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I think i am going to give it a go but ?


W+T

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Hi all. For some time now i have been wanting to work for myself and after the hassle again with work and feeling the push to get on with life in a new career i mite as well try my hand at a new job/career. Which is working on boats doing Handy man job and repairs etc etc. I have been asked over the recent years by folk if i can do jobs on there boats but with the way work was and time i have had and the boat i doing up for myself i was unable to.  I think i have a good reference for now until i get my portfoli set up with the boat i am doing. 

I would not be claiming to be a professional either, but more than a Handy ` bodge and go` Man. 

Until now as the plan is to start off weekends and go from there, well as soon as i get myself sorted with a van and insurance etc etc. I have a few jobs in line to look into and some being a long way from home but its a start, thing is these are not on canal boats but sea going vessels.

First question on this is what are boat yards like towards outside contractors going on site to work on private boats on there moorings and standing ? Do the majority charge for going on site  and/or charge a % of the earnings from the contractor?

Cheers

Wayne ?

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2 minutes ago, W+T said:

First question on this is what are boat yards like towards outside contractors going on site to work on private boats

Not normally a problem but you MUST

a) Have business liability insurance for (normally) £10 million - some marinas may be more, or less.

b ) Have permission from Marina owner / Manager

c) 'Log in & out' of the marina so they know who is on site.

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Wayne, you have the skills. First off, your thread has been a masterclass in small boat restoration. That boat is going to leave your drive better than any Buck was brand new. Only you will be able to determine whether you can work with the ups/downs of self employed. Personally, the lousy pay is fine for not having to answer to an HR drone in a suit.

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29 minutes ago, W+T said:

Hi all. For some time now i have been wanting to work for myself and after the hassle again with work and feeling the push to get on with life in a new career i mite as well try my hand at a new job/career. Which is working on boats doing Handy man job and repairs etc etc. I have been asked over the recent years by folk if i can do jobs on there boats but with the way work was and time i have had and the boat i doing up for myself i was unable to.  I think i have a good reference for now until i get my portfoli set up with the boat i am doing. 

I would not be claiming to be a professional either, but more than a Handy ` bodge and go` Man. 

Cheers

Wayne ?

I wish you well, but I would recommend you drop the 'bodge and go' :captain:

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Great luck with your venture. I think you are wise to start out on a part-time basis and build up your business from there. From my experience as a sole trader in the electrical game, I would advise you to try to secure money for materials etc. on an "up front" basis. That way if somebody did default on you, you have only lost earnings and not laid any money out.

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28 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Not normally a problem but you MUST

a) Have business liability insurance for (normally) £10 million - some marinas may be more, or less.

b ) Have permission from Marina owner / Manager

c) 'Log in & out' of the marina so they know who is on site.

a ) Yes i will be looking into insurance soon, i just need t find a decent company to get a price. 

b ) So i would need to approach them myself and not the boat owner to get permission for me ?   

c ) Thats a new one ? So do boat owners have to do the same ? 

16 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Absolutely go for it. There are two sad thing in life after bad health one is Debt and the other is being an employee :cheers:

I am good employee shame about the employers isnt it. Oh and i can third that with life is to short ;)

 

 

15 minutes ago, BilgePump said:

Wayne, you have the skills. First off, your thread has been a masterclass in small boat restoration. That boat is going to leave your drive better than any Buck was brand new. Only you will be able to determine whether you can work with the ups/downs of self employed. Personally, the lousy pay is fine for not having to answer to an HR drone in a suit.

If i can make beter than Min wage/living wage i think is what they call i now i will be happy. To boss myself about will be great  as i am used to it after doing Faffer up lol.

 

 

1 minute ago, pete harrison said:

I wish you well, but I would recommend you drop the 'bodge and go' :captain:

Oh that will not be me a sin `bodge and go` but some of the jobs i have repaired in the past on cars and some houses when i did a bit of proper DIY for local folk.

 

 

And think you all for the encouragement to do it. Makes it easier for me to get going with it and confidence:)

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Marinas are all different.

Most as Alan said reqiure you to at least sign in and prove you have insurance. I am personally insured for 5 million but notice alot of other tradesman are only insured to 2 million- none of which have been refused permission to work. BWML used to ask for 3 million but would accept 2 million.

Some will want a percentage or may charge you a daily fee for being on site. Some dont charge at all as it annoys the moorers! Any marina with a workshop paying staff, rent, rates etc is unlikely to welcome you if you are stealing their living.

 

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6 minutes ago, catweasel said:

Great luck with your venture. I think you are wise to start out on a part-time basis and build up your business from there. From my experience as a sole trader in the electrical game, I would advise you to try to secure money for materials etc. on an "up front" basis. That way if somebody did default on you, you have only lost earnings and not laid any money out.

^^^ This. The client can also feel assured knowing that they own the materials regardless of the contractor's business affairs. If materials are purchased in a client's name it also means that it is only your labour involved and so you will at least be doing okay before hitting the VAT threshold.

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7 minutes ago, catweasel said:

Great luck with your venture. I think you are wise to start out on a part-time basis and build up your business from there. From my experience as a sole trader in the electrical game, I would advise you to try to secure money for materials etc. on an "up front" basis. That way if somebody did default on you, you have only lost earnings and not laid any money out.

Good point there. I used to get the home owners from the house handy many day to buy the materials first, there were happy to do so aswell most of the time. even get it delivered to there house. 

One thing wa that once i did a rear waney fence of about 32 foot and rendered a wall of about 10m, bless her she got all the materials delivered at the same time. so bags of sand, cement, lime all over with the panels and post and post fix all in a small yard and now where to move, it would of been a large yard but for the new extension she had lol.

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3 minutes ago, peterboat said:

Its the way forward Wayne best day of my life when I left my last employer didnt look back and would not want to work for anybody ever again!!

I found the general public to be the most demanding boss ever! That said I did enjoy being self-employed for a few years.

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11 minutes ago, W+T said:

c ) Thats a new one ? So do boat owners have to do the same ? 

No - boat owners are not conducting a business, and, have the potential to do £100 of 1000s of damage.

Just trying to help !!

The Rules :

6.2  Prior written consent for work to be carried out at the Marina shall not, without good cause, be withheld where the work is to be carried out in strict accordance with the documents Working on Craft in Dry Docks and Working on Craft in Dry Storage (which are available upon request from BWML offices).
 
 6.2.1.  The work to be carried out is work for which BWML would normally employ a specialist sub-contractor; or
 
 6.2.2.  BWML is satisfied that the whole of the work is remedial and not servicing and is being carried out under warranty by the manufacturer and/or supplier of the Vessel or any part of her equipment to which the warranty relates; or
 
 6.2.3.  BWML has set aside an area of the Marina where the Owner may carry out work on the Vessel and the work for which consent is sought is restricted to that area. 
 
6.3.  The Owner must ensure that suitable risk assessments, method statements and a copy of the contractor’s third party liability insurance policy in the sum of £5,000,000 (five million pounds)  accompanies the request for consent referred to in Clause 6.1 above. The Owner must also ensure that contractors are only employed to carry out such repairs that they are qualified to undertake and that the contractors have the appropriate and requisite accreditations. For the avoidance of doubt, BWML reserves the right to refuse its prior written permission for the work once it has had an opportunity to consider the risk assessments and method statements of the contractor.
 
6.4.  The Owner will only be permitted to undertake works on their Vessel for which they have deemed competencies in being experienced in the carrying out of the required operation or the use of any power tools, such as welders, grinders or hot cutting equipment that would require professional certification. Operations that require the use of such equipment should be advised to the manager or supervisor for that Marina prior to commencement and be accompanied with a method statement and risk assessment for this task. Where this is the case then this must be carried out in accordance with a Permit-to-Work (Hot Work Permit), copies of which can be found at the Marina office. For the avoidance of doubt, BWML reserves the right to prevent any person from operating such equipment in the Marina if appropriate certification or records of competency cannot be produced when requested by any member of BWML staff.

6.5.  If the Owner is using contractors to carry out any work, the Owner must ensure that the contractors register with the Office upon their arrival and pay a registration fee to cover an administration fee, details of which are available at the Office upon request.
 
The contractor must register with the Office or in the absence of an Office to the prearranged person on arrival and on departure of each day.
 
Any contractors must follow the BWML registration process, providing copies of risk assessments, method statements as relevant and their liability policy. The contractor Registration Request must be submitted to BWML.  Any contractors will only be permitted to work on site once the manager or supervisor for that Marina has authorised all documents and provided a site induction.
 
All documents must be submitted annually. Method statements and risk assessments must be resubmitted more regularly should the method of work change. New or additional method statements and risk assessments should also be resubmitted if the Owner or contractors need to change the method of working or use different materials once work has commenced.
 
6.6.  BWML reserves its right to insist that contractors working on the Vessel on behalf of the Owner leave the Marina if either the Owner or the contractor has failed to comply with this Clause 6.
 
6.7.  BWML also reserves its right to withdraw its consent if any work is carried out in contravention of the Working on Craft in Dry Docks and Working on Craft in Dry Storage document and/or in contravention with relevant Health and Safety legislation or approved codes of practice.
 
6.8.  In carrying out any work the Owner shall not cause any nuisance and agrees to try his best to ensure that his contractor does not cause any nuisance to BWML and/or to any other users of the Marina and/or to any person residing in the vicinity of the Marina. If BWML receives any complaints regarding the work from any person using the Marina and/or from any person residing in the vicinity of the Marina, BWML reserves the right to either request a review of the method statement of the contractor so as to minimise or remove the nuisance, or to withdraw its consent for the work.

 

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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4 minutes ago, PaulJ said:

Marinas are all different.

Most as Alan said reqiure you to at least sign in and prove you have insurance. I am personally insured for 5 million but notice alot of other tradesman are only insured to 2 million- none of which have been refused permission to work. BWML used to ask for 3 million but would accept 2 million.

Some will want a percentage or may charge you a daily fee for being on site. Some dont charge at all as it annoys the moorers! Any marina with a workshop paying staff, rent, rates etc is unlikely to welcome you if you are stealing their living.

 

They sound similar then to all other yards/mariners that i have found out about. Understandable for those who have workshop staff etc etc

 

I dont want to go upsetting folk already.

 

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4 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

No - boat owners are not conducting a business, and, have the potential to do £100 of 1000s of damage.

Just trying to help !!

The Rules :

6.2  Prior written consent for work to be carried out at the Marina shall not, without good cause, be withheld where the work is to be carried out in strict accordance with the documents Working on Craft in Dry Docks and Working on Craft in Dry Storage (which are available upon request from BWML offices).
 
 6.2.1.  The work to be carried out is work for which BWML would normally employ a specialist sub-contractor; or
 
 6.2.2.  BWML is satisfied that the whole of the work is remedial and not servicing and is being carried out under warranty by the manufacturer and/or supplier of the Vessel or any part of her equipment to which the warranty relates; or
 
 6.2.3.  BWML has set aside an area of the Marina where the Owner may carry out work on the Vessel and the work for which consent is sought is restricted to that area. 
 
6.3.  The Owner must ensure that suitable risk assessments, method statements and a copy of the contractor’s third party liability insurance policy in the sum of £5,000,000 (five million pounds)  accompanies the request for consent referred to in Clause 6.1 above. The Owner must also ensure that contractors are only employed to carry out such repairs that they are qualified to undertake and that the contractors have the appropriate and requisite accreditations. For the avoidance of doubt, BWML reserves the right to refuse its prior written permission for the work once it has had an opportunity to consider the risk assessments and method statements of the contractor.
 
6.4.  The Owner will only be permitted to undertake works on their Vessel for which they have deemed competencies in being experienced in the carrying out of the required operation or the use of any power tools, such as welders, grinders or hot cutting equipment that would require professional certification. Operations that require the use of such equipment should be advised to the manager or supervisor for that Marina prior to commencement and be accompanied with a method statement and risk assessment for this task. Where this is the case then this must be carried out in accordance with a Permit-to-Work (Hot Work Permit), copies of which can be found at the Marina office. For the avoidance of doubt, BWML reserves the right to prevent any person from operating such equipment in the Marina if appropriate certification or records of competency cannot be produced when requested by any member of BWML staff.

6.5.  If the Owner is using contractors to carry out any work, the Owner must ensure that the contractors register with the Office upon their arrival and pay a registration fee to cover an administration fee, details of which are available at the Office upon request.
 
The contractor must register with the Office or in the absence of an Office to the prearranged person on arrival and on departure of each day.
 
Any contractors must follow the BWML registration process, providing copies of risk assessments, method statements as relevant and their liability policy. The contractor Registration Request must be submitted to BWML.  Any contractors will only be permitted to work on site once the manager or supervisor for that Marina has authorised all documents and provided a site induction.
 
All documents must be submitted annually. Method statements and risk assessments must be resubmitted more regularly should the method of work change. New or additional method statements and risk assessments should also be resubmitted if the Owner or contractors need to change the method of working or use different materials once work has commenced.
 
6.6.  BWML reserves its right to insist that contractors working on the Vessel on behalf of the Owner leave the Marina if either the Owner or the contractor has failed to comply with this Clause 6.
 
6.7.  BWML also reserves its right to withdraw its consent if any work is carried out in contravention of the Working on Craft in Dry Docks and Working on Craft in Dry Storage document and/or in contravention with relevant Health and Safety legislation or approved codes of practice.
 
6.8.  In carrying out any work the Owner shall not cause any nuisance and agrees to try his best to ensure that his contractor does not cause any nuisance to BWML and/or to any other users of the Marina and/or to any person residing in the vicinity of the Marina. If BWML receives any complaints regarding the work from any person using the Marina and/or from any person residing in the vicinity of the Marina, BWML reserves the right to either request a review of the method statement of the contractor so as to minimise or remove the nuisance, or to withdraw its consent for the work.

 

Sorry i didnt want to come across to be rude and coming across wrong. Just questioning.

 

Appreciate the help ;)

 

All sounds complicated, but then doesnt it all in print.

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1 hour ago, W+T said:

Hi all. For some time now i have been wanting to work for myself and after the hassle again with work and feeling the push to get on with life in a new career i mite as well try my hand at a new job/career. Which is working on boats doing Handy man job and repairs etc etc. I have been asked over the recent years by folk if i can do jobs on there boats but with the way work was and time i have had and the boat i doing up for myself i was unable to.  I think i have a good reference for now until i get my portfoli set up with the boat i am doing. 

I would not be claiming to be a professional either, but more than a Handy ` bodge and go` Man. 

Until now as the plan is to start off weekends and go from there, well as soon as i get myself sorted with a van and insurance etc etc. I have a few jobs in line to look into and some being a long way from home but its a start, thing is these are not on canal boats but sea going vessels.

First question on this is what are boat yards like towards outside contractors going on site to work on private boats on there moorings and standing ? Do the majority charge for going on site  and/or charge a % of the earnings from the contractor?

Cheers

Wayne ?

You'd be fine on a crt mooring with car parking space within a few yards...;)

 

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Go for it.  I worked for seven different employers up until 1990 when I finally took the plunge and went self employed. 

OK, you haven't got the security of a regular income, and you have to take on anything and everything, but each week brings fresh challenges and opportunities.

You also have that wonderful freedom to be able to say no to anyone who expects you to do something you disagree with - you can't do that with a boss.

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I would look for a marina without onsite engineering.  That will get you started if onsite is allowed.  Failing that get the insurance sorted and come and do some jobs for me.  I am too busy to do many myself so I need batteries changing, engine service, front cratch seats making, some electrics sorting some fixing of sorts, etc etc.  After following your work  PM me if you can get to near Great Haywood.

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