boat builders, what are we worth

I did my apprenticeship building 100ft plus super yachts and then went onto working on smaller custom projects.

I got out of the game because I got sick of owners wanting me to work to a price, yet wanting the super standard.

The worst culprit was a specialist on $400 an hour quibbling over my rate of pay half way through building a performance vessel that would have to safely carry his wife, children and friends on.

That was the end for me and now I just do my own stuff and make money other ways.

 

Oh la la Wynand and woosh. What a nervousness. Keep cool, men. It's a little semantic problem.

Dreamer = Someone dreaming, only dreaming. He will never realize the dream. He wants a new 30 feet sailboat with 3 double beds and panoramic windows for the price a used VW Rabbit and will never admit that's impossible. Becomes often paranoiac. He sucks your time.

Ok, now you see the kind of guy I name "dreamer". If you have a better word, tell me.

Do not confound with the guy who dreamed once and wants to realize that dream. He stays the 2 feet on the earth, and after getting information he will evaluate the possibilities of realization. If he estimates that he can; this dream becomes a goal and will work very hard.

Often the guy underestimates the amount of work and money, but generally he is able to understand and to choose a more reachable goal like a 38 feet boat instead of a 55 feet. He's the prototype of the amateur builder.
Those who have some experience in boatbuilding have the duty to help him. It's one of the purposes of a forum like Boat Design.

Why I am here woosh? Simply for reading your posts!

Post Scriptum. Do not consider yourselves as poor. Look around you and discover what's true poverty. The poor has not time to spend on a computer he can't afford, he tries to survive.

 

Sabahcat. I have heard many stories like yours. I agree with you; the worst people is the rich "greedy guy", always bargaining, often bad payer.

Better to stay away from them, not always easy.

 

Politicians, priests, accountants and lawers.....keep them away from me and my life is in peace....there ya go Mas, you keep looking for Nirvana, try this formula.

 

This kind of rude and uninformed response is uncalled for. I am a very experienced self-employed licensed engineer, I make my living by billing my time. So I know as much about people abusing my time as anyone, it just comes with the territory. I do not whine about it. And I also build boats, and if I ask for help I will be respectful of other people's time (as I wish other would be with mine) or I expect to pay for assistance.

Your response just sounds like more whining to me. I suggest you check your attitude, find another career, or figure out a way to productively dealing with people who waste your time. Size them up, and either start billing them or ask them to leave since you need to get back to work.

 

Oh I am sure he was not whining, but the way you aggresively jumped into this thread it really sounds as though tis YOU , who has an attitude problem
I looked at your gallery, nothing, profile nothing , so why should we take notice perhaps you may show us the boats you have built, that would be a nice start thank you good night

 

After reading down this far I am convinced more then ever that I made the right decision NOT to go into the boat building business. I have built 6 boats that range in size from 78' to 22' and rebuilt 2. All for fun. It's my hobby, my therapy, and I am sure that as soon as I tried to turn it into a business I would be miserable. I call myself "semi-pro" because I barter my skills with other amateurs to get goods or services for my projects, but never for money. I regret not being able to work full time on my boat, but it's MY boat and I only have me to answer to.

 

There are two ways at looking at people visiting. You can either see it as someone is wasting your time or you can see it as taking a break and building a relationship. Other people know things you don't and they have resources you don't. Do a bit of networking, you'll be surprised what you may find.

If people only visit you when they want you to build a boat, you may be a very lonely person and you will see others a couple of times a year. Jail is more sociable than this.

If you accomodate people, get to know them and have a bit of time for them, they are the ones that will refer others to you even if they themself never buy from you. Of course there are times you cannot talk to or spend time with someone, but I always make time to phone that person back and appologise for the circumstances.

Bussiness is not to make money. Business is to get and keep customers - the money is a spinoff.

 

I always thought a tradesman's wage was based on a bottle of scotch an hour...
Your work quality and professionalizm decides if its a single malt or blend...

Cheers
Tug

 

A boat builder I can relate too!!