Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Interest in boating, docking, and navigation lessons?

NH_boater · 08-22-2014, 03:53 PM

I too question demand even though you said side business. A couple of thoughts (my opinion obviously)...

- Insurance liability and damage potential issues using customer's boat or your own. This cost could negate any profit, and mistakes could kill a years take.
- The people that need it most are not likely to seek out or pay for it.
- Difficult business model with lack of steady stream of repeat users. Hard to make a any profit on one and done customers.
- Difficult business model with short seasonal window
- Weather and time dependent for lessons; wind/waves/traffic. Off times are best for wide open docking access, while on hours best for tight quarters practice.
- Customer's have to accept you as a credible, capable instructor on a wide variety of vessels (performance, runabout, cruiser, ski boat, PWC, pontoon, etc.) in a wide variety of situations. May not be easy.

Just so I am not completely negative.....Opportunities:
- Reading charts/GPS and navigating (avoiding rocks)
- Docking (dealing with wind and tight quarters)
- Anchoring and sandbars (avoid arguments with spouse)
- Boating Safety (fire ext, radio, pfd, waves, trim and tabs)
- Water safety (boneheads, wakes, winds, storms, drowning, MOB)
- Tubing and kid safety
- Launching and trailering (and backing up trailers)
- Knots and tie up properly
- Night boating basics
- Fueling and Maintenance basics
- Interesting lake destinations

Best approach is probably to align yourself as a service representing yourself with multiple marinas. Maybe even the marina throws your basic 4 hr service in for free with every new boat purchase (and they pay you directly) if you can demonstrate value to the marina. This might give you a lead stream and upselling potential.

It all really depends on your expectations for business volume, revenue and profit. My guess: Pretty long put to make any profit.

08-22-2014, 03:53 PM	#12
NH_boater Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 298 Thanks: 14 Thanked 147 Times in 62 Posts	I too question demand even though you said side business. A couple of thoughts (my opinion obviously)... - Insurance liability and damage potential issues using customer's boat or your own. This cost could negate any profit, and mistakes could kill a years take. - The people that need it most are not likely to seek out or pay for it. - Difficult business model with lack of steady stream of repeat users. Hard to make a any profit on one and done customers. - Difficult business model with short seasonal window - Weather and time dependent for lessons; wind/waves/traffic. Off times are best for wide open docking access, while on hours best for tight quarters practice. - Customer's have to accept you as a credible, capable instructor on a wide variety of vessels (performance, runabout, cruiser, ski boat, PWC, pontoon, etc.) in a wide variety of situations. May not be easy. Just so I am not completely negative.....Opportunities: - Reading charts/GPS and navigating (avoiding rocks) - Docking (dealing with wind and tight quarters) - Anchoring and sandbars (avoid arguments with spouse) - Boating Safety (fire ext, radio, pfd, waves, trim and tabs) - Water safety (boneheads, wakes, winds, storms, drowning, MOB) - Tubing and kid safety - Launching and trailering (and backing up trailers) - Knots and tie up properly - Night boating basics - Fueling and Maintenance basics - Interesting lake destinations Best approach is probably to align yourself as a service representing yourself with multiple marinas. Maybe even the marina throws your basic 4 hr service in for free with every new boat purchase (and they pay you directly) if you can demonstrate value to the marina. This might give you a lead stream and upselling potential. It all really depends on your expectations for business volume, revenue and profit. My guess: Pretty long put to make any profit.