Visit our Popular Forums

Julius Katzke · 22-03-2012, 20:29

Hi, I have a 44ft sailing cat and would like to start a charter business in Phuket, Thailand. Any advise would be welcome.
How do I go about doing this?
Is it viable?

cat man do · 22-03-2012, 21:15

Q: How to make a small fortune in LOS
A: Start off with a large one.

Seriously, maybe try someone like Latitude 8 and Mark Pescott who are there and maybe get put into their group.

cat man do · 22-03-2012, 21:26

Just had another thought, are you even allowed to have a controlling interest in a company in Thailand and will you be required to have a Thai skipper?

Julius Katzke · 22-03-2012, 21:44

Hi cat man do, strangely enough you have to same nick name as I do.
Not sure about that, I'm trying to find out what is nessesry to o this,
Someone said something about registering as an international charter then I won't need to do all the legalities of Thailand. Do you know anything about this type of registration?

bewitched · 22-03-2012, 23:05

Not sure if this information is 100% accurate, but it gives you the gist of things...

The vessel must be owned by a Thai Company (max 30% foreigner shareholding)
Vessel must be Thai registered
Skipper and engineer must be Thai nationals
You must have a residential status in Thailand which allows you to work there (and pay taxes there)
etc etc

Basically, like most countries, you can't (legally) just pitch up, open shop, pocket the money and then go home again with a tidy profit.

Edit: On a more positive note, what some boat owners do, is allow existing companies to charter the boat on their behalf. There are a couple of companies doing this out of Phuket

donradcliffe · 22-03-2012, 23:53

I will also note that the Thai's are very good at using Google to search out illicit charter boats. I was in the yard alongside a boat that had been seized.

travler37 · 23-03-2012, 00:56

make sure your ready to grease some palms.
Do not just find a Thai girl and try to start a business in her name.You will be disapointed when your blackballed from the country and she has your investment.have seen alot of ex-pats do this.
Mark

David_Old_Jersey · 23-03-2012, 03:48

The Thais have a very different attitude to foreigners spending money over there vs when foreigners are "stealing" money from the locals. Your definition of "stealing" will differ very greatly from that of the locals!....and the opportunity to make money from your activities may also differ!

Having said all that, plenty of foreigners do run businesses in Thailand, some even make money....well, so the rumour goes! The key being to already know your way around, including (especially) people. And having ready access to a big stick - whether legally or not. IMO preferably both......and that people you are dealing with know that you are not a(nother!) gormless Farang with more money than sense.

I second the caution on basing your business around a local female, well not to the extent that you don't have a plan B....and don't forget that the Thais can often be shortsighted on the benefits of any financial / business arrangements, a one off $100 this week or $1000 next year - and every year thereafter? Next year might not arrive (and is a long time in the future! - "want it now" is not simply a Western thing!), $100 is now......and in Thailand that is not such a daft attitude to take.

Not sure if applicable to Thailand, but could be possible to set up in Malaysia and run Charters through Thailand - whether one can pick up / drop off Punters in Thailand is another thing.

CeesH · 23-03-2012, 13:46

We are in the same process of trying to relocate to Thailand and creating some form of income with the charter of our sy.

We found some useful contacts in the Classified section of the Phuket Gazette.

Here is a link: www.phuketgazette.net

CeesH

Doodles · 01-04-2012, 18:27

The biggest hurtle you'll have is the boat/business must be 70% owned by Thai nationals. Yes, there are ways around it involving sham companies but do you really want to put your boat at that risk? Remember this is Thailand and a developing country and you are a foreigner.

Celestialsailor · 02-04-2012, 01:09

I have spent a lot of time in that country. Personally, I wouldn't do a business or own a home there. I'd like to berth there and teach part time (legally). If anything ever happened, just slip the docklines and head out.