Discussion
it's tough as there is soooo much competition out there in terms of both sea schools, charter companies and outfits that do both.
if work the yacht hard enough, you should be able to get the yacht to wipe it's own face in terms of running costs, and maybe make some pocket money too... i can't really see an excellent living to be made though.
far more fun would be to buy something like an old(er) swan (or similar) and go for cat-zero coding so you can charter trans-atlantic... you can then summer in the UK/Med (and with a swan, you will get charters for cowes, fastnet, rti etc etc) and winter in the Caribbean (charter for antigua race week and the caribbean 600), following the fleet and maximising your charter potential...
it's a hard work life, but bloody good fun!
if work the yacht hard enough, you should be able to get the yacht to wipe it's own face in terms of running costs, and maybe make some pocket money too... i can't really see an excellent living to be made though.
far more fun would be to buy something like an old(er) swan (or similar) and go for cat-zero coding so you can charter trans-atlantic... you can then summer in the UK/Med (and with a swan, you will get charters for cowes, fastnet, rti etc etc) and winter in the Caribbean (charter for antigua race week and the caribbean 600), following the fleet and maximising your charter potential...
it's a hard work life, but bloody good fun!
First rule of making money with boats 'Don't own a boat'
(unless you can put large numbers of bums on seats several times a day all year)
I had a mate who did racing charters in the Solent with a First 40.7 He and his missus chartered it across on the ARC and did a caribbean race season. Was a very tight operation and both had parents that could offer support financially or with a temporary job. He was pretty handy at the sailing and the maintenance so if it was tough for him Autumn 2007 then it will be rock hard now.
(unless you can put large numbers of bums on seats several times a day all year)
I had a mate who did racing charters in the Solent with a First 40.7 He and his missus chartered it across on the ARC and did a caribbean race season. Was a very tight operation and both had parents that could offer support financially or with a temporary job. He was pretty handy at the sailing and the maintenance so if it was tough for him Autumn 2007 then it will be rock hard now.
Rhodie said:
Oh well I’ll just have to keep the day job. Thanks for your opinions, I thought as much.
if you ditch the uk and head off to where the sun shines, it becomes your way of life... most boat owners work hard all week to allow them enough income to spunk the lot on a boat... if you make your boat your life, you will have the yacht, have just as little spare capital, but not have to work hard in the city all day! lolif you ditch the uk and head off to where the sun shines, it becomes your way of life... most boat owners work hard all week to allow them enough income to spunk the lot on a boat... if you make your boat your life, you will have the yacht, have just as little spare capital, but not have to work hard in the city all day! lol
Ah, sounds like you know your stuff. However after spunking 100k in depreciation on a 46' flybridge powerboat very recently, it seems boating is like standing under a shower throwing £50 notes away. I rather hoped sailing was the smart option.
Ah, sounds like you know your stuff. However after spunking 100k in depreciation on a 46' flybridge powerboat very recently, it seems boating is like standing under a shower throwing £50 notes away. I rather hoped sailing was the smart option.
Against common belief, running a sailing boat costs just as much as a powerboat when you factor in the cost of sails, running and standing rigging you will get through, especially if you charter the boat and make it work hard. I have to bring in £75k just to cover the costs of the boat year on year, so making money isn't an easy task!
SpeedYellow said:
Against common belief, running a sailing boat costs just as much as a powerboat when you factor in the cost of sails, running and standing rigging you will get through, especially if you charter the boat and make it work hard. I have to bring in £75k just to cover the costs of the boat year on year, so making money isn't an easy task!
yes, but kurt, even you have to admit that gold-plating your rigging screws and sewing swarovski diamonds into the sails so they twinkle in the sunshine, is a tad ott. looks pretty though!
SpeedYellow said:
Against common belief, running a sailing boat costs just as much as a powerboat when you factor in the cost of sails, running and standing rigging you will get through, especially if you charter the boat and make it work hard. I have to bring in £75k just to cover the costs of the boat year on year, so making money isn't an easy task!
have you given up on the GTR now?,see its still laid up under the dust cover.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff