Is there a need for a Mobile Marine Repair Business (Trenton: for sale, house)

[dogfish]

up in Maine?

I currently am located in Maryland....just curious.

[deerislesmile]

I would say that most of the Maine coast has an abundance of marine repair facilities- usually at least one in every harbor...

Were you thinking of fresh water or salt water, working boats or pleasure boats, water-based mobile, or land-based?

[dogfish]

Salt water, private/commercial (although most of the commercial boats around here do their own work, probably te same up there). Diesel. systems. electical, electronics....

Any idea what the average hourly rate is?

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by dogfish

up in Maine?

I currently am located in Maryland....just curious.

Probably not. Two limiting factors come to mind: first of all, it is extremely difficult to "crack" the local marine repair business. If you are "from away" you will be very suspect until long after you have run out of money trying to come in to town to do some business. Unless you have a specific skill that simply does not exist, you won't be able to get work. An example of the "specific" skill or product business is the truck that I see from time to time travelling up the coast from the large propeller company. Propeller manufacturers are not located in every town or state for that matter, so for a company that makes or retails and repairs propellers, there is an opening.

The second limitation is the distance that would need to be covered in order to provide "mobile" mechanical service. Diesel fuel is around $3.75 per gallon and regular gasoline is $3.25 per gallon right now. Maine's coast line is very long and the marine market is relatively small for that much travel.

I just bought 18 acres of land from a guy who is a skilled boat carpenter. He has lived in the town for some time, and worked for the boat builders who are there....the town is one of Maine's leading boat building locations. He can't get work in the town, and is commuting around 40 miles each way to the Hinckley Jet Boat shop in Trenton for work. Times are tough!

[forest beekeeper]

A lot of Maine has access to water, lots of folks have boats. So there should be lots of work for you.

I have recently been discussing buying a motor rewind business that currently focuses on automotive starters, alternators and generators. He was trying to convince me to take the business and shift more toward marine parts, saying that there is a large demand for marine grade starters, alternators and generators.

It is possible that the marine industry is totally different from everything else, but from what I have seen and in talking with other businessmen who have moved to Maine and started up businesses here. No body cares if you are from 'away' or not. Not so much as if you are up to the job.

A person with a broken 'X', will go to the guy down the street around the corner and behind the dumpster, because they have known each other for the past thirty years. Purely out of habit. That guy has no advertising, no sign, and can not be seen form the road.

Any new business that: advertises, is in a visible location, charges lower prices, and has quality, will simply gain the customer base given time.

Mainers do a few things differently though.

I sell produce at a Farmer's Market. Most of the vendors there will accept a personal check and give you cash, so you can go buy produce from the other vendors. I was shocked at this behavior. But they do it. So now I do it.

Also local store-front businesses have made the offer to me, that I could make purchases on an IOU. I have never done any such thing, nor do I plan on writing anyone an IOU, but such is often included in business models here.

Good luck

And do not let the negative people get you down.

[AustinB]

I work at a boatyard. We build large yachts and service all types. There are alot of public docks and wharfs around and if you are any good at all you will be able to find work.

Hourly rates depend on the area you are in and what kind of work that you do. Mechanics and skilled electricians will make more. Carpenters, glassers, and painters will make less.

[mainebrokerman]

i believe fresh water repair is wide open, i live on the water have a pleasure boat, and i launched the boat with my atv,,,i had a truck, didnt use it much,,got rid of it,,so say i need repair on my outboard, yes, id certainly hire you,,to come take a look and fix my outboard, especially convenient, while im at work,

i think this would be a great service!!

two yrs ago,,my 50 horse outboard died, while boating,, the smaller kicker motor got us back to the dock,,but then i had to take it out of the water, schedule an apptment, bring it there, and hope for the best, and not know when they will "get to it" or complete fixing it (always backed up),,then go pick it up and launch it again,,
contrast this to ,,calling you,,,
tell you the boat is in front of my house on the dock,,come take a look at it,,
fix it, and there its done!!

much much more convenient!!!

[399083453]

I've seen mobile marine repair guys advertise all the time on the boat for sale section of craigslist. Ma and ME. Not sure how well they do, take a peek, email them and ask.