The slow death of Party Boats

[jerseyhunter]

However, entire families don't stay in a business generation after generation if their businesses were unsustainable..

I agree, and also besides the vessel being handed down , Including clientele. How they respect what they got and how they treat their business, mates and customers is up to them and determines if the business is successful. JMO.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Ok sal, have it your way.. ALL the captains are on the brink, about to lose everything, but stay with it because of the "call of the sea".... Oh brother..

I know nothing about what it takes to run a party boat, and NEVER anywhere in this post said i did.. However, entire families don't stay in a business generation after generation if their businesses were unsustainable..
before you make nasty comments, I will ask politely that you read more carefully..
I merely said that I would wager most boat operations with a steady clientele are doing well enough to maintain their families, their homes, their employees, and their boats.. If they are as bad off as you and some others are saying they are, they would not be handing their livelyhoods down to their children as so many do.. We all know its not an easy business, but the fact that so many stick with it indicates that for now, there are enough fish and enough customers willing to pay to catch them for most of them to make a living..

I know they aren't millionaires. Neither are their customers...
However, most are still there for the time being, and probably will be for a while.. At least until the regulations are so restrictive that salt water fishing in general is dead.... bob

It is not nasty just the truth!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal

It is not nasty just the truth!

Sorry sal, but portraying these fine, hardworking boat owners/ captains/ mates as paupers on the brink of ruin is not the truth nor is it helping their image.. They do have a great love for the sea, I am fully aware of that, but bottom line IS bottom line, and if they could not "stay afloat" year to year balancing income against expenditure long term, they would be gone, into something else.

yes its a unique livelyhood. that calls only a few.. However its is also a business... Some won't make it, most do.. Just as with ANY business... bob