Jobs in the boating industry?

[lockwood]

Having been a web developer for the past 11 years, I now find myself redundant and looking for work.

These days any Tom, Dick or Hariette can build a website, albeit a basic one - so I am thinking of a career shift.

I have been gripped by the sailing bug and was wondering what jobs are out there working with boats. I intend to do a day skipper course this summer with a view to becoming a yachtmaster over time.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Stingo]

Yep. I fall into the category of "anyone can build a website, albeit a basic one". During the 15 months that I was cruising, I built six sites for people I happened across. Total income (tax free) was almost £2000 and I still help with small changes via the internet. I suggest you go cruising and maintain your clients over the web.

 

[FullCircle]

Blimey John, the Stingo showstopper must have cost a fortune!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Stingo]

Works like this Jim

"Hey John, I heard you are quite good with a PC"
"I was in days gone by and now I want nothing to do with them"
"That's a pity, I was going to ask you to develop a website for me"
"Nowt, couldn't be arsed unless the money is exceptional"
"How much is exceptional"
"Nothing less than £40 per hour"
"You're joking"
"No - as I said, couldn't be arsed unless..."
"Yeh, yeh. I heard you the first time. When can your start"?

 

[lockwood]

I am obviously moving in the wrong circles.

 

[Stingo]

The UK has an abundance of IT skilled people. All six jobs were done south of Europe (Canaries, Cape Verde, Brazil, Tobago) where there is an abundance of IT un-skilled people.

As I said, go cruising mate. And once you're south of Europe, you can live VERY comfortably on US$500 per month so my six sites brought in enough cruising kitty for eight months

 

[jimi]

Think there's lots of peeps with skills .. however very good people are always in demand and can charge a fair premium. St

 

[lockwood]

European cruising in a Jaguar 22 is a bit 'challenging' for me.

Maybe one day when I buy a new Swan 50. <extremely wishful thinking>

 

[Stingo]

Thanks for the compliment Jim, but look at my own website and you have to agree that technically it is very basic.

I got the job instead of the locals because if I said the job would be done by noon tomorrow, it was done by noon the next day.

See someones post about the joys of "Mañana" and the equivilants

 

[Stingo]

It's been done before on similar sized boats

 

[lockwood]

I hadn't intended to pimp myself in this way... but I have been head Web Programmer at BBC Wales for 7 years and am good at what i do and am available for work!


<sorry, for the shameless self promotion - but it is relevant to the discussion>

 

[jimi]

Was'nt talking about you, John but referring to myself ;-)

 

[Stingo]

Jim, who are you trying to bluff?

 

[FullCircle]

Having lived in Brasil, I would tend to agree. Muito Bom e pequeno Reals pro semanha.
I have stopped taking hourly consultations after 16 years at it. Its very nice and novel at the moment. Prob like you I would need to have some time away and a dwindling glee box before I was tempted to add slush to the fund.
I take it from the way the question was put by the originator of the post that he does not yet have the werewithal to launch himself in grand style (like your 390) and needs to be a bit more hand to mouth.
Shall we launch him at Crewseekers or UKSA? With an IT endorsement?


Jim

 

[lockwood]

Alas, Jimdew is correct.

I am a shoestring sailor - sailing on a very limited budget.

It would be lovely to upsticks and sail to warmer climates, but then again, if I had that sort of money i suppose I would have to pay off mortgage & car first!

 

[StephenSails]

There is no real money in the marine industry so if you are looking for a job with out good pay then welcome aboard, there are still benefits dont get me wrong. If you want to make a load of wedge forget it unless you own some prime real estate land near the water. One of my boating colleagues says to come out of the boating industry with one million pounds you have to of started with 2! Good luck though.

 

[lockwood]

I am not looking to become wealthy - just happy would be good.

 

[Otto]

don't listen to stingo. he's bullshitting you because he couldn't cut it in London.

I am in the IT industry working for major american corporations near London and earn quite a bit more than stingo's estimate per hour. it's not all lost.

Granted, I tried web hosting, design, et al as a business and that market is saturated and I am slowly cutting it off - my primary server still manages mail for the world's biggest IT comany - but my point is that good IT skills are in demand anywhere in the world, esp. the UK.

My advice is to start your own business and farm your skills out to the local community. Don't work for one company but for many. The tax incentive of running your own business will astound you.

Oh, I should mention: do sailing as a hobby, not a career. There is no money in it.

 

[Stingo]

"The tax incentive of running your own business will astound you"

Rubbish. Think IR35 and then justify your statement.

And as far as making it in London goes, by choice, I haven't worked for 3 years.

 

[lockwood]

Tried that..... the last two years have seem the rise and demise of Halfcircle Ltd.

We offered web design & hosting, then added custom PC builds.... the business is simply not there anymore. Not in Wales anyway.