We’re much more comfortable driving jet boats than selling things but here goes. After 15 years as Venture Jet and over 30 years driving jet boats with Shaun White of Ocean Dynamics, we’ve decided to retire and sell the business. Ribworkers are fantastic fun, ridiculously tough, designed for serious seas; these boats speak for themselves and Shearwater is a good Ribworker, very nimble and responsive, extremely economical on fuel.
It’s easy to get passionate about Ribworkers but this is a lifestyle business you can earn a realistic living from. The business would suit someone wanting to downsize but still earn a living or someone wanting a solid business with demonstrable growth potential.
Apologies to those who know a great deal about RIBs and RIB businesses - it’s hard to know how to pitch this. RIB tours are very popular (perhaps too much so – it’s a tough market, saturated in some areas) but Shearwater’s hull and jet combination provides a unique selling point, operating safely in shallow water (approx 18 inches), spinning on her axis, power-braking, full control of forward / reverse thrust for precision manoeuvring at both low and high revs, holding station in strong currents. This manoeuvrability gives us a unique market position in St Davids, a well established boat and adventure tourism destination, as the only company to offer wildlife trips including fun with jet boat spins etc and challenging caves.
The Boat - 9m aluminium Ocean Dynamics Ribworker
274 Hamilton jet (hydraulic controls), 440hp Yanmar 6LY2A-STP inboard with just 2 seasons’ hours on the clock. 3.45m wide (2.85m hull), 600mm tubes, unusual amount of deck and storage space. Large aluminium storage box bolted to aluminium strips welded to the deck; can be removed for additional deck space, to bolt on equipment or extra seats. Deck is above water level, tubes play no part in keeping the boat afloat, open transom so fast self-draining, easy diver access. Integrated bow platform and mooring samson welded to hull for extra strength; this ‘pushee bow’ enables precision pushing of platforms and can be used for boarding. Stern platform has 2 integrated towing and stern anchor mooring samsons.
Surveyed and certified annually by Burness Corlett - Three Quays, to conform to both passenger and workboat codes: 12 passengers plus 2 crew or 1000 kg cargo. Boat will be sold with up to date coding, all equipment in date and serviced appropriately.
We wanted a Ribworker for manoeuvrability, versatility and longevity. The first Ribworker, Atlantic Eagle, is still working as a North Sea rescue vessel aged 34.
Boat mooring, trailer, storage ashore if needed.
The Business
Excellent safety and no claims insurance record.
Unique market position in St Davids: the only boat able to do the ‘Wet and Wild’, an adventure activity and wildlife trip in one: wildlife watching, rock-hugging cave exploration and fun with power-braking and jet boat spins. Ramsey Island is exceptional, with dramatic caves and varied wildlife, a 5 minute hop from St Justinian; offshore we have Grassholm, the Smalls and the Celtic Deep for cetacean watching.
We chose not to have a public office in St Davids, the only boat business to have been able to operate successfully without one.
Successful business with scope for growth. We’ve run Venture Jet as an outdoor activity as much as a wildlife tour, primarily doing passenger and film / scientific charter to suit our lifestyle but there’s plenty of scope to develop to suit you: commercial charter, safety cover, dive charter (no propellers so huge safety and operational advantages).
In recent years we’ve shortened our season to May to early September to enable us to do other things but we have demand for Easter to end October.
Established websites, online booking, logos, digital and print marketing, including photos and videos.
Strong reputation on customer review sites, regular and repeat custom.
We usually operate from St Davids but trips needn’t be confined to St Davids.
Shearwater's 'Wet and Wild' manoeuvres and workboat capabilities could be adapted to any location.
Price and Time Frame
Price guide: value of boat, equipment / spares plus 1 year’s average owner benefits.
We’re in no rush but we’re open to reasonable offers and can be flexible – we know what it is to plan a business - and can provide a comprehensive handover (boat, business, social media).
We’ll be happy to negotiate a price and time frame to suit both parties depending on what the buyer needs – equipment, spares, training and ongoing support (if any) and timing: when they need the business / boat.
Ribworkers appeal to people who know boats and who won’t necessarily need much training but we’re happy to familiarise the new owner/s with the boat if they wish either in St Davids or elsewhere. Tim (Brooke) has been training people on Ribworkers for decades.
We’re still enjoying getting covered with salt water but we’re ready to hand over the business during the 2018 season or ready for 2019 to suit the buyer. Alternatively we’ll be open to selling Shearwater separately from September 2018 (we’d need a compellingly good offer to do so before).
While we're happy to give as much support as a new owner might need for a year or so, we want to move on with other projects.
As many of you know a business like this is inevitably a very personal thing. If we can find someone for whom the business would work we’ll give them every support in making it their own. If not we’re happy to retire the business as well as ourselves and enjoy the boat until she’s sold. She’s a bit heavy duty for a retirement RIB but frankly we’ll enjoy it while we have the excuse!
Please see
Jet Boat Business for Sale – Venture Jet, call 01348 837764 for a chat or email
info@venturejet.co.uk.
Wishing you all safe and happy sailing :-)
Beth and Tim
