Fishing Charter Boat

[DanBlack]

I am considering buying a sport fishing charter boat. It is a turn key operation at a really good price. I know about boats and the difficulties of chartering, but not much about fishing. Do any knowledgeable people think this could be a profitable business.

[sharecropper]

I suspect if you can market it to Russians, maybe. But my gut feeling would tell me to forget it - keep your money in the bank.

Work permits, mooring, advertising, staff, maybe partner/subcontractor for the fishing operation (and the inevitable bad-feeling bust up to follow), short high season for profitable operation, to name but a few isues off the top of my head. Why bother?

[GungaDin]

at a really good price

Did you find out, why?

Maybe the seller couldn't make a success of it.

I'm with Sharecropper.

[Dakhar]

I went out on a "of shore trip" and to be honest, it was not that great of a trip.

The "hosts" only provided one type of bait, and apparently the fish were not to keen on that particular bait. Secondly, the captain/crew did not want to go out very far because of fuel costs & they also did not want to "run and gun" (try out different fishing spots) due to fuel costs. The fishing gear was pure crap too.

So I would have given the trip and "D" or a "C."

I do know a bit about off shore fishing, grew up on the coast of Texas and fished off shore a lot in my college years. So I have a feel of what is being done right and what is being done wrong.

If u wanted a partner, or some one to advise u on fishing, fishing gear etc... just let me know.

I wouldn't proclaim I am an "expert" but I would say I know more than most....

Also, a guy that we employ.... his family members own a fish tackle shop and I was really surprised by the reasonable rates for fishing reels. Poles were expensive, which was a surprise to me, because some of the top pole companies are actually located in Thailand.

If u want, let me know the type of boat etc.... I can help out some on that too.... My father had 4 off shore sport fishing boats

[Dakhar]

I suspect if you can market it to Russians, maybe. But my gut feeling would tell me to forget it - keep your money in the bank.

Work permits, mooring, advertising, staff, maybe partner/subcontractor for the fishing operation (and the inevitable bad-feeling bust up to follow), short high season for profitable operation, to name but a few isues off the top of my head. Why bother?

Yea, to be honest, thinking of this as a business proposition..... sounds pretty difficult. You would probably have to hire a crew to do this legally, and then u have to deal with the crew.... which is probably the most difficult part in this proposal.

My experience with boats and fishing.... women are actually cheaper, but not by much.....

So if u do this with the mind set that u have a lot of disposable income, and u want to learn about the joy of fishing, go right ahead.... but if u think u r going to make a mint.... think about it, and then think some more.

good luck

[JohnC]

By law you need to employ a Thai Captain so you need one that knows the local fishing grounds so your customers are happy and return. What you really need to do is some simple market research, find out what is currently available locally and when they are available for booking, if they are booked up a week or two in advance then that tells you there is a market, if they are free the next day any time you call then the reverse is probably true. Also do an income expenditure forecast not forgetting tax payments for your staff, boat maintenance, fuel & berthing costs etc , you get the picture. As with any investment you really need to do your homework not forgetting the out of the ordinary things like having the boat taken out of the water and a qualified marine surveyor check it out.

[sharecropper]

And given the number of maritime accidents here I suspect insurance will also come at a hefty cost, although Thai boat owners seem not to bother much with that minor detail.

[IanForbes]

Like others here, I suspect it might be difficult for the same reasons stated by others. But, a charter business MIGHT aleviate the costs of your own trips. Most often it is a labour of love. The Gulf of Thailand has been over fished by all the commercial fishing and the only VIABLE fishery is in the Andaman Sea. That means you would have to be stationed somewhere near Phuket or Krabi. I know the Andaman Sea off Malaysia can be excellent at certain times of the year for sailfish, but most Asians kill everything they catch no matter how small it is. Environmental regulations (if there are any) are totally ignored by Asian fishermen. It doesn't bode well for the future.

[Gary A]

If you plan to fish near Pattaya, you'll quickly find out that there are no fish in the Gulf.

[Dakhar]

Like others here, I suspect it might be difficult for the same reasons stated by others. But, a charter business MIGHT aleviate the costs of your own trips. Most often it is a labour of love. The Gulf of Thailand has been over fished by all the commercial fishing and the only VIABLE fishery is in the Andaman Sea. That means you would have to be stationed somewhere near Phuket or Krabi. I know the Andaman Sea off Malaysia can be excellent at certain times of the year for sailfish, but most Asians kill everything they catch no matter how small it is. Environmental regulations (if there are any) are totally ignored by Asian fishermen. It doesn't bode well for the future.

Yes, I found that to be true too. Fish that we would never care to "harvest" were being taken on to the boat....

If I had tons of disposable income I would seriously think about buying a good off shore rig.... Back when I was fishing, fuel costs wore far more reasonable too.

I wonder if you could rig a LPG system on an inboard engine?

[newtronbom]

By law you need to employ a Thai Captain so you need one that knows the local fishing grounds so your customers are happy and return. What you really need to do is some simple market research, find out what is currently available locally and when they are available for booking, if they are booked up a week or two in advance then that tells you there is a market, if they are free the next day any time you call then the reverse is probably true. Also do an income expenditure forecast not forgetting tax payments for your staff, boat maintenance, fuel & berthing costs etc , you get the picture. As with any investment you really need to do your homework not forgetting the out of the ordinary things like having the boat taken out of the water and a qualified marine surveyor check it out.

You are right about the Captain being Thai, I think you will find you also need a Thai engineer on board too for charter, at least I know that applies to yachts and any large boats. The idea has merrit though, as apart from the tourist $$, there are an amazing amount of Thai people/businessmen here in Bangkok and many other places, who go fishing out of Phuket, Pratchuob Kiri Khan, Cha Am, Surat Thani etc once and many of them twice a month! I personally know at least 5 Thai guys here in Bangers, who are devoted to their salt water fishing and who spend a lot of money on it each month. You would need a local fisherman who knows where and when to go, to be successful though - at least in the beginning - though his wages are very small anyway. Put them on a percentage of profit as bonus and keep the wage down as low as possible as an incentive. Fishing charter could work if done well. Like JohnC says, do your research thoroughly first. If it is moored, any planing hull, or fast semi-planing hull, will need regular hull scrubbing to perform and keep fuel costs low. It costs me 1500 baht a time, to have my 22 ton 50' yacht done by a local diver. If you are going out regular, this is not a big issue. "Jotun Paints" have a product in many colors called Seaforce 90, which is a self polishing antifouling system, that cost me about 3800 baht for 10 liters(20 liters for my 50 footer) which can also stand long periods of dry dock and will last up to 5 years in the water. It is not really ideal for a boat that will spend most of its life unused though, as the "self polishing" aspect needs the boat to run at over 8 knots for 2 hours or more. I say "go for it" but go carefully!!

[Dakhar]

By law you need to employ a Thai Captain so you need one that knows the local fishing grounds so your customers are happy and return. What you really need to do is some simple market research, find out what is currently available locally and when they are available for booking, if they are booked up a week or two in advance then that tells you there is a market, if they are free the next day any time you call then the reverse is probably true. Also do an income expenditure forecast not forgetting tax payments for your staff, boat maintenance, fuel & berthing costs etc , you get the picture. As with any investment you really need to do your homework not forgetting the out of the ordinary things like having the boat taken out of the water and a qualified marine surveyor check it out.

You are right about the Captain being Thai, I think you will find you also need a Thai engineer on board too for charter, at least I know that applies to yachts and any large boats. The idea has merrit though, as apart from the tourist $$, there are an amazing amount of Thai people/businessmen here in Bangkok and many other places, who go fishing out of Phuket, Pratchuob Kiri Khan, Cha Am, Surat Thani etc once and many of them twice a month! I personally know at least 5 Thai guys here in Bangers, who are devoted to their salt water fishing and who spend a lot of money on it each month. You would need a local fisherman who knows where and when to go, to be successful though - at least in the beginning - though his wages are very small anyway. Put them on a percentage of profit as bonus and keep the wage down as low as possible as an incentive. Fishing charter could work if done well. Like JohnC says, do your research thoroughly first. If it is moored, any planing hull, or fast semi-planing hull, will need regular hull scrubbing to perform and keep fuel costs low. It costs me 1500 baht a time, to have my 22 ton 50' yacht done by a local diver. If you are going out regular, this is not a big issue. "Jotun Paints" have a product in many colors called Seaforce 90, which is a self polishing antifouling system, that cost me about 3800 baht for 10 liters(20 liters for my 50 footer) which can also stand long periods of dry dock and will last up to 5 years in the water. It is not really ideal for a boat that will spend most of its life unused though, as the "self polishing" aspect needs the boat to run at over 8 knots for 2 hours or more. I say "go for it" but go carefully!!

I'd say we have an "expert" posting now!!!! Thanks

[DanBlack]

As I said it is very turn key It has very good gear, experienced crew, marketing in place, etc. I did not do too well with my previous charter yacht. But like I also said it is a very good deal.

[sharecropper]

As I said it is very turn key It has very good gear, experienced crew, marketing in place, etc. I did not do too well with my previous charter yacht. But like I also said it is a very good deal.

I did not do too well with my previous charter yacht. But like I also said it is a very good deal.

Er, what?

[Nio]

By law you need to employ a Thai Captain so you need one that knows the local fishing grounds so your customers are happy and return. What you really need to do is some simple market research, find out what is currently available locally and when they are available for booking, if they are booked up a week or two in advance then that tells you there is a market, if they are free the next day any time you call then the reverse is probably true. Also do an income expenditure forecast not forgetting tax payments for your staff, boat maintenance, fuel & berthing costs etc , you get the picture. As with any investment you really need to do your homework not forgetting the out of the ordinary things like having the boat taken out of the water and a qualified marine surveyor check it out.

You are right about the Captain being Thai, I think you will find you also need a Thai engineer on board too for charter, at least I know that applies to yachts and any large boats. The idea has merrit though, as apart from the tourist $$, there are an amazing amount of Thai people/businessmen here in Bangkok and many other places, who go fishing out of Phuket, Pratchuob Kiri Khan, Cha Am, Surat Thani etc once and many of them twice a month! I personally know at least 5 Thai guys here in Bangers, who are devoted to their salt water fishing and who spend a lot of money on it each month. You would need a local fisherman who knows where and when to go, to be successful though - at least in the beginning - though his wages are very small anyway. Put them on a percentage of profit as bonus and keep the wage down as low as possible as an incentive. Fishing charter could work if done well. Like JohnC says, do your research thoroughly first. If it is moored, any planing hull, or fast semi-planing hull, will need regular hull scrubbing to perform and keep fuel costs low. It costs me 1500 baht a time, to have my 22 ton 50' yacht done by a local diver. If you are going out regular, this is not a big issue. "Jotun Paints" have a product in many colors called Seaforce 90, which is a self polishing antifouling system, that cost me about 3800 baht for 10 liters(20 liters for my 50 footer) which can also stand long periods of dry dock and will last up to 5 years in the water. It is not really ideal for a boat that will spend most of its life unused though, as the "self polishing" aspect needs the boat to run at over 8 knots for 2 hours or more. I say "go for it" but go carefully!!

It is good to see some positive experienced information for the OP on this topic

Posters here are free to fling out opinions when most have probably never tried fishing or running a fishing business in general

Each business is different

It depends on how hard YOU work at it, what kind of quality and service and value you provide for your customers

Good value and service, combined with advertising directly to the many farang tourists, which I doubt the Thai boats do much of and you should be able to build up a sustainable clientele

Who wants to be on a boat when the trouble hits and no one speaks English?

There are lots of benefits

Due your research carefully and never let the ney sayers turn you away

Good luck and if you get it rolling let us all know

I am sure you will have some customers here

The fact you are a farang would give more customers a better feel for safety that with the thai boats

[astral]

You will have to pay a Thai captain and crew to run the boat,

and I suspect the "expenses" will leave you with little or any profit.

[lovelomsak]

I lived on Vancouver Island for years the fishing chrters were either part of a lodge deal owned by the lodge or private charters owned by guys who could fish but couldnot afford the boat(or wife wouldnot let them spend the money on a boat). Both situations were basically break even at best and most didnot make money.

I would say do it as hobby if you wish but certainly donot look at it as a money maker. If you can recover your initial investment well doing business your profit will come when you sell your depreciating asset the boat.

[Dakhar]

By law you need to employ a Thai Captain so you need one that knows the local fishing grounds so your customers are happy and return. What you really need to do is some simple market research, find out what is currently available locally and when they are available for booking, if they are booked up a week or two in advance then that tells you there is a market, if they are free the next day any time you call then the reverse is probably true. Also do an income expenditure forecast not forgetting tax payments for your staff, boat maintenance, fuel & berthing costs etc , you get the picture. As with any investment you really need to do your homework not forgetting the out of the ordinary things like having the boat taken out of the water and a qualified marine surveyor check it out.

You are right about the Captain being Thai, I think you will find you also need a Thai engineer on board too for charter, at least I know that applies to yachts and any large boats. The idea has merrit though, as apart from the tourist $$, there are an amazing amount of Thai people/businessmen here in Bangkok and many other places, who go fishing out of Phuket, Pratchuob Kiri Khan, Cha Am, Surat Thani etc once and many of them twice a month! I personally know at least 5 Thai guys here in Bangers, who are devoted to their salt water fishing and who spend a lot of money on it each month. You would need a local fisherman who knows where and when to go, to be successful though - at least in the beginning - though his wages are very small anyway. Put them on a percentage of profit as bonus and keep the wage down as low as possible as an incentive. Fishing charter could work if done well. Like JohnC says, do your research thoroughly first. If it is moored, any planing hull, or fast semi-planing hull, will need regular hull scrubbing to perform and keep fuel costs low. It costs me 1500 baht a time, to have my 22 ton 50' yacht done by a local diver. If you are going out regular, this is not a big issue. "Jotun Paints" have a product in many colors called Seaforce 90, which is a self polishing antifouling system, that cost me about 3800 baht for 10 liters(20 liters for my 50 footer) which can also stand long periods of dry dock and will last up to 5 years in the water. It is not really ideal for a boat that will spend most of its life unused though, as the "self polishing" aspect needs the boat to run at over 8 knots for 2 hours or more. I say "go for it" but go carefully!!

It is good to see some positive experienced information for the OP on this topic

Posters here are free to fling out opinions when most have probably never tried fishing or running a fishing business in general

Each business is different

It depends on how hard YOU work at it, what kind of quality and service and value you provide for your customers

Good value and service, combined with advertising directly to the many farang tourists, which I doubt the Thai boats do much of and you should be able to build up a sustainable clientele

Who wants to be on a boat when the trouble hits and no one speaks English?

There are lots of benefits

Due your research carefully and never let the ney sayers turn you away

Good luck and if you get it rolling let us all know

I am sure you will have some customers here

The fact you are a farang would give more customers a better feel for safety that with the thai boats

I'd be a custmer

[IanForbes]

Cummon out on my boat with me.... It only needs a little work and we'll be good to go...

[dumball]

Hey Ian , that boat would go over well for a Chinaman , it is a "Junk ' isn't it ?

[torrenova]

From a marketing side, your potential customers will not pay enough to run the operation at top quality. It is downhill from that point.

[Dakhar]

the boat we chartered was 7K baht. I'd say we got what we paid for.... which was not much. But I am not going to lie to you, 7K baht when compared to over all costs to run, own, maintain a boat, is nothing.

[DanBlack]

The boat is such a great deal it blinded me to the realities of how much it takes to run a boat and how little you usually make. If I could get in with a big hotel or the Russian market or something, I would love to change my mind

[Capex]

The boat is such a great deal it blinded me to the realities of how much it takes to run a boat and how little you usually make. If I could get in with a big hotel or the Russian market or something, I would love to change my mind

Dan, don't do it again, please!! I am familiar with your first and second boat and the reasons for their not doing too well. The fishing market is a highly specialised one with you, the successful owner, having to be conversant with all the best locations. how to get there and when, as well as the types of fish likely to be at those locations and the best rigs to use. Do not rely entirely on an experienced Thai "Captain" or you are setting yourself up for failure from the start. Just remember that the businesses which are successful in Thailand are those run by people who already familiar with it in a past life and are not trying to learn about a new venture on the job here. It doesn't work! Just look at all those bars and restaurants owned by foreigners who had never been in the business before in their own country.

On another note, you may be interested to know that I may be doing a new "project revival" on your first boat for a client.

Best of luck,

Capex

[Beardog]

Boats--- says it all Break out another thousand & I don't mean baht. I would be very hard pressed after being silent partners in Hawaii to go in on anything here as they rarely catch jack sht worth mentioning. If you like many 6" fish cool but its a one time gig to kill time at least in the Pattaya to Sattahib region. You would probably make more hiring some local boys to take out farangs on a netting adventure. At least it will pay for upkeep & crew on the boat-ship.The fishing here is absolutely pathetic. At least in Hawaii I sold tons of Tuna to the Japanese market. MahiMahi & ONO to the restaurants & Ono & caught marlin on a regular basis.Since 2004 when I moved here I have only heard of 1 marlin caught.

For a days enjoyment one or 2 times to piss away 600 baht for a boat ride yes. But invest in a boat or ship here would be better to open another beer bar or restaurant or beauty salon in Pattaya. I passed on a couple propositions here that just seemed like pipe dreams after entertaining the thought by going out on the Boats & was not impressed art all with the catch. Even in Hawaii when you had a 3 fish day down to a skunk your patrons get pissed hence no return business or recommendations.

Fishing charter business in my book is more of a hobby for you to catch fish. If you make money cool. You will probably make more on the beer you sell. Sometimes in charter business you are stoked to make expenses to pay for upkeep.

If its a hobby for you I would say do it Game fishing is one of my favorite pastimes. Indonesia at least have some minor to big doggies left amidst all the garbage in the water. As they say in Thailand . Up to you. I think your odds are as good as going up to Poipet & laying out on the casino table what you are willing to part with.Besides you get to really take a bath when you turn your boat into cash. they say in boating & yachting :The 2 best moments are buying & selling .All the rest is expense & headaches. And when your ready to turn your boat you usually can't wait to get out of it.

[lovelomsak]

Boats--- says it all Break out another thousand & I don't mean baht. I would be very hard pressed after being silent partners in Hawaii to go in on anything here as they rarely catch jack sht worth mentioning. If you like many 6" fish cool but its a one time gig to kill time at least in the Pattaya to Sattahib region. You would probably make more hiring some local boys to take out farangs on a netting adventure. At least it will pay for upkeep & crew on the boat-ship.The fishing here is absolutely pathetic. At least in Hawaii I sold tons of Tuna to the Japanese market. MahiMahi & ONO to the restaurants & Ono & caught marlin on a regular basis.Since 2004 when I moved here I have only heard of 1 marlin caught.

For a days enjoyment one or 2 times to piss away 600 baht for a boat ride yes. But invest in a boat or ship here would be better to open another beer bar or restaurant or beauty salon in Pattaya. I passed on a couple propositions here that just seemed like pipe dreams after entertaining the thought by going out on the Boats & was not impressed art all with the catch. Even in Hawaii when you had a 3 fish day down to a skunk your patrons get pissed hence no return business or recommendations.

Fishing charter business in my book is more of a hobby for you to catch fish. If you make money cool. You will probably make more on the beer you sell. Sometimes in charter business you are stoked to make expenses to pay for upkeep.

If its a hobby for you I would say do it Game fishing is one of my favorite pastimes. Indonesia at least have some minor to big doggies left amidst all the garbage in the water. As they say in Thailand . Up to you. I think your odds are as good as going up to Poipet & laying out on the casino table what you are willing to part with.Besides you get to really take a bath when you turn your boat into cash. they say in boating & yachting :The 2 best moments are buying & selling .All the rest is expense & headaches. And when your ready to turn your boat you usually can't wait to get out of it.

You summed it up perfect only one thing you missed A boat is a hole in the water where you throw money.

[Beardog]

Boats--- says it all Break out another thousand & I don't mean baht. I would be very hard pressed after being silent partners in Hawaii to go in on anything here as they rarely catch jack sht worth mentioning. If you like many 6" fish cool but its a one time gig to kill time at least in the Pattaya to Sattahib region. You would probably make more hiring some local boys to take out farangs on a netting adventure. At least it will pay for upkeep & crew on the boat-ship.The fishing here is absolutely pathetic. At least in Hawaii I sold tons of Tuna to the Japanese market. MahiMahi & ONO to the restaurants & Ono & caught marlin on a regular basis.Since 2004 when I moved here I have only heard of 1 marlin caught.

For a days enjoyment one or 2 times to piss away 600 baht for a boat ride yes. But invest in a boat or ship here would be better to open another beer bar or restaurant or beauty salon in Pattaya. I passed on a couple propositions here that just seemed like pipe dreams after entertaining the thought by going out on the Boats & was not impressed art all with the catch. Even in Hawaii when you had a 3 fish day down to a skunk your patrons get pissed hence no return business or recommendations.

Fishing charter business in my book is more of a hobby for you to catch fish. If you make money cool. You will probably make more on the beer you sell. Sometimes in charter business you are stoked to make expenses to pay for upkeep.

If its a hobby for you I would say do it Game fishing is one of my favorite pastimes. Indonesia at least have some minor to big doggies left amidst all the garbage in the water. As they say in Thailand . Up to you. I think your odds are as good as going up to Poipet & laying out on the casino table what you are willing to part with.Besides you get to really take a bath when you turn your boat into cash. they say in boating & yachting :The 2 best moments are buying & selling .All the rest is expense & headaches. And when your ready to turn your boat you usually can't wait to get out of it.

You summed it up perfect only one thing you missed A boat is a hole in the water where you throw money.

That is 100% true. If your satisfaction is based on what makes you happy do it if it is for money- Kiss it goodbye. The crew may make more than you & in the end You will never get what you got into it back. I never cared about my fishing vessels I love fishing.Scuba diving adventures were not only a joke but one liability after another. I got out quick. Fish on the other hand.I didn't mind dropping my wad for my passion. In the end I went back to my 5 & 1/2 meter skiff (like the police boats in Pattaya) And only cost $30.00 a day in expenses & up to $2000.00 a year upkeep.And I still caught as many big doggies off the put put. I even got back 75% on all my Penns & tioga reels & custom rods. More than I can say about about the charter vessels! Bad idea to ever have a partner. You get the one that wants to be a cheap charlie & if you want that boat to run your buying. Been their done that once. Silent partner was a better experience.

Good luck on whatever you decide on. This one it just isn't cheaper to keep her & Thailand from what I see has a poor batting average. Especially in fishing.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Beardog

[KarenBravo]

I'm pretty sure you are located in Phuket.

I know of at least four game fishing companies where the owners drink at the Tamarind bar in Chalong.

One of them used to have two boats, now down-sized to one.

They are making just enough money to cover costs and provide a modest living for the owner.

You will be competing with these guys who have already been in the business for years.

Don't do it Dan.

PS. Did you manage to off-load the 700 bottles of honey, yet?

Edited January 7, 2010 by KarenBravo

[DanBlack]

I'm pretty sure you are located in Phuket.

I know of at least four game fishing companies where the owners drink at the Tamarind bar in Chalong.

One of them used to have two boats, now down-sized to one.

They are making just enough money to cover costs and provide a modest living for the owner.

You will be competing with these guys who have already been in the business for years.

Don't do it Dan.

PS. Did you manage to off-load the 700 bottles of honey, yet?

Met a couple of those guys. They never admit they are not making money, but who knows.

Couple hundred bottles left, Want some?