Convert houseboat to burger joint??

[NYJim]

Here is a new one... I am thinking of buying a 40' houseboat and converting it to a floating burger joint. commercial fryer, stove etc. Would like to cook burgers, hot dogs etc. The boat would travel to a designated spot and anchor for the day.
I am located in NY on the South Shore. I would think I would need a food vendor license, like a restaurant??

Has anyone out there done this before or know of someone who did?
Any Coast Guard issues i need to be aware of?
Any issues storing a large propane tank on board?

I am figuring out the electrical needs and propane tank size for the stoves and refrigeration.

Any suggestions or info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Jim
yeah i have not told the wife yet!!!!

 

[240sx4u]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Jim, I saw a contraption JUST like that on a lake here in Madison last weekend! I know no details but maybe google can assist you.

Evan

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

We used to have a midget and a fat woman who did the same thing with a pontoon boat on our lake peddling hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Ha. I dont know any midgets, but their a ton of fat women available!! Maybe get a monkey..

It will be a large investment, so I would like to see if it is practicle. wondering if they do well.

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

If you happen to spread out to other areas let me know............................I'm sure you could make a killing on the Susquehanna.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Good thing you're not planning on doing this in Florida. Buddy of mine had the same thoughts but on a big pontoon boat. Well it wasn't so much the Coasties bothering him but the Health Department. They were ruthless!!!!
Certificates for this, certificates for that - money, money,money!!
After all was said and done the plan was eventually scrapped. By the time we sat down and ran over some cost figures he would of needed to charge almost $2.25 for a hot dog and something like $4.00 ???? for a burger - just to break even.
A most wonderful idea but with the cost of everything going through the roof I feel a lot of folks would take prepared meals on board for the cost savings.
You might get a few bodies wandering over looking for some cold drinks, chips, etc. but in the long run you just can't carry enough stock to be a floating 7-11 store.
On another note the thought has occurred to me just to get a "peddler's license" ( keeping it somewhat legal ) and run with that for as long as possible.
One more thing - nix the idea of a deep fryer. The last thing you need is some moron throwing up a big wake and slopping 400 degree cooking oil around.
I do wish you well in your endeavor but there might be some pitfalls ahead.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

My opinion, if you follow through, is to carry things that are maybe a little less common but still popular like pizza.

Evna

 

[JB]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I thought about a pontoon vendor of coffee and sandwiches on Lake Minnetonka back about 1981. Seemed simple enough 'til I approached the city about licenses, permits, etc.

They gave me a looooong list of what I had to do and couldn't do. I dropped the idea.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

there is a slow pontoon boat in Daytona, Ponce Inlet area, he just cruises down the intracoastal, and the sandbar areas, makes a killing. ice cream, dogs etc. there is one also in Jacksonville, in the Ortega River, that does well. they both use household chest freezers, which the power up when the dock.
for a full fleged rig, i would consider propane Frig, freezer and stove. when i was in Viet Nam, we had propane appliances.

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

There is, or was, a floating McDonalds on the Mississippi River near the St. Louis Arch.

Perhaps some McDonalds people can point you in the right direction.

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

one problem i see is how are you suppose to dock upto the burger boat without slamming the hulls together from wakes and waves?

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

"Would you like fries with that BAM......oh sorry mister".........

 

[MikDee]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Hey, You took my idea! When I lived on the south shore of L.I. I had this idea as well, but that's all it turned out to be, an idea but, I have relocated to Milford, Pa now. It would be great to have food, & drinks on the water, but Oh, the pitfalls, as mentioned here?!

More power to ya Jim, I hope it works for ya, if it ever comes to pass, and I happen to visit L.I., I'll be happy to stop by for a snack

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Out here in Tampa, there is a vendor boat that goes out to Picnic Island every weekend. Burgers, soda, ice, etc. I bet he does well. I don't knowwhat he had to go through to get it up and running, but it sounds like a lot. I might go ask him the next time I am out there.​

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

One way to make a living is to find or create an item or service that many people want and that noone or few are offering.

 

[cmchesse]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I am in Jacksonville, FL and we had one on the river for a while. I think his problem was he wanted to do it without getting his permits.

My suggestion is, do your homework and find out what the state or loacal authorities require. Watch the waterway for traffic patterns, keep you menu limited to reduce cost, start slow, and have a great time.

If you do this, your customer's will tell you what they want, and what they are willing to pay. When my family goes out on the boat we pack a cooler lunch. But, that does not mean I would pass you buy. I can always handle a good hotdog and a cold drink.

Good Luck

 

[woosterken]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

here's a couple more ideas

1) a poop deck..... strap down a couple port-a-johns for those that don't have them on there boats.

2)sun tan lotion and bug spray...........for those that forgot theirs.

3) fresh water refills..... rather than more plastic bottles to end up in the lake.

woosterken

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

You could just about create a "floating general store" and offer hundreds of things.... but then it is real work.

The burger/food idea is great.... simple and you can focus on just a handful of items. The secret is (if you can get the permits) a simple menu to execute with speed.

I think you have a great idea.

As a side note.... I know people who tried to sell chili, soup and hot beverages on the ice (during ice fishing season) and could not get permits...

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Knowing how my local govco does things they wouldnt let you do it. How bout a floating bar? You call in with your cell phone and drive up for a nice adult beverage.NO BOAT COPS alowed.sorta a speak easy on water.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

1) a poop deck..... strap down a couple port-a-johns for those that don't have them on there boats.

That's the one you'd want to avoid, the EPA regs on this are pretty strict.

-E