Earn as you go?

[mollyoxford]

Hiya,

I just wondered if there were any suggestions for good skills to have to enable topping up the cruising fund along the way. Planning to go off next year, will have a bit of an income stream but I'd feel better if I could supplement this when the need/desire arises.

I have spent my life as an IT developer - but NOT websites and NOT the kind that can fix/set up PCs.

I have a Commercial YM + RYA Cruising instructor ticket - but found that working in sailing takes all the fun out of it. Maybe when I feel I have knocked the rust off my skills with some extended sailing, I might think differently, I dunno.

I have some mechanical skills (years of old motorbikes, and a couple of months of the present boat), but nothing special to be honest. I can cook well (but not pro standard) and have a good singing voice (well who knows, it might help!).

The other half has a whole raft of potentially useful skills and a good - but I can't be dependent, it's not in my nature.

Ideally, I'd like to develop skills in an area where knowledge and experience do not devalue within a year (as they do in my line of work!!!) but you can go back to for short periods as and when required.

I suppose it should be said that I am female (in my late 30's) - shouldn't matter, but might.

Kirsty

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/mollyoxford/

 

[Nich39Nige]

Hi Kirsty,

Canvas work (dingy covers, biminis, dodgers, sail covers etc) seems to work for some. Met a few in the Caribbean who are on circumnavigations doing that and making a few bob. Also TESL (Teaching English as a second language) can pay something to top up the coffers. In the Caribbean riggers are in much demand as a lot of the cruisers are retired Americans who find it difficult to climb masts.

Just a few thoughts based on my experience.

Nige

 

[Grehan]

The basic rule in Marketing is, offer what others want to buy. You probably have two choices. One, provide things others boaters want (to pay for) - wherever you might be, so what they might want will vary. Second, offer things the 'locals' would want (to spend money on). So the next rule is, find out what 'they' want, whoever you decide 'they' might be.

We are fully fledged certified water gypsies now so that means we'll turn our hands to anything going, that pays. I've worked on 'the building' and Ruth has sold property and done telesales. We take pride in being flexible and open-minded, but assess 'propositions' eyes open. What will add to the coffers and keep the wolf from the door? We've always discounted 'selling' to other boaters (liveaboards or cruisers) 'cos they generally have as little money to waste on buying in what they could bodge for themselves as we do. But we also make a point of speaking and learning the 'local' language, the 'local' way of doing things. You can learn a lot by talking to (local) people, making an effort to communicate in their tongue. Hope that doesn't sound too patronising. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The third choice is, find something you can do from the boat for (say) a UK company or UK customers, wherever you might be. Not straightforward to set up the means, nor to find and convince a UK firm you can actually perform when faced with the attractive distractions of sailing and foreign ports and parts. Or . . What could you find to buy locally and then sell on eBay? Or source from China (e.g gadgets and stuff) and sell locally? It goes without saying, this could be a minefield, with pitfalls, but you never know . . . .

For us, this is all part of what we gained - the freedom to try things at the cost of possibly failing - in b^ggering off from conventional employment. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Csail]

Swmbo does marking papers for students at medical uni and also indexing if your any good at that type of thing....the latter probably better as it's all on internet.

 

[Troutbridge]

If you can fix fridges you'll always find work.

 

[TigaWave]

Hairdressing, water colour yacht portraits.

 

[Carolwildbird]

how well do you do at the yacht portraits? Maybe portraits of skippers etc?

 

[mollyoxford]

hmm, lots to think about, some good and varied suggestions.

We'll probably have to have a higher level of tech/comms than I would ideally prefer, so 'net based things are also a possibility - but maybe too much like what I want to leave behind .

I think I'd prefer to get involved with the locals in preference to other boaty types.

I'd be up for doing just about anything, really (though I had my brush with sales-type jobs in my youth and I am not much cop at it, for whatever reason).

Maybe I am just trying to be TOO prepared, to work out what to train myself in before we go. I suppose it's a case of keeping my eye out and seeing the possibilities once we are wherever we are.

If we do need to earn money, I'd like to be sure we can both do so equally, maybe that's what it is. Maybe that's a daft attitude...

 

[trouville]

I wouldent worry.You sound quite solid skill wise once your underway during your first winter just put your out board on the pontoon and change the impeller or over haul,someone will ask if you can---

Fat better (for me) depending on your boat either put a table on the aft deck or in the cockpit then take your sewing machine & make new covers for the cabin youll be busy after that sewing sun awnings dodgers even sails

Or put your wooden dingy in site on the pontoon depending size situation and re do the bottem paint(literaly paint not AF) a bit of varnishing youll meet lots

Every one wants something done!

Always give an estimate and take half in advance!

To antifoul a full boat!take payment in advance unless your in a yard you know as the boat will ordinarily be put in the day its done--and leave!!!

Your soon get the hang its great fun!You should also learn to be economic on a sliding scale

When your rich buy quality parts screews shackels paint or equipment GPS antifouling spare bilge pump what ever you need or might need eat and drink stock up on local products

As your funds dwindel sail more or just drift untill theres wind within reason stop eating never go near a port untill winter

ALWAYS KEEP ENOUGH TO PAY FOR A WINTER PLACE!!Or know exactly where you will be able to stay for the entire winter if need be!!

if youve held a spaner youll do better than the modern 50 euro/hr mechanic!!

 

[LadyJessie]

If you have reasonable PC IT skills, there are always people who have windows crashes, driver incomps and then the big money earner: connect a PC to GPRS/Satcom/Sailmail/any other internet source, etcetera. If you can do that you will have work in every major cruising harbour.

In addition, if you stay any longer period and gain local knowledge in an area with charter companies; you can always pick up work as a charter skipper (especially with your quals). Many of the larger charter boats (45-50 ft) at Moorings and Sunsail are often chartered out with a paid skipper and if you just know where the nice local anchorages are and the best local restaurants; you will have work and good tips. Both of these companies seems to always be short of this talent so you should easily find a position. Btw, this is probably the only job in yachting where it helps to not be a young female bubbly blond. Having a wind beaten face and grey receding hairs actually is a benefit as it seems to inspire confidence in the clients.

 

[dockmaster]

Make sure any varnish on your boat is gleaming then offer to do other peoples you will have a que a mile long!

 

[TigaWave]

It was my Ex's money spinner, nice thing is she could sit in an anchorage and do a few boats. Once word got around as it does when you're cruising she was kept busy.

The paintings were done small A5 so they could be put up on board easily, they were very popular.

I fixed vhf's, checked electrical bits!

 

[Deleted member 478]

Just a word of caution, be aware of the 'work permit' requirements in the country that you're currently cruising. Some of the 'boat boy' types get pissed off that you are doing them out of a job, despite them not being able to offer the same skills as you can.

With you coming from an IT background, could you not keep doing the same work that you are currently doing, but do it online as opposed too being stuck in an office?

 

[mollyoxford]

LOADS of great suggestions.

I tried to get a job one summer as a rigger - but no joy.

I am cheered to hear that small sketches/paintings of boats are popular. I can draw/paint - not done much for a while due to lack of time - but planned on getting back into it anyway. I don't like to work bigger than A5 anyway. Hmm, must dig out stuff this weekend and start with my own!

Engine servicing - I am sure people will see me doing that, and we have a pretty good set of tools onboard even now (which will be added to before we go).

Most of my IT development skills will decay in relevance pretty fast - within 6 months to a year, but there's always maintenance on old systems.

If I do end up skippering, maybe I should stop dying my hair to look the salty old sea-dog part!! (hmm maybe I could hire out the BF as a hairdresser - he did a good job of cutting mine!).

Brilliant and reassuring food for thought!

 

[Saddletramp]

All good advice and prove that you have a lot to offer. I think the one key thing you need is to have confidence in your self.

Easier said that done I know.

But you have a range of skills and knowledge and the ability to make the break, you should be able to turn your hand to anything.

Good luck (not that you will need it)

 

[LadyJessie]

[ QUOTE ]
Most of my IT development skills will decay in relevance pretty fast - within 6 months to a year, but there's always maintenance on old systems.

[/ QUOTE ]Don't worry: cruisers never have the latest windows setup. They are not stupid. old and tested is the standard in the cruising world.

 

[mollyoxford]

Lady Jessie: I am not that type of IT person - I probably have about as much of a clue about Windows setups as the average home user.

 

[bazobeleza]

I agree with trouville, show any apitude for sorting things out and youll be snowed under.

I had the misfortune to take my sewing machine aboard last year to complete the wheelouse upholstery, sat on the aft deck sewing up a nice piece of alacantra (10m length for £35.00 from local bankrupt stock shop) it was less than 5mins when a bloke comes along chatting about his upholstery and how it was impossible o get any body to do it.

similarly I chatting to a large moboer on the pontoon about plans for the week, 'cant go out, the anchor winch is knackered, boat yards been out and want 1000+ euro o put a new one in' so I said i'd look at it and over a few beers and with a multimeter in hand I found it was the switch and broken wires that had failed, rewired it while I sent him out for a new switch, installed it, had a great afternoon with a boaty that I considered a friend and he still tried to give me a 100eus for fixing it. I refused but he passed my mobile no onto his mates and next thing is 'do you know anything about....' and so it goes on.

In the Algarve there are a lot of boaters looking for someone who does this and that, more importantly has the time to do this or that when theyre not there so they can enjoy their boat when they are.