Convert houseboat to burger joint??

[jonesg]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I've owned 4 restaurants,
...unless you are in a 4 season boating area,
it would be nice to own the Marina too.

Or just run under the radar, we operated a wholesale bakery from my partners apt for a year until we bought our first place.
Consider a burger delivery service, take orders by VHF then run food out, sell em cold drinks and anything else not requiring a kitchen, make your own cookies at home etc. Restaurant water taxi.

But if you're cookin, then you need hot water and grease traps etc etc.
Hand sinks, dish sinks (3 compartment by law) , mop sink, food sink
and thats just the required sinks list.
Theres no end to the list.
BTW, hand sink in toilet AND in the kitchen.
5 sink minimum.
All refrigeration MUST be commercial.
You're cookin? you need a hood with ansul fire system, carbon filters, all stainless. Thats another $15K.

if you thought the coast guard was difficult...

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Well thats a ton of info in a short period of time!! Thanks to all for your input and suggestions.

Over all, I see that many of you agree that it's a fine idea. Keeping it simple seems the way to go. I did figure out a few potential headaches in advance. Such as anchoring up in a busy channel in a 5 mph area to prevent a wake situation.
Take orders over the radio and provide each boat a number and time. When order is ready, call there number and they can come along side and we hand it off to them.
I really wanted to do burgers and fries, but sounds like a whole big legal mess. So maybe just dogs and sandwiches and tons of snacks. Definitley Ice Cream etc. That would be the easist and then see what people say. Maybe expand upon it the following year.

I will go to the county office this week and start asking around to see what I will need. Will get back to ya all and let you know how I am doing.

Again thanks so much for all your time......

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

What if I welded in a large gas grill on the stern and cooked premade (butcher made) burgers?? Would I need all kinds of food permits?? Figure it's like barbaquing in your back yard. Burgers, dogs etc. right off the grill Maybe I would only need a commercial freezer for the burgers and dogs. offer fresh boars head sandwiches etc...

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

You can give it a shot and see what happens. You never know what hole you might find in the system that you may ber able to exploit.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

What if I welded in a large gas grill on the stern and cooked premade (butcher made) burgers?? Would I need all kinds of food permits?? Figure it's like barbaquing in your back yard. Burgers, dogs etc. right off the grill Maybe I would only need a commercial freezer for the burgers and dogs. offer fresh boars head sandwiches etc...

My professional opinion, boars head is supermkt junk.
Its Domestic, the really first class stuff is all imported, either way I wouldn't touch deli meat, then you get into meat slicer and thats a health problem.
They are very strict regarding slicers, slice it at home and they'll demand to inspect your house.! Its illegal to prepare and transport food for consumption for money ....blah blah etc...

Try a catering truck supplier, they sell sandwiches at wholesale with all the legal labeling at wholesale prices. Just ask any catering truck you see at building sites...or follow them.

If you cook food and sell it for money...its not just like having a cookout.
Frozen black angus burgers are better than fresh burger meat, get them at restaurant depot (cash and carry) nationwide.
http://www.restaurantdepot.com/RDWeb/Misc/storesrch.asp

I would just run under the radar, try a VHF water restaurant taxi service and deliver the food and don't have huge signs advertising your presence you could do it for yrs. Charge $5 gas fee on top, we get $15 delivery and thats in a van, they'll pay for conveniece.

For what you're considering spending, I'd just buy a restaurant already up and running and forget the boat part.

One thing I was told 30 yrs , don't ask a health inspector a question that you don't know the answer to, get the code and learn it or they'll con you into installing all sorts of new stuff that you would be grandfathered in with if already installed in place.

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

once again, excellent info. thanks. question is, can i purchase salads at a local deli and resell it?? or is this another issue...

 

[edthearcher]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

we stoped at the one that 240s4u mentioned in madison wi. had quite a talk with the lady who owns it along with her husband. we purchased 2 brats at $4.50 each and 2 sodas bill came 2 $15.00 , she says got the idea from northern wi where they had seen one, they have been in business 3 years now, she said they did quite well, got a big write up in the local papers last year. but you have to have all the local food vendors permits. madison is knowen as the city of 4 lakes, you can boat between 3 of them. good luck if you try it

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Well NYJIM it looks like you have alot of work cut out for you and I wish you the best of luck. If it was me I would fly under the radar for awhile and see what happens. I would not go nuts about things and would let word of mouth be my biggest advertiser. Let us know how you do with the biz.

 

[shorts&chanclas]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Have you seen the Roach wagons about the size of a FedEx truck w/ full kitchens (not the converted pick ups with pre-made food) that prowl night club parking lots and construction sites? Maybe thats the way to equip and permit your restaurant. Read the health codes and hopefully you can "reasonably" interpret the definition of a mobile commercial kitchen to be one that is not necessarily on wheels.

Then all you have to do is deal with the Coastie's regs...oh and the world's toughest field of business. Forget about insuring the thing though...any underwriter will probably need a pack of Rolaids to digest the liability...four hundred degree cooking oil, commercial griddle or even worse open flame, propane tanks, diesel fuel...all within 40 feet of each other...

Every thing that has been posted is surmountable with some creative thinking, legal interpretations, and engineering. So keep working on your business model.

 

[Splat]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I don't think it'd be that hard to do actually.

Here in OH downtown Cleveland we have street venders that sell dogs and brats out of small push carts, a little propane burner is all they have and disposable silverware plates etc. No sinks or other elaborate stuff.

I like the idea of using the VHF to pre phone an order, and also liked the idea of sunscreen and bug spray.

Sounds like a money maker to me. Give it a shot.

Bill

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I have spent 15 years working in Manhattan, so I am well aware of the street vendor situation. But that is NYC and I am in Nassau County. I believe I will start with trying to get a vendor license first. The one the Roach Coaches have, I think I would fit better in that catagory or like the previous post that goes one step further. The larger units. I will hunt one down and ask all the questions. This is a winter project so I have plenty of time to get it all together for next season.

Would you all believe that this started a few weeks ago when I had my two daughters out on the water cruising around and sun bathing?? One of them says hey dad wouldnt be great if we could sell burgers and stuff on the water all summer??? Call it "Cheese Burger In Paradise". So there you have it, those damn kids!!!! Well if it works out, they can work on it all summer and make some muhla so I dont have to keep supporting the little buggers!!

Jim

 

[Windykid]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I think its a good idea, but your missing the boat so to speak. There is great modern technology. Electric warmers and mirowave ovens. Portable generators. Food can be premade at home or a certified kitchen, or super market and warmed upon request. Breakfast burrito's wrapped in tinfoil and kept in a pizza warmer. Beverages kept in a cooler with ice.

The military has been heading this way to supply troops with a hot meal in a hurry.

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

****UPDATE UPDATE*****

Spoke to the state of NY health dept. I just need to apply for a mobile vendor license. Read all the rules, not to bad.

I just emailed the USCG for any requirments they need.

GLASS LOOKING HALF FULL!!!!

 

[NYJim]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

I think its a good idea, but your missing the boat so to speak. There is great modern technology. Electric warmers and mirowave ovens. Portable generators. Food can be premade at home or a certified kitchen, or super market and warmed upon request. Breakfast burrito's wrapped in tinfoil and kept in a pizza warmer. Beverages kept in a cooler with ice.

The military has been heading this way to supply troops with a hot meal in a hurry.

That would be ok, but the state says all food has to be prepaired on board. Frozen stuff needs to be in frid, bla bla

think of it now as the food trucks that serve steak sandwiches, hamburges etc.. same principle....

 

[oops!]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

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

forget large investment....!!!! how many 2 dollar items do you have to sell before you pay back 15 thou ????

K.I.S.S.

a barbi on the back of a cheap house boat you get off e-bay for 3 grand.
dogs.....burgers.......nothing that requires grease......

sell ice....., ice cream....pop, water, chips.

nothing with a short expiry date....(like salads...however buying from a catering truck that has the health inspection certs in place is a fantastic idea.)

after you get your feet wet.....you will know what will work and what wont.

.......in canada on the shu swap lakes....there are two floating stores.....these are also gas docks....they are in the middle of the lakes......they make a killing......been there for over 15 years.....
ice cream...chips, pop dogz and burgurs....oh yeah....and ice....lots of ice.

good idea....keep goin

cheers
oops

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

****UPDATE UPDATE*****

Spoke to the state of NY health dept. I just need to apply for a mobile vendor license. Read all the rules, not to bad.

I just emailed the USCG for any requirments they need.

GLASS LOOKING HALF FULL!!!!

The state permit might be the easy one.
Just wait until the landed competition finds out they will be competing against someone that is not paying the property taxes they are paying.
Get ready for the local gooberment to put the kabosh on what you want to do.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

You are on the right track with the mobil vendor lisence. Think like running a hot dog truck. Cook fried foods like hamburgers the night before and just re-heat in microwave. Don't cook anything on a hot plate or burner. No open flames. Sell sandwitches, soda, packaged foods like chips and ring-dings, peanut butter crackers, candy bars, etc. Packaged foods you can buy cheap in bulk and make a nice profit. Same with drinks.

 

[929starr]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

thats a great idea if u were in this area id def be a regular

 

[Big Sarge]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

Man this gives me some great idea for when I get older, I will either open a floating bar or open a large snack stand. I would get like 3 porto's and throw them on the back and be set. Wow I have a bunch of small islands that people hop to so it would be easy to do.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Convert houseboat to burger joint??

My brother in law and I had the same idea... 3K pontoon, grill, burgers and dogs on the water...

The only problem is the lake nearest isnt all that busy. We would have to travel a good hour, and then the money spent in gas will offset any income...


oh well.