Mike Maurice gave some excellent advice recently in his post on this subject. Perhaps I can offer a slightly different viewpoint. During the '70's I had an interesting experience, I ran what was then the top US yacht delivery corporation, Patrick Ellam Yacht Deliveries Inc. We booked, billed, and did all the advertising, insurance, travel arrangements, customer interface for a roster of delivery captains and crews. I do not think that there is any such service available in the US today. From what Mike says, there is a gap in the marketplace that needs filling. For ten percent of the gross such a company can solve most of the problems that Mike identifies. Patrick Ellam was an Englishman who achieved some small fame sailing the 20 foot Sopranino across the pond in the '50's. By accident he began to do deliveries for folks who had read his book on the adventure. Before long he and his wife began booking deliveries carried out by his friends. He finally sold the company to one of his captains who in turn sold it to one of his, namely me. When I took over I had a list of about 20 highly qualified skippers, 40 up and coming mates and perhaps 80 wannabees. This last category came from a steady stream of applications from young and old guys and gals with experience ranging from astonishing to zilch. The routine went this way: a call came in from a potential customer, often a repeat who knew who he wanted for skipper and who knew that a substitute would be equally as good. About 2/3's of the inquiries were from tire kickers who provided details on the boat and the delivery. Within a few hours they got a call giving a cost estimate based on $100/day for a skipper, 25/day for a mate and 10/day for the new guy crew, so many estimated days, food costs/day, fuel, transportation to and from, lodging if needed, etc. This was very detailed and subject to reduced costs for layover days due to weather or boat preparation. The crews were independent contractors, insurance was ours with Lloyds of London,or with owners proof of insurance with the necessary endorsements from his insuror. Occasionally the owner went as mate along with a fairly qualified crew (not new). Some skippers would not sail with an owner and many had brands of vessels they would not deliver across blue water for any price. The skippers were often Whitbread type racers, a few professional merchant mariners who had 6 months per year to play on the ocean, and guys who had come up thru the ranks from new guy to mate to skipper with top evaluations,a very small minority managed this progression. Skippers and crews were rated for coastal, blue water, power or sail exclusively, and for size of vessel. A few of the skippers were qualified by the British organization that does advanced training and qualification. A thorough description of the boat was very important and references required. We could check by calling boatyards, marinas, insurance agents and contacts on our grapevine. It was understood that the skipper could refuse a boat upon his inspection with the owners 1/2 payment as a guarantee of payment for time, travel, etc. We had one famous instance of this where the owner refused to bring the vessel up to the skipper's norms, it was a square rigged replica of the Revolutionary period "Rattlesnake". The owner sent the vessel off with some guy on the dock who would have worked for beer money. Within a few weeks the vessel was a total loss on the Silver Banks, 800 miles off course! His insurance was contingent on the presence of our crew and we had notified them immediately of the crew switch. Talk about "Make my day!" If necessary we could also impose a lien against any vessel making trouble over the final payment which was 1/4 due upon completion. This is the way the delivery business can be run. If you want to get into deliveries this is a good way to start if there are any such companies available today. If not, start one! Frank Lawlor (been there, done that)

At 01:18 PM 8/4/01, you wrote: >can offer a slightly different viewpoint. During the '70's I had an >interesting experience, I ran what was then the top US yacht delivery >corporation, Patrick Ellam Yacht Deliveries Inc Frank, As far as I know there are several such outfits, but none on the US West Coast. Here on the west coast the conditions are so rough most of the time that it is difficult to pass referrals to others. Clients have someone in mind and are leery of being passed along. There is also another factor. The culture on the east coast and in europe is one of owners not being all that interested in doing the interviewing. They would rather pass that along to someone else, even if it means a fee. What market for such is being filled. There is no unfilled niche. Capt. Mike Maurice Near Portland Oregon.