NEW SHOP! FINALLY!!!

[V153]

there might be a market for your truck bed bimini if you were to hit up some construction sites ... I know I would have used one in San Antonio, and several of my carpenters would have, too.  Maybe you need to get the word out, offer one or two up on a trial basis - let these guys go jobsite to jobsite and use it, could bring some work your way

I dunno Dan. That top is one of my best selling tools, wouldya bleve it's bout 15 yrs old? Washed once. But most people want a bimini for their boat vs their truck.

Funny story: My new landlord came scrounging for the rent check this am. (Kinda early in the month dontcha think?) Anyway. He sat down in my Lazyboy'n we got to bs'ing about boating & he asked if that was my boat out front. Since to the best of my knowledge I didn't have a boat parked out front at the time, I asked what the heck he was talking about. He said y'know the red one with the blue top? I said Bill that's my truck ...

No BS!

[Rosscoe]

Doh. No rocket scientist I bet.

[WetRaider]

I'm just sayin' ... if the boat business slows down, or you need some extra activity to fund a vacation ... I bet you could sell a few for the trucks.

[Rosscoe]

Why stop at that...why not totally enclosed tents? Kinda like Doran has on the Avalanche. If it was an old truck and had a rusty box, then you got your potty too.

[WetRaider]

I'm sure you could go all out for "the right customer" ...
But I can't count how many carpenters (framers & trim), fence builders, concrete workers, masons, ... all kinds of trades in the residential construction industry ...
Out in Texas Hill Country, the properties were big enough that all the work trucks just angled for some shade under a tree.  Put these guys into tighter subdivisions and they scrambler to be first, so they get to park on the driveway and be the first guys to set up in the garage - everybody else is relegated to the curb.  You put a guy with his tools in the back of his truck, and let him use the tailgate as his saw platform - giving him control over his own shade ... hell, I'd even wire it to a 12v small pump with a misting system ...

These guys will do a lot to stay cool and shaded - they work outside 6 days a week.

[V153]

If it was an old truck and had a rusty box, then you got your potty too.

My '79 CJ had a potty in front of the drivers seat ...

Hey guys thanks for the suggestions. Seriously. Keep 'em comin'!

But when it comes to doing anything other than boats. Golf carts is the direction I'm leaning these days. FL just passed a law allowing 'low speed vehicles' in most sub-divisions, without having to be registered. So long's they're street legal that is. ie. Must have operating headlights, brake lights, turn signals, horn, etc.

Golf carts are big business round these parts. Everyone on Boca Grande, Palm Island, Little Gasparilla, etc owns at least one. Saw this top/design out on Boca awhile back: Thought it was purty cool. Gonna tweak it a lil'n come up with my own version. Purty sure the cart shops'll be interested?

Y'know it's really kinda ridiculous some of these carts. You can get one with a Lamborghini Countach body, or a Rolls Royce, or a Bronco, or a '57 Chevy, ad nauseum. Downright silly if'n ya ask me but I reckon we're just not happy until we've 'personalized' our stuff ...?  

[WetRaider]

Doug - I think you're headed the right direction.  Golf carts are getting to be big in a lot of places.
Out here it's riding mowers.  You wouldn't believe how many people take their riding mower to the grocery or liquor store, even the restaurant.  There was a guy arrested not too long ago for falling off of his drunk as a skunk while he tried to keep it on the shoulder of the road ...
I like the golf carts much better.

[V153]

Well I finally got 'round to loading up all the old waste paint and oil from the side of the building. Hauled it down to a recycling center near the shop. Guy asked for my license so's I handed it to him'n he went back to his lil station. Came back'n said he couldn't accept the stuff cuz I don't live in Charlotte County. (?) So I asked if my sales tax certificate would work, and off he went. Came back & said no this won't work, this facilty is for residents not businesses. I said that's just great, what am I sposed to do with this crap. He shrugged his shoulders. So then I asked, if I were to bring someone with me who has a Charlotte County proof of residence would you take the stuff? He shrugged his shoulders again & I took that as a yes.

So back to the shop I go trying to think of who I was gonna draft for this mission. As luck would have it my buddy Pete stopped by a lil later to bum some bimini deck hinge wedges for his boat. Said I'd trade him if he rode down to the recycling joint with me. He was actually headed that way & said no problem. He followed me down'n parked his truck at the Home Repot around the corner, hopped into mine & away we went.

Pulled up to the joint, handed the attendant Pete's license. The two had apparently met before so I had to endure sitting between em as they BS'd ...  But in the end we unloaded the goo'n were off.

This my friends is a textbook example of how many government rules & regulations hinder, NOT help, the average citizen. Ludicrous!    

[V153]

One yesterday afternoon'n nuther this morning. For a couple of Joe Ferris's buddys. The trick to em is the length of the bows. Too long'n the material doesn't wanna lay out right, and it looks stupid. Too short'n they might bag water, or worse yet wind blows the bows down into the bed. And then I look stupid ...

Fairly easy to pattern & I make purty good money on em too, so bring em on! I'd be perfectly content doing em all day long. Well mebbe a bimini every so often to break up the monotony ...