Isle of Wight

[nigelcarton]

Hi all,
We are looking at moving to the IOW. What I intend to do is set up base in a marina before we actually buy a house over there. I have my name down on the waiting list for Ryde Harbour, which could take a couple of years /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I have a boat at the mo (45' narrowboat) which won't be coming with me. I will be down sizing to a 26' motor cruiser . Ryde harbour is actually cheaper than the bit of ditch I'm paying for at the moment from British Waterways.
Any good pointers would be appreciated. I only intend to use the boat as a temporary means of getting my head down, setting up business and house hunting. Do marinas mind people sleeping on there boats for a couple of nights? Is the any other marinas on the Island worth looking at that’s not too expensive? Would any marinas be interested in my services, qualified boat safety examiner, marine engineer?

Nigel

 

[sarabande]

Nigel

You have a classic marketing and startup situation. Assuming you have the current bits of paper, I'd find out lots of details about the likely range and extent of clients in the area.

So, define the area in your own mind _ are you prepared to travel off the Island, f'rinstance ?

The economic development departments of the IOW and Hampshire, Dorset CCs will have lists of all the marinas, as will some of the internet sites and professional agencies.

I guess that boat safety certificates will be extended fairly soon to the sea sailing and mobo fraternity, rather than just the inland waters, so you could be in at the ground floor.

Insurance companies need to have qualified engineers / surveyors on their books, so get your details to them and speak in person to the people who send engineers out on claim verification.

Above all, it's a function of reputation, reputation, reputation. So you need to get satisfied clients ready to spread the word about your skills, availability, professionalism, and reasonable charges.

Marketing your services can range from massive advertising in local/national papers with strong boating connections , to putting up (probably paid for!) fliers and business cards in marinas and boatyards. Most of them will have their "tried and trusted" engineers, so getting on to the list will be a matter of making personal contacts at principal level, building up a successful portfolio of clients.

Sounds like you have a major task breaking into an established market, but if you can get a feature in your services which sets you clearly above the competition, the limits to financial stability and success will be how many surveyors/engineers you end up employing. It's a warning and no small matter that so many in the business remain as one-man bands.

 

[jimbouy]

Nigel,

Ryde will have no objection to you spending as mich time onboard as you wish. .... Your boat, your berth to do as you wish.

Yes Ryde is cheap.... I should know, I keep my Centaur there. For long(ish) term liveaboard you should know that there is no electricity on the pontoons. The loos/showers are usable but not posh. The esplanade can get busy and noisey during the season.

Having said all that it is well located for transport and shops etc.

Can't really help you on the business front but if you want to know more about Ryde let me know.... I am also pretty familiar with the IOW as a whole.

Pity about the waiting list as there are a great many boats that never get used. Have you begged Dave (harbour master) for a place? sometimes they let people stay on the visitors pontoon for long periods.

Jim

 

[nigelcarton]

Thank you both very much for your advice! That’s give me a fair bit to think about. I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead. Not sure if it would be a popular move to bring in the Boat safety scheme but it would be good for me. Although I have all the coarse notes for my surveyor’s diploma, I'm reluctant to go down that road.... at the moment!
As for Dave at Ryde, I've e-mailed him a couple of times, but will pop in and see him when I'm over for a chat and a grovel!.
Thanks again, bit of a rushed response as I'm just on my way out to inspect a 55' narrowboat, I'll be back