Startup on military retirement

[DCOutdoors]

The title says it all... I've watched and read till my eyes went crossed and square. My brain is numb and it's time to jump in with both feet...

I am retired from the military and am a bit of a perfectionist (not to be confused with procrastination). I enjoy working hard and seeing the results of my efforts. On this fixed income, I have little left over at the end of each month so am limited as to what I can buy all at once.

In Panama City Beach, FL. there are a lot of uncared for boats and nobody that is really cleaning them... For this reason, I will focus much of my efforts on this market and possibly motor homes (lots of snowbirds here).

Now the big vague questions: am I better off starting with a rotary or DA buffer (I am a quick learner). Most boats have a lot of oxidation issues. If you were in my shoes... what order would you buy things?

Side note: I have done some pressure washing and have a skid mounted pressure washer on my truck! Don't know if this is a help or a hindrance.

The only training I have had is a very picky Aunt when I was a kid! I recently did a boat where the owner was happy but I wasn't. Once I get set up and have the funds saved, I will look into more "official" training.

So, there you go... any help, suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

[Setec Astronomy]

My first question is about your market--what is the reason no one is cleaning those boats and motorhomes? Is it because there is no one to do it, or is it because the owners don't have the money to have it done? The gelcoat on boats is really tough and you're going to want a rotary or at least a Flex 3401 if you want to get the work done.

[DCOutdoors]

My first question is about your market--what is the reason no one is cleaning those boats and motorhomes? Is it because there is no one to do it, or is it because the owners don't have the money to have it done? The gelcoat on boats is really tough and you're going to want a rotary or at least a Flex 3401 if you want to get the work done.

As far as I can tell people around here are into things for the quick bucks. The economy is such that you may have a three story mansion while your neighbor has a single wide on an overgrown lot. The money is here, the owners of the money just haven't been educated as to why they should hire a specialist in the field (which I am not - yet).

As for motor homes, there is a term in the pressure washing industry, "Splash and Dash," that describes how many companies work. They are yard care people and painters who happen to have a pressure washer and use it as added income - giving the rest of us a bad name. The people who settle on this type of service would never hire me anyway and are not my focus. I would rather be known for taking two days to do perfectly (well, at least really good) what the other guy did in one day only half as well.

Did I answer the question or am I rambling?

[FastZR1]

Yes- I say rotary is best for gelcoats on boats and RVs that have a lot of oxidation. I use a Flex DA on my boat but is sits in the garage when not in the water so is very easy to maintain.

If you are new to professional detailing and are seriously considering this new job, I would make it a point to go to a detailing class 101 and 102 right there at AG. You are fairly close and I bet the costs could be written off on your taxes under your new business venture. You'll learn the proper techniques from the master.

Just my 2 cents.

[tuscarora dave]

I'd go with a rotary first if I were you. Being that you are a fast learner, with a "Go Slow Approach" you should pick it up in no time at all. Gel coat can be pretty tough to clean up even with a rotary so you'll be able to learn pretty quickly without the risk of burning paint as if you were working on softer automotive paints.

Go slow, as in lower RPMs until you get the feel for what's going on between the pad and the surface you're trying to clean up. For working on gel coat, I'd suggest a few wool pads with a real wool pad spurring tool (not one of those plastic pad cleaner tools) and a few white foam polishing pads and a pad cleaning brush for the foam pads.

Use this for spurring wool pads Lake Country Wool Pad Spur, pad spurring tool, pad cleaning tool (http://www.autogeek.net/wool-pad-spur.html)

Use this for cleaning foam pads Meguiars Professional Pad Conditioning Brush, pad cleaning brush (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-pad-brush.html)