Starting a RIB ride business

niawsnhoj · 12 July 2009, 22:54

Hi

My partner and I have been searching for a business idea for a long time - something we could do for a living and enjoy at the same time. A few years ago and several times since we have been on some RIB rides and have decided this is what we want to do. I am sure we sound as mad as a box of frogs - but thats life!

However, we have been searching for information as to what qualifications and experience we would need in order to do this.

Can anyone give us a point in the right direction? And if it helps, we have exaclty zero hours experience between the two of us.

Thanks

John

SeaSkills · 12 July 2009, 23:07

John,

pm sent

Jono Garton · 12 July 2009, 23:07

Hi

You should start by completing a Powerboat Level 2 & also taking a trip to visit John Price @ Quinquari Marine in St Davids.

The country is getting very busy with people offering RIB rides, you can generally find a passenger rib in most ports now.

Jono

chewy · 12 July 2009, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Hi

You should start by completing a Powerboat Level 2 & also taking a trip to visit John Price @ Quinquari Marine in St Davids.

The country is getting very busy with people offering RIB rides, you can generally find a passenger rib in most ports now.

Jono

Apart from "up Norf" lol.

codprawn · 12 July 2009, 23:24

Yes John at Quinquari would be a great person to talk to.

The biggest problem in this country is the bloody weather - the last 2 summers killed off a few operators and this summer doesn't look much better.

Of course it depends where you are - some places are wetter than others. Not only that but some places have a stupid tidal range as well which really doesn't help either!!!

I would say you need to get a few different angles to your business - so that when passenger numbers are down you can still earn some dosh.

Dirk Diggler · 13 July 2009, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I would say you need to get a few different angles to your business - so that when passenger numbers are down you can still earn some dosh.

Yeh, smuggling often has quite good returns......

niawsnhoj · 13 July 2009, 22:38

Thanks for all of your responses (even the smuggling one which hadn't yet crossed my mind!). We will start asking questions and see where it leads us.

John

Rogue Wave · 14 July 2009, 15:12

Best advice on this thread is from Dirk.

I do this for a living and it has taken me more than 4 years of strugle to start earning more than I did when I had a proper job.The last three years have been rather goodfortunately and I'm starting to do quite well at the moment. but then I haven't been at home for more than 20 days this year. I guess if you've met Rogueta that might be seen as a bonus!

You be very careful about what salesman/consultant you talk to and how much money you commit to them.

Codprawn is right about the weather and alternative uses!

I'd look very carefully at the charter business that are out there and get a dunn and bradstreet on the ones which you think are sexy. See what kind of money is really in the game.

A lot of people are runing round hustling some other persons boat and any fool can be a hero on their own website so there is a lot odf smoke and mirrors in this game.

Genuine success stories from what I know of the commercial world would be Solent Rib Charters, Sabre powerboats and the Zapcat mob and Safety Boat services and there is a geezer in Loch Ness who is doing well and I think Seafriskye seems to have a good living. John Brooks is also doing well with his charter business so it might be worth talking to him.

I found the commercial world far more stable to make a living in than running a charter business in as they pay well and the work is long term (until you get run off

)

The biggest problem of running a charter business is equipment failure.

Stay lucky

Apologies to any people who I have ommited to applaud.

DGR · 03 August 2009, 20:56

Very good points from Rogue.

I'm one of the operators who isn't any more - you need to look at where you are planning to operate, and think about your customer base very carefully.

If you are planning to run out of a 'summer only' harbour - then you might struggle - as lots of operators have over the last 2 or 3 years. 6 or 8 weeks of really good revenue doesn't cover the rest of the year, and access and the weather can really knock a hole in your business plan.

Having said that - if you do your homework, and find a good place to operate from, then it might be exactly what you are after. Just look at St David's in Pembroke - multiple operators with multiple boats - but they have a lot to see in their 'patch'!! Further north, the only boat left (I think) on the West Coast of Wales is Tony Barber's boat - www.baytoremember.co.uk - Ian's stopped at Abersoch, we've stopped at Barmouth, and Dyfi Discovery isn't in the water yet this year - and I believe they are selling it (10m Quinquari...).

However

- I still have the boat - and I have much more fun on my own than with 9 nervous passengers......

Trell · 04 August 2009, 00:57

I looked at doing "excursions in Morecambe Bay with my 11m, but the Lancaster City council wanted 25% of gross turnover, in order to operate off there slipway / Jetty , not sure what other councils are charging but look into this as well before you invest.

codprawn · 04 August 2009, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trell

I looked at doing "excursions in Morecambe Bay with my 11m, but the Lancaster City council wanted 25% of gross turnover, in order to operate off there slipway / Jetty , not sure what other councils are charging but look into this as well before you invest.

That is a disgrace - I would have thought they would try to encourage things that help tourism!!!

Is it the same in other areas?

Jizm · 04 August 2009, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

That is a disgrace - I would have thought they would try to encourage things that help tourism!!!

Is it the same in other areas?

You're not wrong....
25%!!!!!

do they have guns and ride horses?

Trell · 04 August 2009, 23:42

Actually I would be intrested to find out what other councils are charging if anything, might give me a case for going back to them at a later date. or not as the case may be !

DGR · 05 August 2009, 12:53

Gwynedd Council charged me mooring fees and harbour dues at commercial rates - which was a little cheaper (5%?) than a private vessel - and that was it.

Taking 25% of gross income from a RIB ride business would effectively kill it before it got started!! I would also suspect that the legality of that would be dubious. Which jetty were you going to run from?

D...

Cookee · 05 August 2009, 13:33

Do the council or any members have a vested interest? Or are they just trying to stop you?

JSP · 05 August 2009, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trell

Actually I would be intrested to find out what other councils are charging if anything, might give me a case for going back to them at a later date. or not as the case may be !

It's a shame as, as far as I know there would be no local competition for you.

Pablo · 06 August 2009, 13:46

Have you read this ? http://www.ribevents.com/site/boatte...B_business.pdf

Pablo · 06 August 2009, 14:23

I have been thinking of starting a RIB related business in France but don't really have the courage to do it on my own. There are plenty of other possibilities of creating income than just taking tourists out on rides. I was thinking along the lines of :
- all inclusive holidays with upto 5 day trips with or without skipper, different island each night,
- day trips
- rib rides
- at sea breakdown repair
- guided fishing trips
- freediving courses
- dive trips to small parties
- water taxi to yacths

All this remains fair weather oriented however and even if we have a bit more of it than you I was wondering what activities could be done during the winter months ?

mickp100 · 21 August 2009, 14:58

Have you read this ? http://www.ribevents.com/site/boatte...B_business.pdf

What an excellant pdf this was. Only thing is I can only find this one pdf there would appear to be 2 other articles on this topic. Can anyone point me to the other two articles.

Trell · 22 August 2009, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGR

Gwynedd Council charged me mooring fees and harbour dues at commercial rates - which was a little cheaper (5%?) than a private vessel - and that was it.

Taking 25% of gross income from a RIB ride business would effectively kill it before it got started!! I would also suspect that the legality of that would be dubious. Which jetty were you going to run from?

D...

We were going from the what was the old Green st slip , which has a jetty with hand rails. I have been on to the tourism dept and they have been a great help, so will have to see what if anything comes of it.