Boat Electrician needs your thoughts!

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pagw

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Hi all

I need you help!

I am considering setting up as a freelance boat electrician, repairs/fault finding/installs/rewires etc and would like your feedback on whether this would be a valuable service or not.

If I do go ahead I will be covering Chichester to Weymouth. And before you ask I am fully qualified and experienced in electrical/electronic marine systems, MCA Y4 yacht engineer and commercial yachtmaster ocean etc etc.

Is the market flooded, or are there too few good marine electricians out there? Is there a demand for more people with the skills? What do you think of the level of pricing?

I really appreciate any thoughts/comments/insight you may have on this. I will only go ahead if I can bring some valuable skills and service to the yacht community and its something that you feel is needed.

I appreciate many of you are fully compentent in boat electrical systems, but for those who are not; those who are but dont have the time, I'm interested in what you think.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Thanks

Phil
-Feel free to PM me if you dont want to post.
 
Personally I think there's still lots of room for someone like that. Even on th e south coast. This kind of work is often done by a general yacht services company that just marks up the rates of someone like yourself. A lot of the freelance guys are very poor at customer service (I'll get around to fixing it next time I'm in the area...sorry I forgot again...) and marketing themselves. If you charge less than the big boys (which doesn't mean you'll be paying yourself any less) and market yourself/show customers the love, then you'll succeed.
 
You should do well as there is a shortage of good people in your field. One word of warning DO NOT charge M.A.T
(Marine Added Tax) as most outfits in the marine trade seem to.
 
Agree with the others....

There are quite a few companies/people doing what you offer.... there are considerably less doing it to a good standard and with excellent customer service...

You've only got to read these forums for a few weeks to see the substantial number of recommendations made for individuals that seem to care.....

There is a gap in the market here.....
 
Whenever I try to engage a marine professional (electrician/engineer/sailmaker/fabricator etc etc) I always seem to be met with a sucking of teeth and a response along the lines of I/we won't be able to look at that for at least(insert number) weeks, extremely busy you know, taken too much on...

So, if you can offer a reliable service at a fair price, I reckon you're on a winner!

If you're interested in finding out why my over temp alarm is permanently illuminated/activated (gauge reads ok)........
 
There is certainly room in the market for such skills. However I think tapping into the demand could be difficult and converting your skill into a viable business could be very difficult.

To do this freelance you will need to get a steady stream of small jobs. To build up that sort of customer base takes time and effort.

Also if you specialise as an electrician you will find yourself in competition with general yacht maintenance people who can also do a bit of electrics.

If you want to make it work you should consider two possible options:
(a) Get yourself attached to a big marine electronics supplier, or manufacturer (or more than onw), as a "recommended fitter"
(b) Consider offering more skills than just the electronics
 
You are about to find out just how mean and tight fisted yachties really are. I had thought about doing what you have suggested in the past, but decided I like the simple things in life like shelter and food.

Think you'll need a sidekick, who will pull the mouse-line through?

As for offering something different, down to component repairs would be good, if you are able, but you would have to retrain people that you can fix it cheaper than a new one, there is a mentality of if it breaks throw it away. Your problem is going to be, the man behind the counter is most likely to want to sell them a new one than recommend you to come out on re-solder the corroded wire.

Good Luck. (I mean that honestly, I hope you get to be the man we all advise on here).
 
Also, i'd add, that the common areas of questions on here seem to relate to a few repeated topics... such as:

Battery switch wiring
Split diode/VSR wiring arrangements
Connecting GPS's to various other instruments
Charging arrangements generally
VHF aerial performance
Galvanic isolation and protection
Wiring for Eberspacher style heaters

Perhaps worth making sure your advertising mentions these things specifically...

I am sure there are other things that could be added to the list with thought by others....
 
I also think its a good idea. There's also a market on this forum under a new section heading for independent marine contractors- particularly if customers can then comment on work and recommend etc
 
I am a Marine Electrician down in Devon, see my website: yachtelectricalservices.co.uk.

I am a time served marine electrician with over 30 years experience in the marine business.

If you have been properly trained and really know how install/repair marine electrical/electronic systems, go for it.

Owners will pay a reasonable rate for a professional who does the job properly and is reliable. Unfortunately there here are some cowboys around!!!

I often get requests to work further along the coast.

One tip; when you work on a boat in a Boat Yard/Marina always tell the operators you are there and pay the contractors fee.

Good luck!
 
I would echo most of what has already been said and from a purely commercial business point of view would add that it can be feast or famine working for yourself, so if possible get a couple of regular contracts (e.g. small yard, charterers, owners associations etc) to pay the bills. Also, I've found that it is pretty difficult to do the marketing, admin and so on when you are the one doing the actual work as well. That said, I expect sole traders would get more trade in the current economic climate than established outfits with perhaps bigger overheads. Best of luck with the venture.
 
Welcome to the forum Boatsparky. Marketing seems to be a theme here. While you have forumites attention try asking some direct questions, such as where would you look, website, yellow pages etc. Most sole traders I have spoken to in any line seem to have a bread and butter contract or contact that keeps them going. Try and identify possible sources. Charter business that sort of thing. Even brokers as buyers often want to add new toys to their new boat.

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
desperate for someone to do wiring on Victorious (total change of interior underway)
Its very hard to find someone good at it that has time avail.. So they must be busy

Also I simply cannot afford the prices charged so i shall spend twice the time doing half as neat a job myself /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
If you were not so far away I would offer a swap, you build my doors and I will help you with your leccy.

Though I do still need someone to build some doors for me, interested?
 
Just about finished a major rebuild and on a few occasions I tried, unsucsessfully, to get some professional input. I list the difficulties;
1 Don't do small jobs (less than £500)
2 We do yachts but fit them in around commercial work as they pay twich as much as you
3 I will get back to you... NOTHING is worse than people who don't turn up when they say they will.
4 Finding people. Most yacht owners would look to marina or chandlers to find services, then to places like PBO or local boat repairers.
5 Not being prepaired to come to the boat and work with the owner. I can do lots of stuff myself and only want to pay someone for the bits I can't do. Most professionals seam to only be interested in cooming to a yard and, for example 'fitting a new set of instruments' rather than sorting out an autopilot. It may be that someone might want the engine room wiring done but be happy wire up the lights etc.
6 Consultancy. I would have loved to get (and been happy to pay for) someone to visit the boat as a consultant to check plans and advise on jobs like wiring up the NMEA network or doing a commisioning check on the 230v system.
7 Cost. I am a qualified medic and get about £18p/h, I don't expect to pay an electricial twice that much but am happy to pay reasonable travel time/expenses if you come to the boat. Working for private individuals is much more cost sesative than working for companies. For a company you just have to give the lowest quote, for individuals you have to be afordable.
8 People skills. Most skippers are reasonably intelegant adults well used to dealing with complex stuff, they run the boat after all. Being treated as a 5yr old or being given a load of 'industry jargon' is very offputting. Being pepared to explain things in everyday english is very reasuring.
Think there is always room for someone who is good at it and if you are better than the others you make room!
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,

the best source of business is by word of mouth and you obviously have to build up a reputation to do that, so its a bit chicken and egg.

I am surprised how many people are already saying you can do work for them, when you are only just thinking of starting out and brand new to the forum. Personally, I would want somebody to provide a recommendation or reference or some sort, or to have a pretty good chat about the job before agreeing to proceed.

I have used a chap in Lymington who was recommended to me, and I now recommend to others, because he is:
- knowledgable
- very polite and well presented
- trustworthy, to be left on the boat to get on with it
- manages my expectations about whats involved, when he will turn up and how long it will take
- reasonable price
- young and enthusiastic

Hope this helps, even just a little.
 
I appreciate this is probbaly me being naiive - and is slightly off topic - but whats the justfication for a marina / yard charging a contractors fee - other than the can stick it and their T&C and get away with it ?

Seems the customer is already paying a berthing fee etc

Just curious ....
 
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