Looking to start chartering soon. Need boat info etc.

[FreeBird Sportfishing]

Hey guys.. Im 19 and have been working on charter boats for a long time now. I know the ins and outs of fine fishing, customer service and business. Right now I own a small 21' CC that Im trying to sell, I have been browsing for a boat to charter and really like the layout of the 25' Grady Sailfish W/A. I want an enclosed head and a nice wide beam. Im hoping to find one repowered with decent outboards, But spend under 17k.. depending on how my detailing business pulls through now till spring. The charters will be mostly inshore with some 15 mile offshore trips for now. Is the 25 grady sufficient enough to run as a 4 man charter? Is there any other boats I should consider? Trying to keep maybe the 25-26 ft. Range.
You might think.. this kids nutz! I know the charter business quite well, and hoping to expand both of my businesses some day. If you go on some of the NJ local forums.. customers know me by name etc. Thanks for any insight!!

[seapower]

First of all, I'd say that just about everyone of us that's "out on their own", had someone call them nut's at some point. Look, it's your dream, you follow your dream as you see fit. One of these day's if you put enough heart and soul into it, you may well be able to look back a smile at those who said you couldn't do it.
If you're looking to get started in the area that you've fished in for some time, I'd say that you've probably done the "math" on what will keep you busy and pay the bill's, (don't forget, you gotta pay the bill's, above all else). Very few of us were able to start at "the top", most had to crawl for a while before the walking started. Good luck, Frank

[Deep C]

Go for it... I started with a 19'6" Aquasport. Went through a bunch of boats through the years but it always revolved around the beginning. You give 110% toward one goal. Makin smiles and memories...
Doesn't matter much whats under you as long as you keep her maintained and safe... The grady is a dandy little boat as long as you have good power... Remember to throw repower and repair into those numbers...

[WAHOONBOX]

Im 19 and have been working on charter boats for a long time now. I know the ins and outs of fine fishing, customer service and business. Right now I own a small 21' CC that Im trying to sell, I have been browsing for a boat to charter and really like the layout of the 25' Grady Sailfish W/A. I want an enclosed head and a nice wide beam. Im hoping to find one repowered with decent outboards, But spend under 17k.. depending on how my detailing business pulls through now till spring. The charters will be mostly inshore with some 15 mile offshore trips for now. Is the 25 grady sufficient enough to run as a 4 man charter? Is there any other boats I should consider? Trying to keep maybe the 25-26 ft. Range.
You might think.. this kids nutz! I know the charter business quite well, and hoping to expand both of my businesses some day. If you go on some of the NJ local forums.. customers know me by name etc. Thanks for any insight!!

FIRST I WILL WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD

AND AT THE SAME TIME, I AM A BIT SET BACK WHEN I HEAR YOU SAY YOU KNOW THE CHARTER BIZ QUIET WELL ....HELL I'M 60 AND BEEN DOING IT OVER 30 YRS AND I'M STILL LEARNING AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND I CHARTER 120 DAYS A YEAR AND COMMERCIAL BLUEFIN ANOTHER 60....IF YOU KNOW THE GAME QUIET WELL THEN YOU ALSO KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH TOUGH BUZINESS TO CRACK INTO , BUT AS YOU SAY, YOU ARE 19 & HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CHARTER BIZ ......

I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, I FOR ONE AM A BIT CONFUSED AT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS YOU SEEK ANSWERS TO ABOVE WHEN IT IS YOU THAT IS IMPLYING THAT YOU KNOW THE BUZINESS VERY WELL..... SOME MAY TRY TO PAINT A SWEET PICTURE HERE AND SAY ROCK N ROLL WITH YOUR DREAMS....BUT YOU BETTER BE SMART BRO.....YOU HAVE 50 MORE YEARS AHEAD OF YOU SO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS KEEPING IN MIND THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION THE WORLD IS IN.

WHILE FIVE GUYS FUN-FISHING ON A 25' IS ONE THING, A FOUR MAN CHARTER PLUS A CAPTAIN ON A 25 FT BOAT IS PACKING THEM IN THERE LIKE SARDINES


AS I HAVE STATED IN THREADS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, VERY FEW CAN MAKE IT IN LIFE FINANCIALLY BY SIMPLY 100% "CHARTERING".....

I SAY TO YOU: " KEEP THE DETAILING JOB AND MAKE IT PROSPER, GO UP ANOTHER $20 AN HOUR IN YOUR HOURLY RATE BECAUSE THEY, JOHN Q PUBLIQUE , WILL PAY IT...... ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO A FIRST CLASS JOB.

MAKE CHARTERING A SECONDARY INCOME THAT YOU DO NOT DEPEND ON ..........THIS SHOULD SATISFY YOUR CRAVE OF INSHORE FISHING

GOOD LUCK! I HOPE YOU END UP ON A 70 FOOTER SOME DAY!!!

[seapower]

Guess that's why I threw in "don't forget to pay the bill's". I don't know many kid's (sorry if you're 19, you're still a kid in my eye's) that don't have a "dream", if they don't they should. Been on my own since I got my DD214. 100% on the water running boat's until I took to working on them. It's never gonna be easy, not supposed to be. If it was you wouldn't appreciate what you've got. As Marty said about being in the biz since "Noah's" time, you learn new thing's everyday. I've been banging my knuckle's way more than I'd like to admit. But it is all about learning, figuring out how to change and stay afloat as time's change. And believe me they will change whether it be the economy, regulation's, fuel price's, competition, etc.... you still gotta figure out how to stay afloat. In other word's, paying the bill's.
Like I said before it's your dream, work toward YOUR dream's alway's! In the end that's what make's you get out of bed every day! You're taking the right step's here asking "what if". But at some point it all come's down to you and your desire. I would be willing to bet, if you ask anyone you know that's been successful in "their own" biz, they'd all say "no it wasn't easy, but it was worth it". Also know that there's alway's gonna be folk's standing in-line waiting to throw water on your fire. Find some folk's you trust to bounce your idea's off. I'm not so sure that the "net" would be my pick. Frank

[Capt. Terry]

I DO AGREE WITH BOX..... STEP IT UP TO AT LEAST A 28 FOOTER HAUS.......A 25 IS TIGHT WITH 5 PEOPLE.

I AM PROUD OF YOU AT YOUR AGE OF 19 TO WANT TO PURSUE A DREAM THAT YOU HAVE........ I HAVE SECOND GUESSED MYSELF SEVERAL TIMES FOR NOT PURSUING MINE AT THE SAME AGE,.....BUT THATS HOW THE CHIPS FALL.....

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF FOR 11 YEARS NOW..... DUDE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TOUGH TIMES.....BUT IT'S LIKE FRANK SAID,......WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER, IT IS WORTH IT. STAY 1ST CLASS, DON'T SETTLE FOR 2ND BEST......YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD......... , & KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT THOSE WHO STAND ON THE SIDELINES AND GIVE YOU BULLSH*T, CAUSE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE ANY BUSINESS. JUST REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF SUCCESFUL BUSINESS OWNERS/OPERATORS HAVE FAILED A TIME OR TWO IN LIFE, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD AND LEARNING HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

BE FAIR AND TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT. GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL ALWAYS WIN YOU REPEAT BUSINESS EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE BEST BANNER DAY ON THE WATER.

GOOD LUCK DUDE AND DON'T LOOK BACK WHEN YOU TAKE THAT LEAP.

[perfectscore]

im not going to chime in about the fishing aspect of your venture but I would ask yourself to first appraise your performance in your current business. Have you survived the recession?? Have you adapted to new economy to make it work? If so how did you do it?? By looking at your current business experience you might be able to gauge how you can handle the tough charter biz, with many many many variable. If you are entering this venture bc you are looking to supplement a slow detail shop, then it is a bad move 1+1= is not going to equal 2 but probablly -2. If you are making money in detailing and have some savings behind you to ride it out and absord the hits, go for it. good luck

[FreeBird Sportfishing]

As I stated box, I dont know EVERYTHING I know A lot tho. NOT EVERYTHING. Yes this will be a secondary business. Thanks for the info guys.

[Fast Forward]

I think there has benn good advice given so far and you need to listen to it all and decide for yourself. Here are some of my thoughts. I started chartering at 17, did commercial as well and worked as a Chief engineer on a tug, 3 weeks on and 3 off. Stopped the tugs at 28 had kids and started in boat repair, now have my own biz.

You need rags, a buffer, wax, and some other stuff for detailing. You should have per foot pricing and be able to bill out about $500 a day if all goes well.

With a 25 Grady you are probably not be charging much more than $500, have way more expense, and thats a lot of trips needed to pay for a repower. So if you do it, get a boat with one engine.

I think a 25 is big enough for 15 mile off at most.

I say get the detailing going well and do selective chartering. You will be more profitable and enjoy the fishing more.

Find a Captain you know who has owned a charter boat and talk to him about all of the little details involved. They will add up. I think about my kids and my biz, and realize how expensive people said they were. At first I thought those old people were wrong, after about two years I saw I was wrong. I only bring up my kids because like the biz there are so many unrealized costs that add up big time. I don't regret either.

Then again you are only 19, so F*&% IT, what is the worst that could really happen?

[craigwill201]

http://www.coastal-fisherman.com/iss...F3F96EC31192E5
Good article by Mark Sampson on pg.42 "chum lines".