What to charge???
 

I was offered a delivery job today and I have no idea what to charge. The vessel is 38' Silverton and is currently docked in Savannah, GA. The destination is New York, NY.

I have never skippered a vessel with twin screws. What do you guys suggest?

There will be two souls on board. Anybody know what delivery captains charge?

I would suggest calling one of the many places that perform this service and get a quote for comparison. Sounds like fun. Neat way to make some $$.

Allow me to state the obvious. Make sure you have all the insurance (both on yourself and on the boat) needed. We all know that the ocean is not always the most cooperative force in nature, and accidents do happen. Sounds like a great trip. Have fun :beer:

Thanks for the replies, I'm still deciding whether or not to take the job. I'm insured out the yang and I'm confident in operating the vessel even though it would be only be my second time operating a boat with twin screws.

I will not consider the job without a crew. I sent my friend and Captain on St Simons a text this morning. He has a little experience on big sportfishers. If he can't go with me, I will not take the job.

Give me some reasons not to take this job. I admit it would be my first delivery but I feel I'm a capable enough Captain to make this trip happen for the client. Sure would be one heck of a learning experience to just pass up.

Did you call John Byrd?????

I can't agree enough as between you and NY is some of teh most dangerous water out there off of NC. Cape Fear was an eery sucker to be that far offshore and see the water breaking and see bottom like it was. It was a beautiful ride though other than the eery parts.

any idea on how to figure fuel cost? I fished on a 32 Silverton powered by twin 454s during a shark tourney. We traveled MAYBE 60 miles round trip and burned $200 in marine dock fuel for one night.

John Byrd at SSI Marina? I know him but don't know him. I was going to call Scott Revels to ride with me. I was thinking about calling Ashley Parmalee to tag along but I'm sure he is booked this time of year with tarpon trips.

Going rate seems to be $300 per day plus travel and lodging. The owner pays for gas if aboard.

I don't want to be foolish with my limited experience but I would like to gain experience.

What kind of range does a 38' Silverton have. Seems like from Savannah, Ga to New York is around 900 miles......right?

Frying Pan Shoals?

John Byrd ran the "Sterling" from SSI Marina and has ran boats internationally as well, i.e., knows his shizz.....

Ashley is slammed, I dont know about Scott......

$300/day seems reasonable. I would want AT ALEAST $150/day after all expenses..... Thats a lot of responsibility.........

Take the job, your only regret would be passing up the opportunity. You have protected waters via the Intercoastal Waterway most of the way. My only advice would be to make sure you have good charts for the entire trip. Having spent a good deal of time running the Innerbanks I can tell you it can get very confusing trying to navigate only by channel markers with multiple inlets and islands.

I wouldn't plan on running at night either in figuring my travel time. There are some large barges that make the waterway look much more narrow than it really is at night.

Take a picture of every drawbridge, you will have quite a collection.

150 a day profit, seems a little light to me, gotta remember, its a 24 hour day when you are the captain, lotta responsibility for $6.75 an hour. i have no knowledge of the coast , but can you run icw most of the way?

http://www.icwfacilitiesguide.com/

Good site, some information to help you chart a course.

Yeah man, remember it was built/dredged to ship goods North and South during WWII to keep the U-boats from sinking our ships that were having to make the unprotected coastal run. Much of NC looks like a large drainage ditch cut through the swamp about 75 yards wide.

I would charge 300 per day PLUS expenses PLUS lodging PLUS plane ticket back home to Savannah. You wouldn't believe what I pay for insurance for my charter business. It's as much as my wife's liability insurance and she is a dentist with her own practice.

My concern is not the journey but the docking. I have zero experience with 38' and engines. My experience is with 28 footers and smaller with outboards.

Trying not to be foolish......I would hate to hire a captain with good intentions and skill and then find out he has never backed down into a slip before.

But, there aint but one way to learn!!!

Back down into the slip VERY slowly and VERY carefully. :you:

Seriously, the way some of those guys spin the boat and gun it in reverse is freakin unbelievable.

My brother has a 100 ton license and has run twin screw carolina boats (Paul Mann) all his life.Let me know if you go ocean side, stop in rudee inlet. Hell I will jump on with ya and fly back to Va Beach from NY. Or if ya stop in I'll pick you up so yall can get some dinner. I have a good friend who owns a house on Rudee inlet and has a open dock if intrested ( they just pulled there old ragged trawler out of there)? just an idea

go rent "Captain Ron"

all you need to know

That is damn generous of you, wow. Thanks! I declined the job, this time. I have a lot of hours in a lot of different boats but I have never delivered before. I would like to get at least one trip under my belt with an experienced capt before I run off to NY, NY..............I know I'm being a pu$$y!

It would of been one sweet trip, can't stop thinking about it. I do believe I will have more opportunities and in the mean time I'm gonna search for another capt to go with me and show me the ropes.

:nut:

How to plan a sea going boat delivery
 

In the spirit of preparation and talking about delivery I wanted to put together a prep list and have it critiqued in the event I get another opportunity to deliver.

Please add or subtract what you see fit, please give a reason/opinion why when you do.

Example:

Client calls from marina and needs delivery captain to skipper a 38' twin diesel cruiser from Savannah, GA to New York, NY. There will be two on board that want to only do 11 hours a day to destination. They are willing to negotiate pay.

1. Inspect vessel(engine to helm) and report, request insurance information and last survey or service report. Are they SeaTow members?

2. Plot course or plan route. Check mileage, weather, possible dockage to refuel and overnight.

3. Negotiate pay per day plus expenses and transportation home. Also, have a clause in contract about layovers for lost time due to repairs(need help on this one. Time is money). Also, fueling responsibilities and methods of payment.(Client got enough gas money?)

4. Get underway.......

5. ?????.....................................

Check all electronics, Radio(s), Depth finder, Chart Plotter and Radar.
Check all safety equipment. Flares, flags, life jackets, raft (if equiped), flashlights, whistles, strobes, EPIRB.
Check galley for food and drinks. (Lots of water and coffee).
Sunblock/sunscreen, ball caps, sun glasses
Toilet paper for the head (important)
Float plan

All of these are self explanitory and don't require further discussion.

Um....I said all of those, in one way or another. Ok, except the $hit paper.

Let's try it this way, has anyone ever skippered a 30 footer 900 miles before? If so, what was your procedure for a safe delivery?

I always like knowing where all the thru-hull fittings are......

Wish I could help more.....

Sucks you're not going , but probably a smart move. It would be cool if you could arrange for another capt friend of yours to take the delivery and crew with him and get some experience that way.