ATT: CHARTER BOATS AND CHARTER POTENTIALS

[WAHOONBOX]

FUEL.................FUEL...................FUEL

THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF CAPT BRIAN AND I FOR UPCOMING CHARTERS REMAINING IN '05 -'06.................

HOW DOES THE WORLD FEEL ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL?.........

I FEEL WE AS CHARTER BOAT CREWS SHOULD UNITE AND MAKE A CHANGE WHERE A CHANGE IS NEEDED.............WHO KNOWS WHERE FUEL PRICES ARE GOING?? I DANG SURE DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!!

WE ON THE "RUN-OFF" HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE A BASE PRICE TO OUR POTENTIAL CHARTERS, WHICH INCLUDES CREW, BAIT, ICE. BOAT USE, TACKLE.......................FUEL COST BE DETERMINED UPON ARRIVAL BACK AT THE DOCK......THIS IS FAIR!..........FAIR TO ALL.........AND SOMETIMES WE MAKE EXTRA RUNS OF 15-20 MILES ONCE OFFSHORE TO PUT THE PARTY IN A HOT BITE.............WHY SHOULD WE LOSE $$ DOING THIS..........???

THE "RUN-OFF" HAS A FUEL CONSUMPTION GAUGE AND ALL PARTIES CAN WATCH WITH GLEE AS THE DIAL ROLLS OVER.........JUST AS IT DOES IN YOUR GAS GUZZLING SUBURBANS.....................YOU PAY THE GALLONS USED TIMES THE COST PER GALLON...............

BASE FEE PLUS FUEL USAGE

[MakoMike]

Sounds fair to me. Lots of boats are trying to cope with this, some are putting on "fuel surcharges" some are adding on depending on the distances run. Seems to me the firest way is to pull up to the fuel dock at the end of the day and let the charter pay for the fuel, at least they will know that they aren't getting screwed.

[mako__]

Personally I don't like it. Cost of fuel should be built into the charter rate. It is an operating expense like any other business. If the price of steel goes up for a fence company for instance, they raise their prices. Charter operations should do the same. But rates should be set at the beginning of the year not ebb & flow through the course of it.

If you have to run the extra 15-20 miles to the bite then so be it, no different if it takes the fence company 2 extra hours to put a section of fence up because it is on a slope or something. It's just part of the business and job at hand.

A charter Captain shouldn't have to ask his fare if they want to buck up and run the extra 15-20 miles. As long as the charter rates are commensurate with the distance. In other words....Offshore up to 60 miles is this price, offshore 60+ miles is the price and so on.

Just my 2 cents. I got burned on a charter where a fuel surcharge was added, which I agreed to and then the Captain ran 18 knots to conserve fuel and told me he was doing that. That is ridiculous. If you surcharge for fuel you better be running at a good clip to get the fare to and from in a reasonable amount of time.

No offense intended to any charter operations. I am fully aware of the cost to operate a charter business and I know you guys work hard. I just don't agree with fuel surcharging.

[Bert Rodgers]

Originally Posted by mako__

Personally I don't like it. Cost of fuel should be built into the charter rate. It is an operating expense like any other business. If the price of steel goes up for a fence company for instance, they raise their prices. Charter operations should do the same. But rates should be set at the beginning of the year not ebb & flow through the course of it.

If you have to run the extra 15-20 miles to the bite then so be it, no different if it takes the fence company 2 extra hours to put a section of fence up because it is on a slope or something. It's just part of the business and job at hand.

A charter Captain shouldn't have to ask his fare if they want to buck up and run the extra 15-20 miles. As long as the charter rates are commensurate with the distance. In other words....Offshore up to 60 miles is this price, offshore 60+ miles is the price and so on.

Just my 2 cents. I got burned on a charter where a fuel surcharge was added, which I agreed to and then the Captain ran 18 knots to conserve fuel and told me he was doing that. That is ridiculous. If you surcharge for fuel you better be running at a good clip to get the fare to and from in a reasonable amount of time.

No offense intended to any charter operations. I am fully aware of the cost to operate a charter business and I know you guys work hard. I just don't agree with fuel surcharging.

I would only agree if Charters can advertise "Prices subject to change"
These guys are not fat cats making a killing. They need to make a living
and I can't think of any business being hurt by fuel prices as much as
Charter Boats. I would hope booking Marinas can help by forwarning
charters made in advance that due to circumstances beyond their control
advertised price is subject to change.

Personally I have no problem with Marty's plan.

Bert

[DROPBACK]

We charge $1800. Our deal is anything over 400 gallons is paid by the charter. At $1800, were still loosing money when we burn 400. If you don't adjust the rates and add surcharges, you cant survive in this game right now.

I like the way we do it. Its straight up and easy to figure out. No complaints.

Karl

[WAHOONBOX]

WELL DANG MAKO...................

I GUESS THIS MEANS WE WON'T BE SEEING YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE....SHAME SHAME


YOU FORGOT TO BRING UP THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BEAR THE COST OF LOST AND BITTEN OFF DREDGES AND SUCH..............YOU BETTER STAY PRIVATE /RECREATIONAL DUDE

AND AS FAR AS NOT RUNNING AN EXTRA 15 MILES TO PUT YOU IN A BITE...........THE NEXT TIME YOU DO CHARTER SOME UNFORTUNATE CAPTAIN....BE SURE TO TELL HIM NOT TO MAKE THAT RUN UP THE BEACH WHEN HE HEARS OF A HOT BITE ..........AND SAVE HIM THE UNEXPECTED FUEL COST PLEASE.........THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REQUIRED OF A CAPTAIN BY THE WAY....BUDGETS ARE BUDGETS

SCREW THIS SHROUD THAT SURROUNDS THE CHARTER BOAT INDUSTRY ABSORBING LOSS OF WEATHER DAYS...........NOW I'M AM ON A MISSION...SCREW THIS ESTIGMA THAT IS HAUNTED THE CHARTER INDUSTRY FOR A CENTURY OF TAKING THE LOSS............I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN A SMALL SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THE "FUTURE"

I WILL NOW PETITION MY PERSONAL LOBBYIST FOR A PUSH FOR A "BAD WEATHER DAY" REBATE FROM UNCLE SAM....YOU KNOW LIKE A TOBACCO SUBSIDY.....OR A SHRIMP $UBSIDY LIKE THOSE BEING ISSUED TODAY...........AT LEAST THAT WAY I DO GET SOME OF YOUR MONEY

[mako__]

Originally Posted by WAHOONBOX

WELL DANG MAKO...................

I GUESS THIS MEANS WE WON'T BE SEEING YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE....SHAME SHAME


YOU FORGOT TO BRING UP THAT WE SHOULD ALSO BEAR THE COST OF LOST AND BITTEN OFF DREDGES AND SUCH..............YOU BETTER STAY PRIVATE /RECREATIONAL DUDE

AND AS FAR AS NOT RUNNING AN EXTRA 15 MILES TO PUT YOU IN A BITE...........THE NEXT TIME YOU DO CHARTER SOME UNFORTUNATE CAPTAIN....BE SURE TO TELL HIM NOT TO MAKE THAT RUN UP THE BEACH WHEN HE HEARS OF A HOT BITE ..........AND SAVE HIM THE UNEXPECTED FUEL COST PLEASE.........THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REQUIRED OF A CAPTAIN BY THE WAY....BUDGETS ARE BUDGETS

SCREW THIS SHROUD THAT SURROUNDS THE CHARTER BOAT INDUSTRY ABSORBING LOSS OF WEATHER DAYS...........NOW I'M AM ON A MISSION...SCREW THIS ESTIGMA THAT IS HAUNTED THE CHARTER INDUSTRY FOR A CENTURY OF TAKING THE LOSS............I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN A SMALL SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THE "FUTURE"

I WILL NOW PETITION MY PERSONAL LOBBYIST FOR A PUSH FOR A "BAD WEATHER DAY" REBATE FROM UNCLE SAM....YOU KNOW LIKE A TOBACCO SUBSIDY.....OR A SHRIMP $UBSIDY LIKE THOSE BEING ISSUED TODAY...........AT LEAST THAT WAY I DO GET SOME OF YOUR MONEY

I never said I wouldn't ever charter a boat that surcharges I just said I don't agree with it. And you would want me on your boat, I always take care of the crew whether they deserve it or not or if fish are caught or not. I understand the game.

Bit off dredges, etc, etc is all part of the game. No different then an independent tractor trailer driver getting a flat and having to pay to have it changed.

No offense intended just my opinion. You asked how the world felt about your idea.....

[Admin]

Please dont bite my head off but as a person who charters a decent amount of boats i want to know the cost before i leave the dock.

If i bought a canyon tuna trip and the captian took me to the wilmington and yelled hey john there is a bit in the toms but it will cost the trip 250 more do you want to go . Atleast then with open communication i could make a decision.

John

[Notorious]

I agree something has to be done and Wahoo's way makes a lot of "cents", but I also see how the paying charter might second guess the final numbers. I personally have taken the "all charters subject to fuel surcharge based on current gasoline prices" off my website and simply raised my rates a few dollars. I raised $50 for Bay trips (average burn in the bay is about 50 gallons) and $150 for Ocean trips (average ocean burn is about 150 gallons).

For a bigger operation like the Beast/Wahoo program, I'd probably have to be much more drastic. Because I am smaller and don't do 100s of trips per year, it works out OK for me. I will say that I have been doing a lot of 40 knot runs at 20gph vs. the 50 knot runs at 38gph.

[WAHOONBOX]

WITH ALL THE ABOVE IN MIND............I GUESS IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY....A CHARTER MUST PROTECT HIMSELF AND HAVE ENOUGH FIGURED IN THE COST....ENOUGH THAT WILL COVER

MY OPINION IS IT WOULD ALWAYS BE TO THE CHARTERS ADVANTAGE TO PAY FOR FUEL USED............OF COURSE IF THE CAPTAIN IS A CROOK ...THEN THATS DIFFERENT..............BUT I'M NOT A CROOK.............

LOOKING AT IT FROM THE ABOVE WAYS MENTIONED............WOW......THE CHARTER WILL MAKE OUT GOOD......IF THE BITE IS CLOSE..........ROCK ON!!! WE BURN LESS FUEL AND MORE DENERO IN DA POCKET



I LOVE TO FIRE YOU GUYS UP!!!!