Go Dabble

Go_Dabble · 19 August 2020, 11:28

Hi all,

John has kindly given me permission to let you know about Go Dabble - a new platform to link Cornwall-based sailing instructors with members of the public.

The site is almost ready, and will be launching soon. It’ll be a slick, modern platform, making it easier for qualified sailing instructors to connect with the public and start putting some extra pounds in your pocket.

If you’re a qualified sailing instructor, it’ll be super easy to set up a profile, create your own sessions, experiences and events and start taking bookings.

Just thought I’d flag it for you anyway

If you’ve any questions feel free to drop me a line on info@go-dabble.co.uk.

Best
Owen

paulbrown22 · 19 August 2020, 12:55

Would be interesting to know how exactly it's anticipated to work and what it means from a commercial perspective, given previous issues on here with people operating quasi commercialised ventures involving remuneration without appropriate coding/qualifications/insurance, etc.

Go_Dabble · 19 August 2020, 13:10

Hello Paul, so the way it'll work is if you're a freelance/independent sailing instructor who's qualified and insured, you'll be able to create experiences and events on the platform and be booked through it.

This would work if you have your own boat, or access to one, or you would prefer to offer own-boat tuition and effectively only provide yourself, with your knowledge, skills and experience.

All prospective mentors need to be qualified and insured to pass the vetting process to be allowed on the platform, which also includes proof of ID, address, DBS, etc.

Once on the platform as a mentor, you'll have your own calendar which you have total freedom with - you can say when you're available and when you're not, and you have full control over all booking requests.

Free to sign up, and mentors don't pay a commission to use the platform either.

Owen

paulbrown22 · 19 August 2020, 15:11

Hey Owen,

I'm only going by what had been covered in various threads on here previously about paid work under the commercial rules, RIB hire, and a poster being investigated by the MCA for offering services/rides on his boat, but my understanding was that to accept payment for someone coming on your boat, it opens you up to the complicated world of vessel coding, commercial endorsements, etc., which can be expensive and/or hard to achieve on smaller powerboats?

That seemed to be the issue/blocker to most people on here thinking about using their RIB's to earn money.

Regards,

Paul

Go_Dabble · 19 August 2020, 15:34

Hey Paul,

Yes anyone looking to use their boat would need to check with the MCA about what you'd need as regards charter coding, etc. It normally involves various surveys, tests and assessments, and obviously you'd need to run everything by your insurers to make sure you're covered too.

That's why own-boat tuition is a popular alternative, so you can still earn an income from the skills, knowledge and experience you've spent time, effort and money acquiring.

So yes, there are potentially a few regulatory hoops to jump through to make your own rib available, but if you see the outlay as an investment which sets you up to make solid returns in the long run, not only will it soon pay for itself, but also allow for a decent income stream for many years to come (and not just in creating experiences and events through Go Dabble - the world's your oyster

Best
Owen

ShinyShoe · 19 August 2020, 15:57

Which parts of the sailing market?

Dinghy. Big boats? Since posting here are you expecting to do powerboat too?. Dinghy race coaching?

With regard to coding...

A private RYA instructor who is teaching on their own boat may need their boat coded. They should know that. It's covered on the instructor course

An instructor teaching on the student's boat, doesn't normally need the boat coded. Same would apply to a RIB.

A race coach instructing coaching from his own RIB without passengers would not usually need to be coded, as there are no crew or passengers.

Go_Dabble · 19 August 2020, 16:25

Thanks ShinyShoe, that's nicely summarised.

Once we launch it'll be open for qualified instructors to offer sessions, experiences and events on multiple types of boats, though of course different vessels may require different levels of checks. This, along with updating insurances, is of course the responsibility of the mentor - once legal and compliant, our platform provides a central hub for you to attract people who may wish to join you for an experience or event.

Best
Owen

paulbrown22 · 19 August 2020, 17:19

Thanks both for clarifying - just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed any changes to the requirements/laws to using your own RIB for activities involving remuneration!

Go_Dabble · 20 August 2020, 10:56

No probs at all - I'd say it's definitely worth a think about. If you've invested in a boat and in yourself getting qualified, you may as well consider converting them into an income stream

Owen

Poly · 20 August 2020, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go_Dabble

No probs at all - I'd say it's definitely worth a think about. If you've invested in a boat and in yourself getting qualified, you may as well consider converting them into an income stream

Owen

Owen, as you are presumably aware there is quite a bit of extra work required from having a PBI certificate and owning a boat to getting an income stream. You are potentially part of the solution - marketing and bringing clients (assuming you deliver that) but to operate as an instructor there are a lot of extra things you need to do make sure the boat and paperwork complies with the law (either under an RYA exemption or by being coded), it would be disingenuous of you to imply that all an instructor who owns a boat has to do is have an insurance policy and sign up to your platform and the cash will be coming their way.

Go_Dabble · 20 August 2020, 21:27

Hello Poly, yes you're absolutely right, as I tried to highlight in one of my previous posts, there are a number of regulatory requirements and other legal responsibilities which would need to be checked and completed in order to be able to take people out. I certainly wasn't intending to be disingenuous, merely - at a high level - suggesting with these things done, you're then in a good position to capitalise by offering something of value, allowing you to create a income stream.

Owen

Poly · 21 August 2020, 09:09

Presumably anyone who has already made the investment of thousands to get a boat up to coding standard or to make their personal boat (and paperwork) part of an RYA school so it meets their rules already knows they can monetise this.

It *feels* like you are trying to imply that these formalities are things people can expect a return on from advertising via your platform. It would be great to see an illustrated example - after all with a web service if it works in Cornwall people across the country will likely be keen to scale up your success.

Go_Dabble · 21 August 2020, 10:07

Hello Poly, yes the hope is people will have enough success in Cornwall using the platform that we'll be able to roll out further in time. One step at a time though of course - at this stage I'm just trying to let people know of our upcoming launch, in case it's of interest to them.

I don't doubt the concept of monetising your boat isn't news to people (nor the associated regulatory and legal requirements), just that it's a possible opportunity for people if they've been on the fence about doing what's needed to be done, or are interested in offering own-boat tuition.

Best
Owen