Boating related businesses

[m_court15]

I am very much an entrepreneur and want to start my own business. I love lakes and boats and have had my own boat for the last five years. I also enjoy wakeboarding.

I thought about a beach cleaning service. Where you clean the beach in the water and up on land. Then I have thought about a boat towing business, where you would pick up boats and drop them off at a repair place or a house. Keep in mind I am younger and have very little start up money.

Do any of you have any business ideas related to boating/water activities? Or do any of you own a business related to this?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[sasto]

Re: Boating related businesses

Heck yeh, Matt. Get a captains license....take people wakeboarding....and get paid for it!

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Boating related businesses

pressure washing peir's.

 

[RushFan]

Re: Boating related businesses

Matt, I think one of the most overlooked jobs for the marine industry is mobile boat detailing. It takes very little start up capital, a little bit of common sense, and a good dose of elbow grease.
Most of the cleaners, waxes and fiberglass boat soaps have explicit directions on their labels. If you follow the directions correctly, you can have great results.
I have a friend that uses the same products as other boat detailers in our area, they cannot figure out why his work always looks better that theirs. He follows the directions. Simple as that... It's also a good moneymaker.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Boating related businesses

We pay a guy with a pontoon fitted with a lifting mechanism, 60$ each to put-in and take-out our two boat lifts. We have to remove them each fall so they don't get damaged by the ice in the winter.

There are also guys that get paid to install and remove piers every year. There are handyman services to do your lawn, clean gutters, rake weeds, paint/seal your deck, etc...around the lake. I know many people who hire all of that stuff done because when they get to the lake they don't want to do all the work that comes with having a second property. There are guys that will come and fuel, do minor repairs, etc. to your boat.

 

[m_court15]

Re: Boating related businesses

Some good suggestions.. I like the boat detailing idea. Maybe I could do that along with cosmetic fiberglass repairs...

@sasto: that would be awesome to take people wakeboarding and get paid for it...

I never new they got People to power wash the piers. Do they do the sides and the top where people walk?

I like the ideas and input!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boating related businesses

Weed removal service for peoples water front where they swim. Just plain old labor work but it's fun and profitable

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Boating related businesses

Aside from mobile detailing, in the off season, we know a kid that starts and runs about a dozen boats twice a week. He maintains the proper gas/oil levels, keeps the boats clean from debris, runs the engines up to temp, and makes sure they're ready when the "out-of-towners return. But, we don't have the winterizing issue here that other places do.

 

[m_court15]

Re: Boating related businesses

I don't think the starting and running boats in the off season will work to well for me since I live in Michigan

So what do you all do when you clean your beach in the water? Do you just head out with a metal rake and a snorkel and get to work?