Viability of a One Man Boat Shop

Thanks, Oyster. You and everyone else have given me a lot of good food for thought. One more idea, as I see a few of these around here, is converting the old flybridges into express boats. Quicker turnaround, semi custom, better return? Also, how about converting twin screw to single as part of the transition. Repowering anyway, right? Then you can stuff more of those bells and whistles down there, and add more fuel for our long range forays down here. Need at least 250 mile range for serious marlin fishing, and with single screw, you can fit a gennie and A/C for overnighters, which a lot of bill fishermen do here. Towers are a given with no bridge. Dern it, now I've got to get a square wave tig!!!!

 

Major redo in stringers running gear, and a lot of engineering nightmare with props, HP, and probably slower in single screw conversion. Removal of cabins have been a great sale for redos and fire boats.

 

That's it! I'm going to quit the day job tomorrow and go build me some boats!

Maybe...

 

Let us know how you do!

 

On a more serious note...

I have considered it. I would shy away from high end wood boats. Even in today’s "you can never have too much money" culture shelling out a quarter or a mill or better (half a mill, ten mill?) for a picnic launch is somewhat of a hard sell and those that can make that kind of purchase tend to be at times, difficult to work for. However I do love wood, what a fantastic material!

I would never refurb any type of boat for resale; you will end up working for pennies on the dollar.

Fiberglass is out unless you just happen to like itching all the time.

For me it would be aluminum. I like the speed at which they can be built. I like the availability of the welding workforce (subcontract if necessary). I like the diversity of the product. I like the short turnaround time (short for boats anyway). I like the relatively low price of the equipment. And most of all you can produce a virtually indestructible boat, if you build it right. It can be as competitive as you like (skiff or workboat market) or as high end as you like (IOR). It gives you room to grow. Custom work could be abundant. Design integrity and appearance are not comprised, build anything you like!

Yep, I may quit my day job...


Maybe