Leo compiled the following list of part time money earners for cruising:

<<Become proficient in diesel and outboard repairs.

Become proficient in marine refrigeration repairs.

Become proficient in marine electronic repairs.

Become proficient in sail repairs and canvas

fabrication.>>

I would suggest all of the above. A friend of mine cruised for 10 years in a
40' sailboat while working as an itinerant boat handyman. He made enough money
to live in a relatively high style. The idea was remain flexible. There is
rarely enough work of one kind at a single location to pay off, but there are
often small jobs of many kinds. These are relatively simple like aligning
shafts, replacing impellers, installing electronics, repairing canvas, etc. Almost
all of the jobs can be done with a simple tool kit, a sewing machine, and a few
electrical instruments. A supply of the more common repair items (impellers,
spark plugs, gaskets, etc) bought at wholesale can be sold at retail.

Metal fabrication and welding require specialized equipment and quite
probably good insurance coverage. Most marinas might be reluctant to have an
uninsured person waving a welding torch around. The jobs are best done in specialty
shops anyway.

The key to being a successful marine handyman is to have a good business
plan. Print up business cards and service price lists. Have a seperate business
banking arrangement. Gain the cooperation of marina owners. Get a good
accountant to set it all up.

Incidentally, after my friend married, swallowed the anchor, and moved ashore
he continued the business working up and down the Hudson Valley. He now
specializes in fall decommissioning, boat covering, and spring recommissioning. He
keeps his entire repair shop in a Ford van. He still makes enough money to
live in a high style.

Larry Z

<<A supply of the more common repair items (impellers,
spark plugs, gaskets, etc) bought at wholesale can be sold at
retail.>>

Would that it were so.  Perhaps if one specialized in Lehmans.
Most engine replacement parts are not common enough throughout
the fleet to make stocking them aboard a reeasonable or economic
thing to do.  That's one reason I specialized early-on in
electrical systems and repairs.  Wire, terminals, fuses and
circuit breakers are more nearly standardized on boats than
engine parts.  For the larger and more expensive parts like
inverters, batteries and battery monitors, I rely on the owner to
buy them locally or from his favorite mail-order source.

Regarding my policy on who gets charged, my answer is simple.
Everyone whose boat I work on gets charged.  I don't see how a
professional can work any other way.  How good a friend does one
have to be to get free work?  What will slightly lesser friends
think of the cutoff point?  How good can this guy be if he works
for free?  On the other hand, I am very liberal with free advice
and on-boat inspections.  I don't usually charge unless I have to
get out my tools or get my hands dirty.  And advice and
inspections sometimes lead to paid work.

Mark Richter, m/v Winnie the Pooh
Mark's Mobile Marine
presently anchored in Havre de Grace, MD, at the top of the Bay

This is the right policy. Without going into details, using your
professional skills to help friends is rarely rewarded and these friends
have no compunction about being demanding "customers." I made this mistake
in the computer field and, of course, everyone has a computer. Doing the
work for free (at night!) actually lowers people respect for your skills.
Reminding them that a service call costs a minimum of $75.00USD just to show
up, didn't faze them at all.

Now, the only person whose computers I support are my wife's and she never
respected my work anyway!

Ron Rogers
Annapolis, MD
_/)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Richter" Richter-Pooh@rocketmail.com
|
| Regarding my policy on who gets charged, my answer is simple.
| Everyone whose boat I work on gets charged.  I don't see how a
| professional can work any other way.

(SNIP) Ron said: This is the right policy. Without going into details,
using your professional skills to help friends is rarely rewarded and
these friends have no compunction about being demanding "customers." I
made this mistake in the computer field and, of course, everyone has a
computer. Doing the work for free (at night!) actually lowers people
respect for your skills.

I have a slightly different perspective.  I know Mark well and he makes
his living doing quality work at a reasonable price, but I'm retired and
I enjoy helping fellow cruisers with my computer skills. I've yet to
experience any demanding cruisers; mostly they are simply grateful for
having their problems solved. Some time spent coaching also reduces
future demand for help and improves overall computer literacy.

I think everyone brings something to the table and banking a few favors
never hurts the cruising kitty.  On the advice side, we all clearly
share valuable knowledge pro-bono, and that's one of the reasons for
joining and participating in the TWL.

I'd encourage all the lurkers to come out of the closet and share your
skills.  Keep your sense of humor though.  My initial post many years
talked about installing a household sized toilet bowl, but I spelled
bowl "bowel" and learned the value of a sense of humor the hard way.

                               Regards.....

Phil Rosch
Old Harbor Consulting
M/V "Curmudgeon" Marine Trader 44 TC
Currently Moored in Wakefield, RI

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't
do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from
the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." - Mark Twain