Starting a boat related business
Here is a thought experiment. Start a business on less than $5000.
It has been said that to enjoy your work and be successful, you should
go into a business you enjoy. Well, we are all boaters here,
so.....
How often do you go to boat ramps and see 50 boat trailers sitting
empty the whole day while the boats are on the water? How many of
those trailers need to have their hubs re-packed? How many have
malfunctioning lights?
Get an old truck (already have one) and tools and grease and such and
go to the ramp at first light. As people get in line to launch offer
to repack their hubs while the trailer sits there. Offer to repair
trailer lights while it sits there. You would have to do this by
credit card cuz most people will not have $50 on them but that is ok.
You might be able to fix trailer brakes while you are there. |
Frogwatch
Nov 20
|
| Perhaps I misunderstood your point. I didn't intentionally ignore it. My boat came with a single axle trailer and no brakes. Perhaps the
state law mandates brakes for the load, I don't know. But the trailer
and load are not weighed as part of the safety inspection. In fact,
there is no requirement for a load on the trailer when inspected. So, I have no brakes on this trailer, and haven't felt the need for
them. Towing the 21' Proline was a different matter. The trailer had
surge brakes. |
John
Nov 21
|
| ??? It really sounds like that? Rob |
Rob
Nov 21
|
| My state does not even require licensing a trailer that weighs less than
700# empty. I see a lot of unlicensed trailers running around that are
surely over that, but loaded, so how does a trooper PROVE that it's over
700# empty? So, there's a lot of people slide. But, to my point. Go to a busy boat launch and walk among the trailers and
rigs of the people who are out boating. Look at their rigs. Some of the
stuff you see is downright scary. I know it's difficult to fix some stuff
with the boat on there, but if you can't fix it or have it fixed, you need
to turn in your captain's hat and bar bouy. Steve |
Steve
Nov 21
|
| Florida doesn't inspect trailers or even title them. If you stay off
the interstate and out of big cities tags are somewhat optional too.
You can get a tag for a "home built" trailer, pretty much by just
writing the check to the tax collector.
My all time favorite was a junk hauling trailer that was around Ft
Myers for years. It had a "lost tag" sign on it. The trailer had been
repainted and was due to be painted again ... around the lost tag
sign. They also don't inspect cars here. That was Bob Graham's claim to fame
that got him in the governor's mansion, stopping the inspection
program. There is emissions inspection in 6 or 7 big cities but not out here in
the boonies. |
gfretwell
Nov 21
|
| I have a 16' Lund on a light trailer. 13" wheels. Took the bearings apart
when I got it, and they had some wear. I live less than ten miles from the
lake I fish, and don't get over 55, and 75% is less than 35. I took it to
get a price on new bearings. $200. I just repacked them, and keep an eye
on the tightness. If I start ranging out to farther lakes, I'll have it
done, or meet someone in the meantime who has a press and can do them for
less. Steve |
Steve
Nov 21
|
| Just take a flat punch from the opposite side and drive out the race. To
install the race, set the new one in place and lay the old race on top, with
the sides contacting of different sizes. Lay a flat plate on top and drive
in the bearing. If the old race gets stuck, just hit the lip sticking out
with the punch. After that it is the same as packing bearings. And new
bearings are maybe $20 an axle at the autoparts store. Take the old bearing
with you to get the correct size. I think there are only two different
spindle sizes on modern trailers.
http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#packhubs
will show how to pack bearings. |
CalifBill
Nov 21
|
| There are some cool vids that have these contests... check it out.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 21
|
| I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-) |
thunder
Nov 21
|
| Have you asked at an auto parts store? Many around here have a press, an
will press bearings for a couple of bucks, or for free, if they see your
face on a regular basis. |
thunder
Nov 21
|
| That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection
system. Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static
but they'd check it off the report for every inspection. They finally got rid of that nonsense. I guess they figured if you
could make it to an inspection station, you passed. :>) |
Tom
Nov 22
|
| I was surprised by that. South Carolina doesn't register their
trailers either. Here, the trailer is registered and is liable to
property tax. Oddly, not boats though. Go figure.
>There is emissions inspection in 6 or 7 big cities but not out here in
>the boonies. Another joke in CT. You can pull into a station with the engine
blowing gobs of blue oil smoke out of it and it will pass as long as
it doesn't emit CO or CO2 in a specified amount for the cars age - not
milage - age. Believe me - I've seen it happen too. |
Tom
Nov 22
|
| IIRC, your inspections are done at a licensed service station? Here, we
have designated inspection centers, which are relatively thorough.
There's a visual inspection for rust, cracked windows, etc., a tailpipe
emissions test, a dynamic wheel balancing/alignment test, and a dynamic
brake test. The problem here is, if you fail, you can be retested at a
regular licensed service station. There things get considerably easier,
costlier, but easier. |
thunder
Nov 22
|
| That changed about ten years or so back. There were official "State"
inspection stations that were supposed to check for that, but all they
were interested in was getting the money - you coud blow through the
emissions inspection pretty easily with some simple tools and a hot
engine. I know because I did it with an old pickup I had to bang
around the woods in. :>) Now they are done at certain service stations - mostly dealerships as
the cost of the computer is high and your average garage mechanic
can't afford the constant software updates never mind the computer.
They say they do a "safety" check, but other than sticking the sampler
up the tailpipe (which is an apt metaphor huh?) I've never seen them
do a "safety" inspection. It's still only an emissions inspection - nothing else. |
Tom
Nov 22
|
| In NC, that would be the case for a trailer rated at 4,000# or less.
Over 4,000# and they have to check the brake system. I think at
10,001# the law reverts to a required Federal DOT inspection... just
like it was an 18-wheeler trailer. Add to this all of the ever changing requirements for reflectors and
lights. Just like your boat, it may not have come from the factory
lighted in accordance with existing or future laws. Here this law is not enforced because they don't have a way to mandate
the existence of inspection stations. Locally, I haven't been able to
locate ANY inspection station that will inspect a trailer, regardless
of published materials to the contrary. It is difficult enough to find
somebody to do a motorcycle.... |
Gene
Nov 21
|
| Here the brake system must be checked if the trailer is so equipped.
The same stations that inspect autos will inspect trailers, and
motorcycles. Although I was once told they couldn't inspect my
motorcycle because they didn't have any motorcycle stickers, which are
a smaller version of the auto sticker. Unless the inspector is a
motorcyclist, he usually does a shitty job of inspection. |
John
Nov 21
|
| Your laws are weirder than ours. If the "actual gross weight" is 3,000
pounds or more, it is required to have brakes and is required to be
inspected. (The "actual gross weight" is the weight of the trailer
plus the weight of any load that the trailer is carrying.) If the
"actual gross weight" is less than 3,000 pounds, it is not required to
be inspected; however, any trailer under 3,000 that is equipped with
brakes is also required to be inspected. I hope you have brakes...... http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Safety.shtm#FAQSafety |
Gene
Nov 21
|
| Nope. No brakes on the trailer. But my boat is not a heavy one, and
the 4Runner has no trouble stopping it. Of course, using the three
second rule helps. |
John
Nov 21
|
| At least you have laws on brake inspection. Here in Sick-anoy, load
rates on boat trailers mean noting. Even if your trailer is so
equipped with brakes, they don't have to work, because you don't need
an inspection to get a tag. There's lots of trailers around that the
surge or electric brakes don't work just waiting to have a jack-knife
or a pile up, but it seems the attitude is, "Hey it hasnt't happened
to me yet!" first thing I did when I got my 23' Cuddy was to test the brakes and
look in the master cylinder. all seemed good. Then when I got home
with it, I jacked the whole thing up and pulled the wheels to look and
check beings. All was well, but I repacked and resealed the hubs
anyhow. IMHO, bad brakes is bad judgment. My 18' has a single axle shoreline trailer an no brakes, but it's a
much lighter load, and I agree with John. Common sense driving.
thinking ahead, and the 3-second rule is good. |
Tim
Nov 21
|
| My point, either misunderstood or ignored, was that even a 18 foot
bayliner weighs 3,000# including trailer and engine. State law, then, would *require* that the trailer have brakes
installed, if it were to actually pass the inspection as spelled out.
I'm betting the lights wouldn't pass inspection, either. Sucks... but those are the sort of requirements that would make the
business model of the OP viable..... |
Gene
Nov 21
|
| Have you ever been to the big bend of Florida ;-) Just kidding Ohara, but it may be a little "rustic" for a California
girl. |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| That's almost word-for-word what you wife said in her last email. Amazing! Rob |
Rob
Nov 20
|
| He is speaking to the reality. If you are working on trailers that
will be towed on public highways you better have good insurance and
Harrry was spot on talking about disposal of every speck of grease,
oil and other pollution within 500' of the water. That includes any
drainage ditch or swale.
I understand Frank Perdue can flood the Chesapeake bay with chicken
poop (he bribes all the right people) but a little guy like Mr Ohara
would get clobbered by Fla DEP if a table spoon of grease got in the
water.
If DEP knew this was going on somebody would have to do a NPDES study
and have the state decide whether they need a permit |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| Well, we like it "rustic" here. Believe it or not, I am unable to get
my sailboat bottom painted for lack a any facilities to haul her. Am
going to sail to St Petersburg (about 200 miles) to get it done.
However, I know that there are a few public landings where it is very
crowded on nice days and I figured that more civilized areas would
have even more. All those trailers in one spot sure seems like some
kinda opportunity. I hear about long lines to launch and that sounds
like a great place to approach those waiting. Repacking bearings is
not hard and does not require anything but grease and maybe some
cotter pins.
Around here, I know you'd get away with it but you'd run out of
trailers quickly. |
Frogwatch
Nov 20
|
| I still think it is a doable thing but to be legal he probably has to
work in conjunction with a marina that has the necessary local/state
licenses and he would still need E&O insurance to be safe. Plan B would just be to wing it and hope everything comes out OK but I
doubt someone would give him $50 for this, more like $20 if all he is
doing is repacking the bearings. The money comes when you start
selling lights, bearings and seals but that requires inventory.
Personally I would leave the bearings alone and just do lights with a
good system that people would recognize and respect. That is where the
"inventor" would come in. As a general rule all trailer light systems
suck.
I have mine on a 1x4 and I only put them on when I am actually towing.
Otherwise they are in the truck or in the garage.
If he could come up with a decent light assembly and a good way to
wire them that holds up to salt water and neglect he might have
something. |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| Oh MY GOD!! It's a gov't take-over and it's OBAMA'S fault! Shocking! :)
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| Never, but I'm pretty used to rednecks if that's what's around. :)
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| A need. A worker. Some rules. Fear of a gov't take-over.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| The South is a bit different than the west. There is a subtle
difference in the type of innovation, lifestyle and a whole lot of "we
don't care what you think". I am very much at home here but it drives
a lot of people from the rest of the country crazy. The metaphor would be the difference between tangling with a grizzly
bear and wrasslin an alligator.
In both cases you are talking about an apex predator but the bear is a
sentient mammal you might be able to reason with, the gator is 400
pounds of prehistoric muscle and teeth that just wants to eat you.
Toss in the biggest snakes, bugs and lizards in the country and you
get a tough bunch of people who choose to live here. Don't confuse
this with the east coast that Harry likes or Orlando. That is just
where the transplanted New Yorkers go.
Much like the Seminoles 100 years ago, the real Floridians have been
pushed back into the swamps by northerners but their time is running
out. |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| Dang, thats quite a compliment to us crackers.
Nom, yeah, it is SORTA rednecky here. Disrespectin the Stars 'n
Bars'll gitcha in a heapa trouble. In spite of running out of places
to grow oysters, the oyster shuckers never run out of oysters cuz the
oysters is smarter than they are.
As far as spilling a bit of grease goes, the last place that hauled my
boat did it with a travel liftthat used a beer keg as a reservoir for
hydraulic fluid and an old garbage can to catch what was dripping offa
it. They built berms of sand on the ground to catch what spilled
over.
The shrimp boat across the river has a 4' X 8' piece of plywood nailed
across a huge hole and it has been going to sea like that since
Katrina. It has old truck axles welded to make an anchor.
Dog Island is an anarchist paradise where it is considered bad manners
to pay attention to what goes on at the grass airstrip. The only dump
truck on the island has an old evinrude motor gas tank with a squeeze
bulb instead of a fuel pump. Very few vehicles can be identified as
to their original make. When rust overcomes one, they just allow the
vines to grow over em and the drifting sand does the rest.
You Yankees think you got us on the run but we have a plan. I have
invented the ultimate weapon of mass destruction against Yankees, a
bug that eats freon in air conditioners. |
Frogwatch
Nov 20
|
| The Montreal Treaty beat you to it but they came up with something
else. |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| Hell, there are mobile car washes, mobile truck repair that will fix the
diesel on the side of the road, mobile detailers, mobile oil changers. Come
to your place of work and set up to change a lot of the cars oils. Probably
not that hard to get permits, and make sure the grease does not pollute.
Seeing requests on boating groups about who does trailer bearings and
brakes, there is probably a large market in an area with boaters. Maybe the
city would require a minimum liability insurance, but that is most likely
needed anyway. A lot of boaters would love to be able to get their trailer
serviced while out boating for the day. Charge $65 an hour and you will
make a decent living if not living in Seattle or San Francisco. I can hire
a bass fishing guide for $180 at Lake Fork, TX. He supplies the boat, the
rods and the lures. He is making more and enjoying life more than saying
You want fries with that. He is not making an upper middle class living,
but he is supporting himself. But there are a lot on this newsgroup, who
distain the working class. Unless they are paying union dues, etc. |
CalifBill
Nov 20
|
| Sounds like a youtube selection bear vs. gator, human vs. car.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| If I'm paying someone to re-pack my bearings, I want a licensed, experienced
mechanic.
If it's amateur hour...I can fill the bill myself. |
Don
Nov 20
|
| I know where there was a large panel van set up to do just this. Owner
couldn't make it and the unit was put up for sale. That was in
Wilmington, NC.... it might make some beer money, but don't quit your
day job.... |
Gene
Nov 20
|
| If it were to be done RIGHT, one would have to comply with so many laws that
it would be cost prohibitive. You would need to carry several million in
liability alone. And then, either Fish and Game or Coast Guard would come
into the picture. It is a microcosm of what's wrong with this country.
There's a need. There's a guy that wants to work. But there's all these
agencies and laws in the middle. It's so discouraging. So, what does a guy
do? He goes black market, working from a van, and doing things for cash.
Then the unthinkable happens, and someone gets hurt or worse. Well, the guy
probably doesn't have much to sue for, but even a poor schmuck can be raked
over the coals by a bottomfeeding lawyer. Steve |
SteveB
Nov 20
|
| Actually, you are headed in the wrong direction.... most people won't
fix a trailer until it breaks. In fact I've seen one actually break in
the middle and dump the boat on the ground between the two halves. There actually would be more work to do if the laws were strictly
enforced.... but then the laws are kinda stupid to begin with. It ain't that simple... |
Gene
Nov 20
|
| Just what we need at boat ramps...some redneck who thinks "pristine" is
his neighbor's do-able teen-aged daughter flushing and cleaning boat
trailer hubs, and then repacking them. And all that old grease being
dumped onto the ground and then finding its way onto the ramp and into
the water. |
H
Nov 20
|
| Up here I have to take my trailer to an official safety inspection station
every year.
Between that and the yearly licencing fee, I layout about $65.00 CDN |
Don
Nov 20
|
| Don't get it. You have scads of multinational customers and you're
hoping to make $50/day packing hubs? Something smells fishy. |
jps
Nov 20
|
| It's obvious his "business" is in the crapper. |
H
Nov 20
|
| If you do it right, the millions worth of liability insurance you're
required to have make it prohibitive. Not to mention all the red tape from
Fish and Game and Coast Guard. Ah, I love our system. How's all that hope and change working out for
everyone? Steve |
SteveB
Nov 20
|
| I almost certain they would object unless you could approach them with all
the liability insurance, permits, etc., in place. If it's a fed/state/county
agency, then it would need to be approved much higher up the food chain.
That could take months.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| No, it's not a "microcosm of what's wrong." There are rules and regs for a
reason, some of which have been identified. If you have a legitimate
business, then the rules and regs can be traversed. If you don't, you either
have to fly under the radar or not bother. This isn't some 3rd World
country.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| Yes, Gaia forbid that somebody could achieve economic freedom. |
Frogwatch
Nov 20
|
| You sound very bitter. Did this happen to you over the last eight years or
is a longer-term situation?
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| A sign of the times. A need. A worker. Red tape. Steve |
SteveB
Nov 20
|
| ?? Not sure what this has to do with reasonable rules and regulations. Feel
free to pollute all you want. I'm sure your neighbors won't mind.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| According to Steve, a black bitch yelled on TV that Obama was going to
pay for her mortgage and gasoline. |
jps
Nov 20
|
| Virginia mandates an annual trailer inspection and display of a
sticker indicating such. The only things inspected on mine are the
tires and the lights. Still costs $12 for three minutes work. |
John
Nov 20
|
| My bet, it can't be done. Maybe $10,000.
If you are really going to do this you have to include all of your
real costs. To start with, if you are really going to do more than the
most superficial service, you need parts.
The other problem, for any long term business is you only get to do
these trailers once every year or two. How many do you think there
are?
It might be a way to make some short term money but it is not a career
unless you plan on traveling, particularly if you are out in the
sticks.
The biggest problem with any service business is getting people to pay
what you need to make a living and you always have a lot of overhead.
What do you think insurance will cost?
Is the owner of the ramp going to want a taste? The county might just
tell you it is illegal at their ramps. |
gfretwell
Nov 20
|
| I wouldn't trust someone like you, who combines the best of Murphy's Law
and the Peter Principle, to touch my trailer, let alone repack the hubs.
Sorry.
|
H
Nov 20
|
| Don't forget that you could also replace, repair and re-carpet bunks,
repair, replace winches and winch straps, etc.
|
NowNow
Nov 20
|
| I think it's possible, but it would be tight. They would be paying for your
services and the cost of parts. You can either stock a lot of parts or go
get them somewhat as needed, right? I'd suggest the latter mostly, since
that would reduce your inventory, but you'd likely have to have a bunch of
standard stuff. There are costs and hoops to jump through to accept credit
cards... not trivial, so that's worth investigating. You'll need a business
license and insurance, both for yourself and for any possible damage to
customers' stuff. You'd want to insist on a cash deposit, since you could
end up doing the work and not getting paid. If the generic cost if $50 (for
example - I have no idea what repacking would normally cost, etc.), your
deposit should approach 50% (say $20, which almost everyone would have). I know one thing ... I'm very wary of is being approached and solicited
about buying something or other. You would need to look professional...
e.g., have a small stand or station, not just some guy in a beat up pickup
truck. Maybe it's a sign on the truck panels? Also, you would probably need
to get permission from the owner of the ramp... if it's private. If it's
public, then that might be tricky. One thing you could do is to try it with people you know who have boat
trailers... see what they think and how much they would pay for it to be
done. If you're serious about this, the best way to start is to create a detailed
business plan. You can find tools online for free or for low cost. It's
worth it, since it would quantify most aspects of your costs and expected
return on investment.
|
nom=de=plume
Nov 20
|
| I'm thinking that the operator of the ramps is shortly going to have a
problem with this. Even if it's the local wildlife or state park
people. You're creating a liability. What if you get hurt doing
this? What if you damage another trailer that is not even one you are
working on? You're going to be asked to stop. |
jamesgangnc
Nov 20
|
| How much different would it be from getting a jump start or having a
tow truck pull your gear away? Not that much. The problem is, at least to me, in all my years of trailer boating,
I've seen maybe one trailer crap out at a launch ramp and that was a
bunk that broke in two. That was fixed by the local marina in about
a half hour. Boat retrieved and gone. I've certainly never had it happen to me and I've got a few hours and
years trailering boats. |
Tom
Nov 20
|
