Is There Work for Professional Boatbuilders While Cruising ?

[thompsonisland]

Can I do that with food? John builds things like pergolas and arbors; I'm not sure about small things but we could talk about it. I make amazing ice cream, though, and little things like that, as well as stocking a considerable apothecary of herbal and homeopathic remedies (not supplements, things like oregano oil and arnica and nettle); is there a market for that kind of thing on the side?

[carstenb]

Food might be a difficult item - most places do have some type of health regulations regarding food production - but having said that - sure- this is a market for some of those things some places. Just remember, most places the locals don't have a ton of money - so the prospective customers are going to other cruiser (no money there either) or tourists.

Not a million dollar business, but if you work at it, you can pick up some cash.

[thompsonisland]

I plan to sell a single bowl of ice cream for a million dollars and then retire.

[carstenb]

Depending on the size of the bowl - might be possible

[carstenb]

If your husband i good with wood, tell him to learn how to lay and repair teak decks. Generally there are always boats in need of repair. It is not difficult (I've both laid and repaired a few) but you have to be able to do it correctly -otherwise the rot.

[thompsonisland]

Thank you for all this advice! I'm wondering, also, does it make sense to stock extra basic household goods that cruisers might need? My experience is that a lot of things like that are very expensive in the tropics. Small margins, of course, I recognize that this is a community. Just enough to compensate for carrying the stuff around.

[savoir]

I once traded a jar of peanut butter for a six pack. The guy had run out 3 months earlier.

[thompsonisland]

I used to live on an island in the summer with a bunch of kids; we worked in a conference center. Of course, we all smoked and drank like mad. I remember this one guy, he didn't smoke, but he would buy cartons on the mainland and bootleg. Made a good profit.