This Tomcat is now a semi commercial operation.

C

cmetzenberg

New member
Well, after having a uscg license for over a decade and this wonderful boat for almost half of that, it dawned upon me that I might as well run charters to the Channel Islands as there seems to be a demand. So, Western Gate Maritime LLC was born. I guess I can now write off some of the costs of ownership. I'm specializing in freediving/scuba/spearfishing at the SB Channel Islands...I won't take anyone's money for rod a reel; their are for more skilled folks in that area around here. We're @westerngatemaritimellc on Instagram.

We'll see what happens. Maybe I can have a nice little side hustle being paid to be on a dory!
 
Very cool. I wouldn’t mind checking out the islands for some freediving before dragging my trailer and family down. What do you think you’ll charge?
 
Sounds like a plan. Things I would wonder about would be insurance. Fishing licenses for the divers-especially if out of the area. Restrictions on "fishing" around the Channel Islands. Going ashore on the Channel Islands.

And especially up there--bad weather, with heavy winds and seas?

Enjoy the "character business". Get a guitar and become the next Jimmy Buffett.
 
Lots of MPAs to avoid as far as spearfishing goes.
MPA-map-from-brochure-wlogo-large.jpg

Weather also comes into play. We bought our Tomcat at Channel Islands Harbor and had our sea trial in ten-foot seas. The boat handled it OK, so we bought it the next day.
 
kaelc":1ykci50o said:
Very cool. I wouldn’t mind checking out the islands for some freediving before dragging my trailer and family down. What do you think you’ll charge?
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Right now everyone's going rate is 1500 a day. I thought that was stiff, but i guess that's the market.
The insurance was a real fun one. No insurance company wants to touch dive boats or overnight stuff after the Conception. I'm not running overnight stuff so that wasn't an issue. For everything off vessel I have a hold harmless agreement that lets the passengers know they are not covered once they jump in the water.
The MPAs are kinda old news up here. We've gotten used to them. Still plenty of great areas for hunting. There are also lots of caveat rules that allow hunting of certain species in certain MPA/MCAs. The hard part is knowing the rules better than DFW and the Park service. More than once i've had a warden try and roll me and then have to teach them their own rules.
 
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