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Bilge Cleaner

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Posts posted by Bilge Cleaner

  3. Posted · Report reply

    I spent 27 years crawling around cleaning inside fuel tanks a bilges on MotorYachts

    I did not take a full week vacation until my 18th year in business which from then on I started to take 2 weeks a year ( should have done that years ago )

    I loved working on yachts but really started to hate So. Fla and what I did for a living even if the money was great.

    In 2005 I sold the business and the house during the housing boom ( sold it for 30% over ridiculous ) and moved up here to rural Georgia and even though things are tight I don't regret leaving, a customer once told me that theres no rehersal in life, you only get to do it once!

  4. Posted · Edited by Bilge Cleaner · Report reply

    I think start up budget will reflect on your own ( mechanical) skills, I started my Bilge and tank cleaning business in 1982 with a $8000.00 loan and a credit card that I taped back together after swearing never to use it again. My first tank truck I bought had literally been put out to pasture by its former owner ( sat in a cow field for 3 years), my first PW was a 14 year old L & A 503. I fixed/outfitted and painted that truck and all my later trucks myself ( except my F-800 ) I only had to hand out business cards for the first year, after that it was all word of mouth being that with the boating cummunity word gets around.My first year in business my ins was around $1500.00 when I sold the business in 2005 ins was about $18,000.00. My first full year in business I grossed around $23k, my last full year in business I grossed just over $250k. I had 2 trucks ( one for tank cleaning and one for bilge cleaning) and one employee who was with me for 17 years ( only fired him 3 times). I still had that L&A PW when I sold the business

    My first truck (1982) My last truck ( 2005)

    post-4708-13777229974_thumb.jpg

    post-4708-137772299746_thumb.jpg

  6. Posted · Edited by Bilge Cleaner · Report reply

    First off your comparing a well known quality built engine to a unknown ( here in the States) Chinese's import. I went through this when I wanted to buy 2 scooters, the Chinese's ones were great looking and cheap but they were being sold by fly by night companies who didn't carry parts or even know who built the engines ( there like 4000 scooter companies in China)., So I went and bought 2 Yamaha's. Enviro who has been around quite awhile is carrying/selling this ( Chinese's) engine, I'm sure if it was junk they'd have discontinued selling it. Do they keep complete set of parts for it ( instock?), what their warrenty and do you have to send it back to them for the work to be done?? or are the autherized repair facilities inyour State?, I just recently bought a go kart from Sears for my son, it has a 10hp China engine ( Honda knockoff) that also has fwd /reverse tranny which had me a little concerned but the go kart is distributed through Manco who has been in the GK business for years and has authurized (sp) repair shops here in Georgia and the manual has a complete parts list so I figured I'm covered. For $200.00 difference I'd go with the Honda where even the local hardware store carries (basic) parts for them.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    "All I ask from a fellow contractor is be legit and insured"

    I went through this with my bilge/tank cleaning business, I had a carpet cleaning guy cleaning bilges and pumping the oily waste into his vac tank for half the cost I was charging he was not DEP/EPA licenced so he didn't have his truck DOT inspected or have to carry pollution Ins ( about a extra $8000.00 year),when I called him in to the local enviromental enforcement they just shrugged it off yet if I was late by one day with my monthly report they would threaten me with a $10k fine!!!!???

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Getting started in this business, friends told me to just call a few cleaners/competitors and have them come out and quote you on some work that way I could know what to charge!, I can't do that as I feel I'm getting a education at someone else's expense. But I don't see why it is even nessesary for someone (else) to do that when there are forums like this out there?? but I guess that cuts into their beer time

  9. Posted · Report reply

    2000,F-250 diesel,6spd. I just got 20.5 mpg on a trip to Fla ( empty no trailer). worst tow mileage was 12mpg pulling my show truck/trailer rig ( 8500lbs ), best was 12.8mpg Pulling my 3horse enclosed G/N trailer (10k lbs). The med duty Fords are built in Mexico ( f550 and larger) the rest are still built here. Though my 7.3L has been flawless, I've always been a Cummins fan ( had one in my F-800 ) I just didn't care ( at the time ) for the Dodge interiors. My truck currently has 160k miles on it, repairs have been a clutch,water pump,alt and slave cyl. I'm still on the original brake pads

  12. Posted · Edited by Bilge Cleaner · Report reply

    Drod

    I'm in the same boat as I'm currently looking for a trailer, yesterday I went and looked at a 6x12 enclosed it was a nice(used) trailer and the price was right but it was single ( 2990 lb ) axle and I know a double axle would be better as far as ride and gvw so I'm still looking. You might want to consider a enclosed trailer being you live in Miramar ( I'm formerly from Davie) as there is less chance your equipt will walk away. If your set on a single axle trailer try to get one with a 3500lb axle/rating.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the advice MMI

    Your right I am new to House/flat cleaning but not new to pressure cleaning. I pressure cleaned bilges and tanks on Motor yachts from 1979-2005, your formula basicly boils down to tip size and travel speed which is nice as far as matching dia cleaner to size of PW but I still would like to get first hand opinion on what the pro's use especially in regards to durability and parts availibilty. I did not find much doing a search so thats why I posted. And yes this site is a wealth of knowledge.

  18. Posted · Edited by Bilge Cleaner · Report reply

    Sorry

    I should have be more specific

    It will be cold water unit(4k/4gpm) might go for the standard ( ie. cheap) 275gal tank just to have though I doubt it will ever be full. My main question would be if anyone is running a single axle and how they like it. I would also be interested on what brand ( Horton,Pace,etc) enclosed trailer ( single/duel) that members are running and how they like that particular ( brand ) trailer.

    Thanks in advance

    Bill

    P.S. Tracy I bookmarked your site,thanks.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Hi Guys

    New member with trailer question for residential cleaning.

    From what I've read from most of you folks is a 6X12 enclosed trailer ( w/side door) would be a decent size for this type of work, I'm thinking about a single ( 5200lb ) axle setup., any imput from those with experience would be most appriciated.

    FWIW

    When I was cleaning fuel tanks and bilges on Motor Yachts my one bilge cleaning truck was a 14' (NPR) flatbed which was nice but since I sold my company and moved up here to Ga and started a window glass repair company and figured a trailer rig would work better for now being my glass truck could be duel purpose/use

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