[NYCAP123]

Correct on that except that a few guys like to incorporate. Big mistake IMHO. Protection is almost nil and, as an employer you must then carry comp (for the one employee who can never collect on it) & also pay into unemployement insurance (also for the one........).
As far as liability there is a big uh-oh out there. You are covered under the boats insurance however the deductable could be as high as a couple hundred grand (10% of the boats value). Also, if there is negligence all bets are off. There are several threads regarding liability and insurance. It's worthwhile to check them out. My personal opinion is that a day captain is one mishap away from financial ruin.

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Correct on that except that a few guys like to incorporate. Big mistake IMHO. Protection is almost nil and, as an employer you must then carry comp (for the one employee who can never collect on it) & also pay into unemployement insurance (also for the one........).
As far as liability there is a big uh-oh out there. You are covered under the boats insurance however the deductable could be as high as a couple hundred grand (10% of the boats value). Also, if there is negligence all bets are off. There are several threads regarding liability and insurance. It's worthwhile to check them out. My personal opinion is that a day captain is one mishap away from financial ruin.

Corporate or LLC status for privately owned businesses, particularly when dealing with other people's big-ticket items, has tremendous value provided you understand the rules, boundaries, and limitations of the corporate veil. Whenever I hear someone say "protection is almost nil," I am forced to presume that person (or someone he/she knows) has found themselves unprotected because they pierced the corporate veil - inadvertently, in most cases - and found themselves personally liable where maintaining the Chinese wall between personal and business would have otherwise shielded and limited their liability.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Seafarer

Corporate or LLC status for privately owned businesses, particularly when dealing with other people's big-ticket items, has tremendous value provided you understand the rules, boundaries, and limitations of the corporate veil. Whenever I hear someone say "protection is almost nil," I am forced to presume that person (or someone he/she knows) has found themselves unprotected because they pierced the corporate veil - inadvertently, in most cases - and found themselves personally liable where maintaining the Chinese wall between personal and business would have otherwise shielded and limited their liability.

Actually it comes from 17 years of walking through those Chinese walls going after people's assets. I collected 70% of the accounts referred to me back in the day.

[dennismc]

Am really surprised at the cost of having a boat washed in the US, (Florida), I get my 70 ft MY washed here in Vanc. for 50.00 total and that's with soap, water and from the roof of the FB to the water line, also would include some one step wax cleaner if some black marks which might be stubborn. In Florida they want 30.00 per hour and only to the deck level. Yacht washing is not a scientific process just needs knowledge, care and attention. To expect to pay 30-40 per hour to wash a boat is highly overpaying unless you want the Captain or Engineer to do it and I would not ask either one to do that work.

[sagharborskip]

Well, there you go!

With over 18 years exp. and a 1600 ton license guess who's washing your boat?

If you've got someone washing your 70' boat for $50, I'd try to legally adopt them.

I'm constantly amazed by how people with pockets deep enough to own a boat will repeatedly question how much people are charging to make an honest living.

If I wanted to look forward to retiring and eating Kibbles and Bits, I guess I'd head to Tennessee and get a job at the Toyota plant where the starting salary is $14/hour (times 40 is $560. Less 30% for taxes and your take home is $392 times 4.34 weeks/month comes to $1,702 x 12 is $20,400. Nope, no 70' motoryacht in that future.)

Just a heads up so you don't head to the Hamptons with your boat and suffer a cardiac "event" which would entail shipping your remains back to Vancouver (probably costing your estate more than $50):

Transient dock space: $5.50 per foot per night (elec./water NOT incl.)
Electronics tech: $125/hour
Authorized diesel tech: $135/hour plus travel time
A/C tech: $95/hour
Toilet tech: $125/hour (no brainer!)
Standard yard/marina labor rates: $65/hour and up
Varnish rate: $50/hour

No one says washing a boat is rocket science but neither is waiting tables or bartending. Should waiters and bartenders go home with upwards of $400/night? It's the SERVICE, silly!

When in Sag, please don't call...

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by dennismc

Am really surprised at the cost of having a boat washed in the US, (Florida), I get my 70 ft MY washed here in Vanc. for 50.00 total and that's with soap, water and from the roof of the FB to the water line, also would include some one step wax cleaner if some black marks which might be stubborn. In Florida they want 30.00 per hour and only to the deck level. Yacht washing is not a scientific process just needs knowledge, care and attention. To expect to pay 30-40 per hour to wash a boat is highly overpaying unless you want the Captain or Engineer to do it and I would not ask either one to do that work.

Wow, I didn't know that Vancouver was such a cheap city to live in that someone can afford to live there and raise a family on $250 a week before taxes. BTW, I've yet to meet the captain or engineer who could or would wash and wax a 70' yacht better than a boat washer, but I'll bet a corporate president could do a real fine job of it.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by dennismc

Am really surprised at the cost of having a boat washed in the US, (Florida), I get my 70 ft MY washed here in Vanc. for 50.00 total and that's with soap, water and from the roof of the FB to the water line, also would include some one step wax cleaner if some black marks which might be stubborn. In Florida they want 30.00 per hour and only to the deck level. Yacht washing is not a scientific process just needs knowledge, care and attention. To expect to pay 30-40 per hour to wash a boat is highly overpaying unless you want the Captain or Engineer to do it and I would not ask either one to do that work.

$50 are you kidding me? Do you have a teenager washing your boat? The prices in Florida are not unreal. To wash a 70' MY to the rubrail the going rate is $2.50 to $3foot. So $210 on the higher end of things to spend 6 or so hours doing it. You're forgetting that in South Florida it's 93 degrees outside, you have to chamois everything and very quickly, the salt content of the air is higher and you have more fallout. Not to mention after you wash one boat, you're too tired to go on and do others. Oh, and the cost of living in Florida.

In Vancouver, washing a boat is much easier, it's much cooler outside so you can wash large sections before chamoising and get the boat done in 2/3 the time. The boats also have a lot less stuff stuck to them versus Florida.

BTW Sag, the prices here in Florida are much cheaper then the ones you listed for your area. Diesel mechanic (dealer) is around $100hr for example. Varnish around $30hr.

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Actually it comes from 17 years of walking through those Chinese walls going after people's assets. I collected 70% of the accounts referred to me back in the day.

They had to have commingled funds or assets, thus piercing the corporate veil. Amazing how many people screw themselves without even realizing it.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Seafarer

They had to have commingled funds or assets, thus piercing the corporate veil. Amazing how many people screw themselves without even realizing it.

You will NEVER find a small corp that hasn't co-mingled at some point to some degree (Ever taken a postage stamp home?). That's why self-employed is such a red flag for the IRS.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Capt J

$50 are you kidding me? Do you have a teenager washing your boat? The prices in Florida are not unreal. To wash a 70' MY to the rubrail the going rate is $2.50 to $3foot. So $210 on the higher end of things to spend 6 or so hours doing it. You're forgetting that in South Florida it's 93 degrees outside, you have to chamois everything and very quickly, the salt content of the air is higher and you have more fallout. Not to mention after you wash one boat, you're too tired to go on and do others. Oh, and the cost of living in Florida.

In Vancouver, washing a boat is much easier, it's much cooler outside so you can wash large sections before chamoising and get the boat done in 2/3 the time. The boats also have a lot less stuff stuck to them versus Florida.

BTW Sag, the prices here in Florida are much cheaper then the ones you listed for your area. Diesel mechanic (dealer) is around $100hr for example. Varnish around $30hr.

Sag is definitely at the top end of the scale, but you're dealing with people who will pay $100 for a hamburger. Florida has always been towards to bottom. It's a hard place to survive unless you work for yourself. Personally, if I had someone willing to wash a 70 footer for $50 I'd be worried about him selling my electronics (or my family) to suplement his income. If he has to squat with 60 others in a 1 bedroom house he's not concerned with going to jail.

[yachtbrokerguy]

At $50 for a wash down, you can be sure the boat washer does not have insurance. If he falls off the flybridge and breaks his arm who will pay the medical bills? If the boat washer pulls his hose accross the dock just as someone is walking there, and they get hurt, who pays the bills?

[dennismc]

Perhaps one of the reasons why the US is still in recesion and Canada is not, is, some people value washing a boat the same as a mechanic tuning up their car,
When you see people with multi million dollar yachts having to sell them and banks repo'ing them, it tells you something about how much they overpaid according to true value.
Just my 2c, and the guy who washes my boat is not a teenager and a neighbour American had no problem paying him similar to wash his 60 footer.
This post is not meant to flame, just an observation of the facts...

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by dennismc

Perhaps one of the reasons why the US is still in recesion and Canada is not, is, some people value washing a boat the same as a mechanic tuning up their car,
When you see people with multi million dollar yachts having to sell them and banks repo'ing them, it tells you something about how much they overpaid according to true value.
Just my 2c, and the guy who washes my boat is not a teenager and a neighbour American had no problem paying him similar to wash his 60 footer.
This post is not meant to flame, just an observation of the facts...

Is your boat washer a legal, tax paying resident or is he just stealing work from your neighbor? Is he just grabbing some off the books work so he can stay on welfare and I can actually pay his living expenses and subsidize your boat wash? Is this the going rate in your area or is he a scab stealing work from local guys who actually try to pay their bills without going on the dole. If he falls into these categories in this area YOUR name would go out (as well as his) and you'd go to the bottom of the list and be way overcharged for any needed work. I'd for sure put IRS onto him and that would fall back on you to pay what he didn't. Saying that an American ex-patriot is also too cheap to pay a living wage doesn't make it right. We have them here too. If your boat washer is legit he could earn more, work less, have steady work and medical benefits working at McD's. I'd wonder about his motovation (running from cops?) The cheap could be very expensive.

[dennismc]

Well. if you think 10.00 hr is too little for boat washing, then the most successful auto company in the world is also paying too little "Toyota" perhaps you would prefer the Government to subsidize the US auto industry so they could become more lazy and inefficient and have their exec's overpaid, just like the banks and many many others who have gotten the US and many other Countries into the mess they are in by overpaying for inefficient and un productive labour and products. If someone decides do work outside the usual system and work only for cash then all he is doing is what millions of others are doing. I would rather pay him cash than have him on social assistance, after all, the tax is being paid by me. This is not scab work as you suggest, this is free enterprise , something you feel is unworthy.
The market will either look after itself or be subsidized by taxpayers like me. GM and Chrysler are perfect examples of Management and employess screwing the Company into bankruptcy and then getting the true hard working taxpayer to bail them out. The proof of the pudding is staring you in the face.

[PropBet]

Originally Posted by dennismc

Perhaps one of the reasons why the US is still in recesion and Canada is not, is, some people value washing a boat the same as a mechanic tuning up their car,

This statement makes my head hurt.

Originally Posted by dennismc

When you see people with multi million dollar yachts having to sell them and banks repo'ing them, it tells you something about how much they overpaid according to true value.

now my head *really* hurts.

Originally Posted by dennismc

This post is not meant to flame, just an observation of the facts...

Nor is mine, however your post is based on opinion, not fact, and couldn't be further from the truth, so I felt compelled to reply and add my $0.02 USD

Have a nice day!