E bay boat charter offer?

[C2 RIBS]

I have just found this on flea bay and the owner appears to think he is safe from gaining certification to take clients out, Have I misread this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/POWERBOAT-TRIP...item23063aa543

scroll down ad to see what is on offer

[ashbypower]

Ian your right!! the Ad is seeking friends to share cost and not for profit!! Mmmmm thin ice he's on IMVHO !!

[martini]

Bit of a tricky one that I reckon, difficult to differentiate between sharing costs and being a fee paying passenger. But I guess it's no different to me taking money from mates for fuel. Maybe thats where the difference lies, "taking" money or "accepting" money, ie. did you ask for it or are you being offered it?

[C2 RIBS]

No did not ask or bid, just found it whilst looking at what others offer, I like to see new ideas but as Brian says I think this boat could face a massive problem if there was an accident and there was an investigation as clearly asking for new friends seems OK but I guess your just a friend for a day and I think he needs boat certification and helm qualifications and I bet if his insurance new this was a trick to avoid what everyone else has.

[martini]

Can't really see anyone taking him up on the offer anyway!

[chewy]

I think where he'll come unstuck when he has to explain what the bids are for. He quite openly explains the £160 covers your "share" but what does the bid placed on the boat cover?

[BruceB]

As a diver my understanding of shared costs was that a reasonable amount of money to cover genuine costs only was quite alright. Its if there is any profit made not directly related to the actual costs of the trip that the problems started.
It is very common with divers to have folk out that you don't really know well and usually all that is paid is fuel for the boat , sometimes fuel costs to tow and sometimes a fixed small charge to cover maintenance of £5 or thereabouts. It really depends on the club/owner and as long as it is not excessive and you could justify it to the HSE there should not be a problem.
The delivery charge on the listing definitely looks like commercial rates though as it doesn't cost anything like £160 to tow a boat from Chester to the lakes, on this bit he is on shaky ground.

[willk]

I assume he's doing the delivery charge thingy to avoid Ebay fees. It's fairly common, admittedly well dodge too.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by willk

I assume he's doing the delivery charge thingy to avoid Ebay fees. It's fairly common, admittedly well dodge too.

He's got a website too...

http://www.powerboat-trip.co.nr/

Admittedly I can't see him making money overall out of the prices he's quoting but it doesn't look non-commercial!

[BruceB]

The rates of £180 p/d upwards are high enough that he couldn't justify it on the basis of shared costs.
He is definitely trying to make some cash out of this although the rates are below what you would expect a professional skipper and boat to be for similiar.
I reckon the HSE will eventually have a word with him.........

[ashbypower]

Originally Posted by BruceB

I reckon the HSE will eventually have a word with him.........

I wonder who will be first, them or the MCGA........

[Poly]

He obviously knows he is sailing close to the wind. That said I'm not convinced he is actually making a profit (taking into account, fuel, towing expenses, storage costs, insurance, launch/marina fees, repairs/maintainence) and therefore on the wrong side of the line. I assume he's not VAT registerred or reclaiming duty on fuel.

[BruceB]

To take account of ALL expenses usually means shared ownership IMO.
If you are just "along for the ride" so to speak it should only be direct expenses related to that particular trip as far as I was led to believe.
Things like insurance, storage etc need to paid anyway and are not direct expenses related to the particular trip that is being shared, towing should only be costs and not time related so I reckon he is making enough to pocket some of the cash even after paying for all actual costs.

[Ackee]

It's charter in all but name, very dodgy.

[Trailer Bloke]

Imo this becomes Commercial when you start advertising for people 'Share the costs'

Asking a few mates to chip in is one thing setting out your 'charges' is another

The boat he is using could not be coded in any form

I doubt the Insurance would be valid either, my commercial insurance for a similar type of boat costs 10x the pleasure boat fee

[findeep]

also quite interesting if you google the mobile number from the site, he has had a few listings on apolloduck selling kayaks - makes you think it is just an eztra cash generator