Hello

[CaptnAngel03]

Originally Posted by Art

No offence meant - But!

You're talking about beat-em-up, service oriented work boats. There's plenty of relatively easily-legal fashions to make good money that way.

Whereas a personally loved, +/- 30' pleasure craft occasionally used for 6-Pack cruising... that covers all the required legal parameters regarding care for and protection of paying passengers [customers] is a whole different ball game. No where near as easy to make $$$ as the "work boat" scenario mentioned above.

Sure, you can run below the legal requirements and take people out that [in one way or another] pay you for the ride without having all the legal stuff taken care of and firmly in place. But - I Warn: In doing so and any passenger/customer is damaged [God forbid killed] while under your care on or about the boat - You could be sued for much money, maybe for million$!

Be careful - Think things through...

Again, I just want to make $ not $$$. I’ve done the research and I know what I want to do is not a very profitable endeavor, especially after all the work. I just hope it pays for itself.

[psneeld]

Sorry Art, but you haven't seen many of the tour boats I have seen....

Legal doesn't cost as much as pretty and pretty is less important than other factors based on the many charter boats I have come across. Sure pretty for the high end stuff, but there are bucks to be made elsewhere. And who said the houseboat or Shamrock weren't just pleasure boats that could have continued on instead of commercial service?

To make a broad statement like you can't make money on a boat is wrong on so many accounts I won't even respond further....I will let peoples own experiences guide them.

I did say it's more about business sense than boating skills....remember the pet rock?

[psneeld]

One thing to remember, I think charter boats have to be American built or you have to get a waiver ( not impossible but another hurdle).

[Comodave]

I used to know but memory is getting shorter as life gets longer, but I think that 6 packs, uninspected, do not have to be built in the US. The Jones Act is what you will be dealing with and if it is required to be built in the US and you have a foreign built boat it literally takes an act of congress to get a waiver. Not impossible to do but difficult.

[Art]

Originally Posted by psneeld

One thing to remember, I think charter boats have to be American built or you have to get a waiver ( not impossible but another hurdle).

So far... I haven't read posts from 30' boat owners being financially successful providing 6-pack tours, who have chimed in on this thread. Imagine there are some. Hope to hear from them.

[CaptnAngel03]

Originally Posted by psneeld

One thing to remember, I think charter boats have to be American built or you have to get a waiver ( not impossible but another hurdle).

Mainship is built in the U.S., so I’m good there.

[backinblue]

Nothing against any of the advice. I'm sure that it's true in many respects and meant with the best intentions. However, Angel clearly stated at the beginning that they are buying a boat primarily for pleasure and if they can make a little side money from chartering (which they have some experience in), that would be a bonus. They never said they plan to make a full-time living from chartering and pay for the boat and all expenses. There's a big difference between running a profitable charter business, and doing a few occasional charters to offset some portion of their boating expenses. A little positive advice and encouragement couldn't hurt for some first-time owners! I know that brutal honesty is meant well, but don't lose track of what they are really looking to do.

[backinblue]

Originally Posted by CaptnAngel03

Mainship is built in the U.S., so I’m good there.

"was" built. lol

[CaptnAngel03]

Originally Posted by backinblue

Nothing against any of the advice. I'm sure that it's true in many respects and meant with the best intentions. However, Angel clearly stated at the beginning that they are buying a boat primarily for pleasure and if they can make a little side money from chartering (which they have some experience in), that would be a bonus. They never said they plan to make a full-time living from chartering and pay for the boat and all expenses. There's a big difference between running a profitable charter business, and doing a few occasional charters to offset some portion of their boating expenses. A little positive advice and encouragement couldn't hurt for some first-time owners! I know that brutal honesty is meant well, but don't lose track of what they are really looking to do.

Oh my gosh thank you lol. I thought nobody paid attention to that part of it. Everyone kept mentioning about making money. If you disagree that it’s possible to make enough money to offset all or some of the costs, then I’m listening. I mainly want to be able to afford having a nice boat and keep it in the water. If at the end of the year my business lost $3000 I’m still happy.

[psneeld]

And good because this on 6 pack vessels....

2. U.S. Built Requirement. Regardless of the type of registration the boat must have been built in
the United States and have coastwise privilege. If the boat is foreign built and more than 3
years old, it may obtain a waiver of the U.S. Built requirement from the Maritime Administration
by paying certain fees and making an application.

From: vaughnlawoffice.com (2015)

[backinblue]

Originally Posted by CaptnAngel03

Oh my gosh thank you lol. I thought nobody paid attention to that part of it. Everyone kept mentioning about making money. If you disagree that it’s possible to make enough money to offset all or some of the costs, then I’m listening. I mainly want to be able to afford having a nice boat and keep it in the water. If at the end of the year my business lost $3000 I’m still happy.

You're welcome! Good luck in your search. I bought my Mainship a few years ago, so happy to help if you have any specific questions as you search/buy. Wish you good luck!

[CaptnAngel03]

Originally Posted by backinblue

You're welcome! Good luck in your search. I bought my Mainship a few years ago, so happy to help if you have any specific questions as you search/buy. Wish you good luck!

Is there a way to save you as a friend or favorite on this forum? That way I can contact you easier for your help.

[backinblue]

Originally Posted by CaptnAngel03

Is there a way to save you as a friend or favorite on this forum? That way I can contact you easier for your help.

Click on my name or picture. Click on contact info and you can send me a private message. Not sure about saving as a friend. I'm still learning this site myself.

[Art]

CnA103

Taking none of my business cautions back [cause I've been there done that]... I surely do wish you fun and adventure in all your boat provides for you and yours!!

Welcome to TF"s boating-cheerleader team and marine-professor classroom!!

[CaptnAngel03]

Thank you

[Pete Meisinger]

Sorry, I stand corrected. There are legal ways to make money on boats. But trying to make money by dual purposing a small craft will be nearly impossible.

pete

[Peter B]

Originally Posted by CaptnAngel03

Is there a way to save you as a friend or favorite on this forum? That way I can contact you easier for your help.

Angel, just click on the person's name in the ID on the left then select "Add whoever to your contacts list", and it's done.

[DrissZougari]

There are couple of 1998 Mainship 30 pilots that are perfect for sightseeing and diving and located in FL on "www.moreboats.com" for less than $50K.
Welcome and good luck with your new adventure.

[CaptnAngel03]

Originally Posted by DrissZougari

There are couple of 1998 Mainship 30 pilots that are perfect for sightseeing and diving and located in FL on "www.moreboats.com" for less than $50K.
Welcome and good luck with your new adventure.

Yes thank you. There is one I like there and also one on Yachtworld. As soon as I can secure dockage, I will check them out. I’m on a waitlist for two marinas. I need to find a private dock I can rent until I get the Marina spot.

[rsn48]

Well if you want to make money you could always smuggle cigarettes' into Canada. Google how much a carton of cigarettes cost in Washington state, for example, then google how much a carton of cigarettes cost in British Columbia, you'll be shocked.

With rum runners back in the day, it was estimated that something like 70 % of all booze in the states was from the West Coast smuggling. In fact, I was just reading a history of Texada Island last night (hence my smuggling theme today) and the vast bulk of whisky consumed during prohibition was from this Island that I can see from my bedroom window.

The International boundary on the water back in the day for the States was either 3 or 10 miles, something like that. So larger ships would purchase booze legally in Vancouver and Victoria, then stay a mile or two off the American coastal boundary and supply smaller boats that would come out from the coast to pick up the booze. These guys took great pride in the fact there were so few deaths compared to land based booze smuggling. On the west coast it was something low like three deaths.

Sucia Island in Washington State was a popular location for American boats to stage waiting for booze from Vancouver, Victoria and Texada Island. Here's a bit from Wiki:

"The isolated coves and bays of Sucia Island once served the Lummi Indians in their seal hunting days.[2] They later provided excellent hideouts in the 19th century for smugglers of illegal Chinese laborers, as well as for hiding illegally imported wool and opium[citation needed]. Still later, the islands played a large role in rum-running during liquor Prohibition of the 1920s and 1930s, and in recent years they have figured in drug trafficking.