how much can one earn from a small shop?

[samh]

"Boat building, a great way to live, but a terrible way to make a living."

-Mac Mcarthy (Author of rip strip and row, long time boat builder, teacher.)

[wet-foot]

Is it possible to explain your present business plan so others could throw some ideas your way? Perhaps some of the more experienced, dare I say more successful small shops could help you improve your bottom line. Could be worth a try - Just a thought!!!

[ironpirate]

i hope you do it, and I hope you make it. You'd be living a dream I've had.

[wet-foot]

You should live the dream ......... or one day you'll wake up and realize you
missed out on perhaps the most important part of your life. With determination and willpower there is no such thing as failure. If things aren't working out as planned, simply adjust the plan. It really is that simple.

[Ssor]

The answers that you need to find are defined by these questions:
How much cash do you need to maintain a lifestyle that pleases you?
Do you have the self disipline to get up every morning and work as hard for youself as you work for the person that presently pays your wages?
Do you have a large enough market to sell you product without the need to empoly salestaff?
How much will it cost to set-up the facility that will allow efficient use of your labor? After allowing for all of the costs of production and doing business is there enough margin to allow you to sell at a profit?

Someone suggested that I open a bakery, I make very good bread, six loaves at a time.
But I need about a thousand dollars per week to maintain my life style. I could make a dollar a loaf profit. So I must make a thousand loaves per week. I can't make a thousand loaves per week in my little oven. So I would need a bigger stove and a bigger mixing bowl maybe one with a motor. Now I have to pay for the new stove and mixer. So I have to make more bread, and I don't have time to make bread and sell bread so I must hire someone to sell bread. Now I have to pay the bread seller so I have to make more bread.................................................

[boatbarn]

Wet foot - Like your ideas on boats and inflatables. I am real partial to them myself. I have a Nautica 15' boat that needs restoring, do you know where I can get the hypalon material from?

[wet-foot]

Nautica 15' boat that needs restoring - I would start with Nautica in Florida.
If that doesn't work you can get hypalon that's used for Avon or Hurricane from these folks up in BC; http://www.inflatableboatsales.com
They also carry products for painting hypalon that turns out very nice. These are full time inflatable people with lots of good advise. Good luck with your restoration. Their Avon 2 part adhesive is easy to use and really works great.

I would take a inflatable boat over anything else because I believe they are the safest thing on the water. I also believe Grady White and other similar makes are built and designed better than most true inflatables. That explains my thoughts on turning a high quality offshore boat into a inflatable.


Yes we all must meet our weekly financial obligations!!!
I can earn about 3000 per week from my small shop.
What I have to do is improve my fiberglassing skills.
I have to get really efficient at doing one off conversions.
In other words I have to know I'll end up with a beautiful boat at the end of the day. My favorite method of construction is building with epoxy and topping off with gelcoat. West Systems has been a tremendous help. They actually do tests in their lab to provide acurate feedback. I'm always looking for information that will improve my skills.

[boatbarn]

Thanks for the info Wetfoot.

I looked at Nautica's web site yesterday and sent them an e-mail.

I also followed a link on this site to find an outfitting company that handle a lot of different fabrics. There prices looked very good.

I agree with your Grady White. I had a Premium Parasail boat one time with the same hull design (was told that they stole it from Grady) Great design.

But now I have converted to inflatables.

Boatbarn