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Post by Gone on Nov 28, 2017 21:09:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 21:24:01 GMT
Seems pretty reasonable to me 👍🍻
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Post by Andyberg on Nov 28, 2017 21:39:44 GMT
Presume your going to put some system in place so you don't leave your ginga pubes stuck to the soap?
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Post by patty on Nov 29, 2017 6:28:07 GMT
Just put in a generic sense..that you reserve the right to terminate should unforeseen circumstances arise and refund pro rata yabedy boo etc...then you can be judge of unforeseen circumstances and i guess clash of personalities with real horrible people could cover that and lets face it should that arise they'd want to go as much as you want them gone...however just remember the power of negative comments and bad reviews and your punters are paying customers.
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Post by quaysider on Nov 29, 2017 7:18:42 GMT
Presume your going to put some system in place so you don't leave your ginga pubes stuck to the soap? already done that...
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Post by peterboat on Nov 29, 2017 8:47:36 GMT
Just put in a generic sense..that you reserve the right to terminate should unforeseen circumstances arise and refund pro rata yabedy boo etc...then you can be judge of unforeseen circumstances and i guess clash of personalities with real horrible people could cover that and lets face it should that arise they'd want to go as much as you want them gone...however just remember the power of negative comments and bad reviews and your punters are paying customers. yabedy boo? Might be welsh?
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Post by patty on Nov 29, 2017 11:19:27 GMT
Just put in a generic sense..that you reserve the right to terminate should unforeseen circumstances arise and refund pro rata yabedy boo etc...then you can be judge of unforeseen circumstances and i guess clash of personalities with real horrible people could cover that and lets face it should that arise they'd want to go as much as you want them gone...however just remember the power of negative comments and bad reviews and your punters are paying customers. yabedy boo? I don't think the Welsh would care to own that phrase...I believe it originated in Granny Glad days when we used to prattle away saying nothing really but it means etc etc whatever waffle u care to put.....its a shortened version..I like yabedy boo...it does kinda annoy stuffed shirt conversationalists who pontificate...
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Post by Jim on Nov 30, 2017 15:12:57 GMT
"If a personal hygiene issues arises we will vacate the vessel for the remainder of the contract which will default to a self steer self catering hire holiday subject to damage and cleaning deposits" You need to have two boats Would the deposits be sticky? Soz couldn't resist. On a serious front, if you chuck em off should you get them back to their car/starting point?
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Post by Graham on Dec 1, 2017 0:42:16 GMT
I'm putting together the "rules of the boat/booking" kind of affair for Ellis and wondered if I can put WHATEVER I like? IE... I would like a clause that says, "if we dont like you - we'll give you your money back (less days youve been on) and send you on your way" kind of affair - I'm wording it more nicely... what do you good folk think? Here's what I've got at the moment. Sorry it's a long read - I WANT it to feel more friendly than "ZEEG HILE" if you follow: www.narrowboatellis.com/booking-terms-and-conditions.htmlto avoid the WHOLE read, THIS is the bit I'm wary of...: #Personal Hygiene and Clashes of personality: We appreciate this is an unusual item to have in a “terms and conditions” section but as the boat is our home, feel it important none the less. A 57ft narrow boat is a confined space and as such, all crew and guests are expected to maintain ‘pleasant levels ‘of personal hygiene. We will ensure wherever possible the boat has hot water available for all passengers and crew to shower daily. The ‘main’ bathroom will be for guests exclusive use overnight but the crew (that’s us) will require access to shower facilities daily. We’ll endeavour to make use of this when underway so as to minimise the disruption to your quiet enjoyment of the facilities. In the unlikely event there is a major clash of personality – we reserve the right to terminate the trip at an acceptable location and will refund, pro-rata (daily) the value of the remaining trip duration ... Boaters tend to be a relaxed , accepting and tolerant group of folk so having this clause is really just a final get out of jail card for us in our home… we’re sure you appreciate the sentiment behind it – even if we’ve not worded it very eloquently. Possibly the comparison might be the bricks and mortar of letting a room in a house where the owner is resident. There are rules and one of them, if my memory is working, that even if it all goes wrong and all the things you describe happen they cannot just be pushed out. I think that is the crux of the thing whatever you do has to not leave them any worse off and it has to be real. You are entering one of the most difficult trades I know, hospitality and you are doing it in your own home, so basically it is a B&B with coffee, lunch and dinner thrown in. You are going to get people who just want to laze and do nothing others will basically want to take over and run the boat for you. Some are going to be what you think is rude, most will not be. I think you need to find a good legal eagle as otherwise you could be in court on the wrong end. I have not seen the prospectus for the trips. But maybe there is a way there of explaining, that you would like to welcome them to your floating home, 2 metre wide and x long on which you have a, b & c and you wold like to show them the canals of England. I for example like to shower before I have my evening meal when boating. It is when I am at my sweatiest, grimy from locks etc Not sure how you can put it over and the fact that all facilities are shared and small. An idea that has just cropped into my mind, have you do a trip on one of the smaller hotel boats. Maybe if you have not it is a way of finding out how they cope with the situation.
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Post by quaysider on Dec 1, 2017 8:05:24 GMT
Possibly the comparison might be the bricks and mortar of letting a room in a house where the owner is resident. There are rules and one of them, if my memory is working, that even if it all goes wrong and all the things you describe happen they cannot just be pushed out. I think that is the crux of the thing whatever you do has to not leave them any worse off and it has to be real. You are entering one of the most difficult trades I know, hospitality and you are doing it in your own home, so basically it is a B&B with coffee, lunch and dinner thrown in. You are going to get people who just want to laze and do nothing others will basically want to take over and run the boat for you. Some are going to be what you think is rude, most will not be. I think you need to find a good legal eagle as otherwise you could be in court on the wrong end. I have not seen the prospectus for the trips. But maybe there is a way there of explaining, that you would like to welcome them to your floating home, 2 metre wide and x long on which you have a, b & c and you wold like to show them the canals of England. I for example like to shower before I have my evening meal when boating. It is when I am at my sweatiest, grimy from locks etc Not sure how you can put it over and the fact that all facilities are shared and small.
An idea that has just cropped into my mind, have you do a trip on one of the smaller hotel boats. Maybe if you have not it is a way of finding out how they cope with the situation. I think I've covered the idea/plan in the home and about bits... we're trying NOT to be a hotel boat but a "come and share our life afloat" boat... somewhere between hotel boating... narrowboat experience (think Paul Smith) and a holiday with friends on their boat. We think we can pull it off and figure it's worth trying for a couple of years - expecting 2018 to be a quiet year where we "practice" - we can just about afford NOT to have any guests for the first year (if we take things steady) but hopefully in 2019 can top up savings as we explore the uk - RATHER than having to get a proper job. I may come across a bit Nazi here, but in the real world, I'm quite a nice chatty and friendly bloke - Andy more so... in that he sees the good in everyone and people take an instant liking to him. Time will tell I suppose. AS for going on someone else's' hotel boat, given the price they all charge - even the smaller ones, we cant justify the expense as what with me not earning whilst I jump through the crt, Health and safety, food hygiene, business planning, first aid hoops etc. etc., funds are under pressure - well under pressure if we achieve our goal of NOT getting into any debt to do this. The house is as safe as it can be, with a long term (and trusted tenant) paying the mortgage - ltv of about 66% so some equity there in an emergency and the boat totally unencumbered.
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Post by quaysider on Dec 1, 2017 8:19:45 GMT
I was thinking, as I do sometimes, and came up with these: 1. When are you thinking of starting this? You'll have to take into consideration Winter Stoppages and emergency stoppages, although customers can be ferried to the boat by car/train. 2. What are you thinking of charging? 3. What will you be providing? Meals? Do you need to have culinary qualifications/certificates? Health certificate? (for things like typhoid, hepatitis, worms, etc.) 4. Do you need a trading licence from CRT? 5. With guests taking extended showers, your gas and water and going to need topping up often. 1) We HOPE to begin proper, 10th April next year...SO far our "start and end" locations include placess wth train stations. We're encouraging folk to be independent travellers... and can (and wiil) aim to build enough flexibility into sailing times to let THEM decide when they want to arrive and leave (within reason). 2) Pricing wise, we aim to be competitive - I've avoided the word 'cheap' - reality is, we're doing this because we think we'll enjoy it and wanted to find away to finance our explorations - WITHOUT rinsing guests... compared to every other hotel boat we've looked at which promise 5 star service, cordon bleu food and free booze, (and have to charge a lot more as a result) our focus is on experience live aboard live rather than be a punter on a hotel boat. 3) I've stated in the blurb on the website we'll feed folk 3 meals aday and whilst don't promise to be Pierre White, wil usually rustle up something edible - we plan to take them out to a pub for at least 1 meal a week and encourage them to muck in - hopefully teaching us new things to cook as we go along. AS I'm currently unemployed semi-retired, I've got a new enterprise allowance scheme place which gives me free first aid, food hygiene, allergen awareness training etc. In a few weeks I get the marketing and hmrc workshops too. 4) Yes - I've half prepared the CRT licence application - along with the risk assessment bollocks.... I've got the insurance ready to change (although can't do that until April - same goes for the actual business license with crt as we've already paid in full for this year. 5) We've explained on the website that PART of live aboard life IS topping up with water, pumping out, etc so we'll do it as we go along - our "routes" extend 5 days crusing over 7 days to allow for this.... a little over tick over being the preferred cruising speed. AS for routes - so far I've only got 8 weeks worked out to Liverpool and back (see website) and are currently working on weeks 9 to 14 to Manchester and back. We HAVE to come back to wakey in between for prior arrangements. 2019 will be more of a rings/circular routes kind of affair.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 8:47:41 GMT
Hotel boats are a very different environment. Had a friend who ran a pair for several years.
I think your site (as much as I have read so far) makes it clear that what you are offering is something less structured.
It's clear already that you've invested a great deal of thought into the idea, so I wouldn't presume to try and 'second guess' you.
However I would like to offer that the site provides sufficient information for potential customers to commit to a trip, and that following your first few visits, you will have a clearer idea of any additional detail you need to include.
Perhaps 'over egging' the detail is the real 'danger' at this point.
We wish you the best of luck, but it sounds like you'll not need it.
Rog
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Post by quaysider on Dec 1, 2017 9:41:36 GMT
Cheers Rog -who knows if it will "work" but it's worth a go... and if nothing else, We'll get better at boating. I need to continue website building to get the other routes up there... have to admit, I HATE doing that. I'm applying the kiss approach and trying to keep it VERY simple.
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Post by quaysider on Dec 1, 2017 9:44:11 GMT
If you can knock out an ad, we're happy to translate it into Finnish and slap some up on noticeboards in shops, in our home area and also a few in Helsinki, we're there on 23rd Dec. You might find my bosses are interested - the wife of the 'big boss' of the 'old company' (has been absorbed into the conglomerate) expressed an interest in canal boating. The Wakefield - Todmorden stretch is perfect for a starter run, and you can turn short at Hebden Bridge / Sowerby Bridge / Brighouse. Even one way, and then another group t'other way going back? Good scenery out that way, especially on the Rochdale, a combination of canal/river, and interesting towns nearby, such as Halifax.Cheers Russ - week 9 begins in wakey town centre... takes a detour to stanley ferry for the aqueduct and then back up the river/canals and terminating at hebden bridge... where we'll change guests and continue to mancs. We have to be back in Wakey for a prior arrangement 6 weeks later so we're doing a 3 week trip and back if you follow...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 10:27:42 GMT
Cheers Rog -who knows if it will "work" but it's worth a go... and if nothing else, We'll get better at boating. I need to continue website building to get the other routes up there... have to admit, I HATE doing that. I'm applying the kiss approach and trying to keep it VERY simple. I think anyone who runs a guest home of some shape or description has to be pretty tolerant and look forward to the positives of meeting new people. I don't think it's something for those who see it purely as a revenue stream. I did wonder when I read your concerns about personal hygiene whether it would be the right venture for you. You could try only targeting potential customers who fit your ideal criteria. I knew a chap many years ago who run a B&B purely for cross dressers. It worked for him (her?) as most of his customers had similar interests!
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