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Old 10-05-2014, 18:11   #16
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Re: EARNING Money While Cruising

[QUOTE=boatman61;1536926]I think his objective is to get away from the 'Wall Street Casino' obsession that's overtaken that thread..
OP... teaching English as a foreign language in foreign ports is going to be fraught with difficulties... know folk who've tried.. what you need is a second language you are proficient with..

Hey Boatie,
I've heard the opposite, but then everyone i know teaching Engrish is doing it in SE Asia, where they'll take almost any native english speaker who looks the part like i do (tall, blonde and dead handsome!). One prospective employer took one look at my photo and asked if they could put it in their brochure!

But i have heard that it's much trickier, and more competitive, in EU.


Part of the appeal for me is how teaching involves engagement with the locals. That and the fact that the employers do all the working visa stuff.
I have an idea to perhaps film my classes and sell them as a DVD set, or a downloadable series for $.
Might not work though, because you can probably get all that on Youtube for free already. But i might get a inspired idea as to how to produce an educational product that's saleable. Still ruminating on that one.

Working on boats? Fine for some, i'm sure. But i want to meet the locals, get into the cultures, and be more than a tourist.
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Old 11-05-2014, 05:21   #17
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

I am an electronics engineer , quite proficient at troubleshooting (boat/yacht) electronics, wiring , electrics etc and repairing ship electronics on component level or at least pinpointing down to the defective circuit

When we finally cast off in a year or 4 I plan to use these skills to earn some $$$'s on the way. Is this feasable or am I dreaming ?
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Old 11-05-2014, 05:49   #18
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

Most cruisers offer their skills freely to help each other out. The only "expectation" is maybe a cold beer or bottle of wine in return. I never came across anyone selling their skills to other cruisers.
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Old 11-05-2014, 06:28   #19
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hud3 View Post
Most cruisers offer their skills freely to help each other out. The only "expectation" is maybe a cold beer or bottle of wine in return. I never came across anyone selling their skills to other cruisers.

I did come across one, and glad I did! Apart from a complete engine rebuild he did some major re-wiring and installed new breaker panels....

I am cruising an SE Asia and it is hard to find competent mechanics or electricians.

The guy working on my boat is professional in every sense, has a dedicated workshop and lots of bits and bobs on his boat ... Even a leith.

Therefore it is a service you need to pay for, he charges for his skills and his charges are absolutely fair!
I am sure he would help out free of charge for something small, but as this is his source of income he will obviously charge for bigger jobs.

The most crucial in my opinion for this to work is flexibility, improvisation skills as many things are not available over the shelf and a good stock of spare material, endless tools and wide knowledge.... Basically a floating workshop.
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Old 11-05-2014, 09:03   #20
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hud3 View Post
Most cruisers offer their skills freely to help each other out. The only "expectation" is maybe a cold beer or bottle of wine in return. I never came across anyone selling their skills to other cruisers.

This has been my experience as well but I do think there is a point where helping out becomes doing work for someone. I have certainly received and given help many times with fellow cruisers which generally involved a tow, a helping with a repair, trouble shooting, lending an extra hand, lending tools, even contributing some spare parts and pieces.

If it came down to something like "will you do for me a major rewiring job/major engine repair, will you clean the bottom for me" etc then I think that might start getting into the realm of a job for hire. This of course assumes a fellow cruiser who is not injured, disabled or otherwise in dire straits, just is not willing or skilled enough to do the job.

However, this still begs the question, will one be interfering with the local economy, taking work away from a local worker? I think running afoul of the locals is a big risk in the Caribbean or any second and third world countries that depend significantly on tourist dollars for income. If you are anchored in a harbor somewhere where there is a local mechanic (or diver or electrician or any other skill a cruiser may possess) and you start taking jobs away from him you are asking for trouble.
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Old 24-05-2014, 06:05   #21
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

Maybe this thread can be revived and kept on track since it's of interest to many cruisers. For 20 years, my wife Susan and I have helped the cruising kitty by using our decades of cruising experience to provide freelance writing for almost every major boating publication. For the last year and a half we have been publishing our own anchorage guides. Our 3 current guides cover the Chesapeake Bay, the ICW from Hampton Roads and Norfolk to Key West and the Bahamas. We are currently anchored in Buttonwood Harbor behind Longboat Key in the process of researching the Gulf Coast Book. We wanted to fill a niche that most cruising guides only lightly cover. Besides the income from our articles and books, we have the advantages of using some of our boating expenses as tax deductions. It doesn't make us rich, but it helps keep us out here and allows us to have lots of fun while we add to the kitty. If you get creative, there are all kinds of possibilities.
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Old 26-05-2014, 04:28   #22
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

HankOnTheWater posted this on the stock market speculation thread, it's a really good summary of the non-gambling posts on that thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by HankOnthewater View Post
Over the last 10 days I read all the posts in this thread, that has been going for over 4 years now. Many good ideas were posted, some hilarious ones, and some dubious/illegal way of making money.


First some observations:
- All cruisers need money to survive:
o some have it before they start
o some have money that works for them
o some make/earn this during their travels
o some cruise parttime and work in between shorter cruises
- It has been noted that very few successful money making people listed their skills here……. They are keeping quiet. And thank you to those who shared!
- Very similar thread on CF has been started, see post # 942 … how does one insert a link?

If nothing else read these posts: # 44, 98, 166, 352, 505, 563, 665,697, 738, 821.

Over the last few months this thread was dominated by a discussion between Delfin and Certeza (mainly to do with Commodities spread and MRCI as I understand it). If you do not know what this is, please read the posts, or google it. In short how to make money in investments. Quite in depth, but as others already said: not suitable for all of us (cruisers).

Over the years a few contributors have summarised all the ideas (post #505 comes to mind), and maybe another one here:

1. By all means target fellow cruisers for an income by providing one of these services:
a. Welding, bending pipes
b. Woodwork
c. Bottom cleaning
d. Fibreglass repair
e. Rigging and splicing
f. Mechanical
g. Painting/varnishing
h. Boat name stickers
i. Pet services: grooming, sitting etc
j. Boat minding for absent owners
k. Sail, canvas making/repair
l. Plumbing
m. Electrical
n. Electronics
o. Refrigeration A/C mechanic
p. Cooking (ie delivered to boat): bread, pizza, cold beer, dinners, waffles
q. Computer repair/advice
r. WiFI access point provider
s. Delivery skipper

But be very mindful of this kind of work because:
· You may not have a working permit in an overseas country
· Locals might get upset, and dob you in
· Cruisers are generally a tight lot, short of money as well
· Generally this kind of work does not involve money exchange, it's rewards are often a drink or a feed. “What goes around comes around” and “ karma” has been mentioned.

2. Other sources of income are also boating related but targeting others than cruisers themselves:
a. Charters
b. Fishing
c. Diving trips
d. Sailing tuition
Again and even more so, you may need a work permit, licence, insurance etc. etc. to work as above. If not you might find yourself certainly on the wrong side of the law.

3. You have some artistic skills:
a. Jewellery making
b. Painting (the artistic kind)
c. Musician
d. Street acts, ie puppeteer
e. Writing (see more under ’internet’ }
f. Photography (again under ‘internet’)
The first 4 are at times tolerated without much trouble, the others can be done anywhere anytime.

4. Trading:
a. Fuel
b. Drugs (if one is stupid enough)
c. Liquor
d. Cigars
e. Local art
f. Or just providing transport for various wares (excluding smuggling)
Most of the above would be illegal if not declared, taxes paid etc. Then often the incentive to trade disappears as the profit goes down to zero or below that. It seems that there is little income to be gained in this area.

5. Skills already present, provided to locals:
a. Any of the skills/trades listed under point 1.
b. Medical: doctors have often enormous obstacles to get accredited in a foreign country, may take 6-18 months.
c. Nursing, as above but a lot easier
d. Teachers maybe possible (definitely in some East Asian countries)
e. Hair dressing
f. Tattoos
g. Chef
Again, workpermits, taxes, licences all need to be in place, unless you want to risk your freedom (jail) or loss of your boat.


6. Internet, services and sales via the Internet seem to be most in favour to make money:
a. Writing: website, blogs, copywriter, travelguides, product, boat or marina reviews or for magazines
i. Income can be direct from a paying customer or indirect from ads on the blog/website
b. Photograhy/video: postcard making, educational
i. As above
c. Travel agency either free standing or using one’s own boat/assets
d. IT, ie programmer, webdesign etc etc.
e. Sales, whatever you have, can make, can source, can supply
f. Crowd sourcing accurate charts
g. Contribute to weather information
All the above require a regular good internet connection, in many cases being IT savvy.

7. Working your money to make money. Money you already have, used for investment:
a. Rental property
b. Stockmarket, future trading, options, foreign exchange etc. etc.

8. Items that did not fit the points above, some hilarious, some left of centre ideas or others outside the law (in no particular order):
a. Rape, marriage counsellor
b. Massage therapist
c. Making fishing lures
d. Collecting/selling shells
e. Sell carbon credits
f. Printed T-shirts, or/and embroidery
g. Brothel
h. Male escort
i. Gay nudist cruises
j. Pole dancing (around the mast was suggested)
k. Trawling for floating debris
l. Rum quality control inspector
m. Breeding puppies
n. Bunkering service for water or diesel
o. Drug running
p. People smuggling
q. Pet smuggling
r. Smuggling anything else
s. Spying
t. Invent halyard anti-slapping device
u. Invent wind generator noise silencer
v. Winning lottery
w. Breastmilk provider
x. Sell Avon products
y. Setting up own religion
z. Fred Hollows clinic (but a profitable one)
aa. Off shore Botox clinic
bb. Gambling/ casino/cards/roulette
cc. Weaving palm leaves
dd. Certified lifecoach
ee. Repairer of inflatables
ff. Opening a local business: like marina…. Hmmm not really cruising anymore


Paid jobs which can allow you to cruise a large part of the year:
a. Airline pilot
b.Oilrig worker

Sorry for the lengthy post, and the formatting is not optimal
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Old 26-05-2014, 05:28   #23
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

Thanks for kicking this thread back to life Chuck. The other thread lost me ages ago with the focus on financial markets. And great summary Hank (thanks for posting Normanby).

I'm a freelance magazine writer so plan to carry on with this work we move move aboard full-time this season. I also design print and electronic publications like books, reports, brochures, etc. I hope both these skills will help keep the cruising kitty in the black.

Over the years I've become a pretty descent boat electrician, plumber and fibreglasser. I also have some computer tech expertise. I'm always happy to help out a fellow cruiser with these skills, but I rarely expect, or accept, cash payment for these. Beer and food perhaps. It's more about helping out your fellow boater.
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Old 20-05-2015, 16:12   #24
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Re: Earning Money While Cruising

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I am an electronics engineer , quite proficient at troubleshooting (boat/yacht) electronics, wiring , electrics etc and repairing ship electronics on component level or at least pinpointing down to the defective circuit

When we finally cast off in a year or 4 I plan to use these skills to earn some $$$'s on the way. Is this feasable or am I dreaming ?
ReneJK, I would gladly pay you to sort out my stuff. Welcome aboard

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