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mmc mmc is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2009
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Default a viable boating related business?



"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...

On Jan 17, 8:41 am, "MMC" wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message

...

Something I noticed at West End in the Bahamas is that it is a
beautiful resort and there are serious mega-sportsfishermen there
whose fishing rigs cost more than my boat is worth. In fact, the
place is filled with em. However, the "resort" does not provide them
anything in the way of supplies, no ice, beer only by single bottles
or cans, no dry ice, no bait, no gear, no sandwiches to go, no
availability of emergency boat parts and no place for fishermen to
simply sit and BS unless they sit in the fancy restaurant.
There are adjacent canals with almost no other buildings but property
for sale.
So, why not a small place catering to fishermen selling beer by the
case (Kalik of course), ice, leaders, fishing "stuff", bait,
sandwiches, hats, etc. However, the best would be a service to have
parts delivered from Freeport (belts, filters, gaskets, etc). Seems
like a "no-brainer" to me so there are probably local regs forbidding
it. If not, somebody needs to do it.

=====

The lack of imported goods for sale may have something to do with import
taxes. When I lived in Costa Rica, import duties on goods for resale was
100%.
If there are enough desperate customers and a guy wants to put up with a
lot
of BS from locals and Gov (attitudes change when a foreigner changes their
status from spending money to earning money in a lot of places I'm been),
might be a good opportunity there.


Being mostly familiar with fishing in NW FL where carrying a six back
of Bud qualifies your oysterboat as a "yacht", I was stunned at the
opulence of these "fishing" boats. Large screen TVs, lounges nicer
than my living room at home, full refrigeration systems, underwater
lighting systems making the boats look like something from "Close
Encounters", etc. They also had crews that would polish every inch
once the boat was docked. What was oddly lacking is what I call "Rail
Candy" making it an entirely male environment. I get the impression
that any females are set ashore in the resort while the guys fish.
No matter how well prepared they are, ALL BOATS BREAK DOWN AT
INNOPPORTUNE TIMES. Freeport being a major port has most boat parts
available but it is 33 miles to town. Somebody needs to run a parts
delivery service there and I am surprised the locals do not. This is
a somewhat unique situation with the only marina around (and being the
one EVERYBODY goes to from FL), being so isolated.
=====
What you're describing is a whole different tax bracket than the people I
drink beer with!