove (Electricial Contractor) and live and play on the south shore.Hey you guys are right there's a shortage of a lot of skilled people in all sorts of trades cause young people don't want to start at the bottom and go thru the learning process. I need some gel coat repairs any one interested? Bay Shore area RAD s/v Free Spirit
We had a guy...
on Lake Travis in Austin,TX when I lived there who was able to charge $45-50 per hour and was well worth the money. Part of his deal though was he didn't do "Wood, Fiberglass, or Paint". Seemed those areas were too time consuming and hard to please the customer to make it worthwhile. Guy did rigging, reefing systems, engine maintenance (gas or diesel), bottom cleaning in water, plumbing, electrical, steering, etc. Had all the right insurance and was very honest and detail driven. I think the key is being in an area with all year round boat use. One of the marinas wound up hiring him to work exclusively for them.
on Lake Travis in Austin,TX when I lived there who was able to charge $45-50 per hour and was well worth the money. Part of his deal though was he didn't do "Wood, Fiberglass, or Paint". Seemed those areas were too time consuming and hard to please the customer to make it worthwhile. Guy did rigging, reefing systems, engine maintenance (gas or diesel), bottom cleaning in water, plumbing, electrical, steering, etc. Had all the right insurance and was very honest and detail driven. I think the key is being in an area with all year round boat use. One of the marinas wound up hiring him to work exclusively for them.
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