Setting Up At a Boat Launch This Weekend

Gonna be setting up at that boat launch I mentioned in previous posts this weekend. Anyone who's set up at similar locations have any general advice on what to expect that might be out of the ordinary from more "normal" spots?

The owner said traffic starts at around 8am or so. Seems pretty early to be selling hot dogs, but I would imagine most would get their dogs to eat later for lunch. I'm gonna wrap the dogs in foil instead of using the boats so they'll stay warm for that purpose. I'm hoping to get there sometime between 7-8am so I can have everything fired up and ready to go by 8.

Anyway, any general advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm still extremely new at this, as I've only had 2 nights out so far, and both were at a bar.

Thanks.

Methais


Gonna be setting up at that boat launch I mentioned in previous posts this weekend. Anyone who's set up at similar locations have any general advice on what to expect that might be out of the ordinary from more "normal" spots?

The owner said traffic starts at around 8am or so. Seems pretty early to be selling hot dogs, but I would imagine most would get their dogs to eat later for lunch. I'm gonna wrap the dogs in foil instead of using the boats so they'll stay warm for that purpose. I'm hoping to get there sometime between 7-8am so I can have everything fired up and ready to go by 8.

Anyway, any general advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm still extremely new at this, as I've only had 2 nights out so far, and both were at a bar.

Thanks.

I'd say hot dogs will go pretty well with their beer, even if it is 7-8 a.m. :)

Are you right at the launch? I ask because when people launch boats they are usually in a hurry and will not have time to get a hot dog. It's common courtesy to launch and get out of the next guys way. No lollygagging...

You should set up next to the area/docks that people get onto and off of their boats. This is your best chance. Either that or find the funnel spot where everyone parking their vehichles and trailers have to walk through to get back to the lake. A pinch point that people have to walk through to get back to their boats


You don't want to be viewed as an impediment to cranky boaters short on patience. :)


ArnieTX

I cannot imagine anyone wanting to buy a hotdog or soda, or anything else for that matter, at a ramp when they're launching in the morning. Perehaps something cold to drink after hauling out late in the day. Most people launching have their own food and drink on board.

Methais


Gonna be setting up at that boat launch I mentioned in previous posts this weekend. Anyone who's set up at similar locations have any general advice on what to expect that might be out of the ordinary from more "normal" spots?

The owner said traffic starts at around 8am or so. Seems pretty early to be selling hot dogs, but I would imagine most would get their dogs to eat later for lunch. I'm gonna wrap the dogs in foil instead of using the boats so they'll stay warm for that purpose. I'm hoping to get there sometime between 7-8am so I can have everything fired up and ready to go by 8.

Anyway, any general advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm still extremely new at this, as I've only had 2 nights out so far, and both were at a bar.

Thanks.

 
I have not worked any boat launches but I do find alot of people do not buy hot dogs until noon or later. Maybe 11 a.m. Sure there will be a few but the rush usually hits around noon or later. Might be different in other situations. I would try selling pastries and donuts as well. Have some dogs ready for the few that might order them early. 8 a.m. would be a donut,muffin, or pastry time for myself. Is there a coffee guy out there?

Thanks for the advice. I don't know where exactly I'll be set up yet, but I'll look for that funnel spot Arnie mentioned.

There's no coffee guy or anyone selling anything at all there, just me. I have no idea if anyone would be buying dogs that early, that's just when he said the heavy traffic starts putting in. 8:00 does seem pretty early for dogs, and I might end up selling the most to people coming back in later in the day. I'll probably try to make it there early and stick it out through the afternoon just to see when the most sales take place, and if the majority are from returning boaters, I'll adjust my times accordingly.

And if nobody buys anything all day, oh well, good thing it's mobile :P

WHY STOP AT THE RAMP?

I was actually gonna do that. Friend of mine was gonna buy a party barge and take it out for the River Bash they have 3 times a year and said I oughta wheel the cart out onto the barge and sling some dogs.

He hasn't gotten the barge yet, but if he does then I probably will be floating down the river slinging dogs, though it won't be a floating billboard like that...

Boat Launch!  We have one here in Assachusetts in Brighton.  Sounds like  a good idea, though the state owns the land and if your from around here, you know how that goes.....

Delta


Boat Launch!  We have one here in Assachusetts in Brighton.  Sounds like  a good idea, though the state owns the land and if your from around here, you know how that goes.....

This one is a privately owned launch. There's a free publicly owned one not far from it, but a lot of people go to this one because it's much easier to launch their boats, whereas the other one is all ghetto.

However, the permitting people told me that as long as I'm not within the city limits (which I'm not, they don't allow vendors in the city limits), I can pretty much set up anywhere I want as long as it's either public land or I have permission from the owner if it's private land.

I'm from MA originally though, so I'm familiar with all the hoops they make you jump through to do pretty much anything. It's not nearly as bad in Louisiana when it comes to most things....especially buying guns :D

Hope the best,
Maybe can sell a Dog Fish or
Sausage Carp To go for the masses.LOL
Can hear the stories now, ate one this big. Jump in the boat,so had to indulge
Andoulle and Boudin Sausages might do well on there way home.
Coffee and pastries in the morn. Have done coffee and sweet rolls for breakfast.
And yes off a dog cart. We are versatile. Have done bisquits and gravy also.
 

How about sausage sandwiches?

I did a lot of boating prior to getting ill.    Th game plan was usually a stop for breakfast on the way and load up the cooler with drinks and a supply of snacks.  I guess that the best  shot would be get them while they cat with fellow fihermen over the days catch.  I do think that a lot of folks feel kind of grungy after a day on the water handling fish and bait and might ot want to eat with their fingers til they clean up.  Niw if you could sell beer you might have goldmine for the apres-fish crowd. 

American fisherman must be alot different to Canadian fisherman when it comes to eating habits....lol...Being a avid fisher woman myself  i know many guy's here would love to see a cart at more of our marinas so they could actually grab a quick bite before heading out on the water.....& not having to wait all day ....There up early anywhere between 5 & 6 AM  SOME EVEN EARLIER.....Don't know many that take the time to have hearty breakfast at home before the head out so early for a day's fishing on the water....& This grl knows alot of fisherman....

I think the boat launch is a great Idea and i can't see why you would not sell dog's 1st thing on a morning......I guess all you can do is give her a shot and see how she goes....If you find you are not selling early AM hrs then set up mid morning ready for the lunch crowd....

Good luck.

Nautidog.

American fisherman have Steak and aigs, toast, jelly, coffee and proceed to bait shop where we check dated products as to not buy outdated  bait. 
OH Yeh  We learn this at the dairy aisle. We only buy in season and whats on sale. Coupons are a must. For the winch will chop heads at a moments notice, since it is her money in the long run.  Had to ask for 2 pennies to fill a minnow bucket. They have to answer to a higher person since they don't wear Kilts

It actually ended up being a gigantic waste of time. I sold maybe a dozen dogs if even that much. I got there around 10:00 and traffic was steady in and out throughout the day, but nobody wanted a dog. I think it's cause most if not all the boaters pack their cooler with stuff to eat, so they don't want anything on the way out, and are probably full from eating it by the time they get back in. I was hoping that after hours of nothing, I'd get a rush later on of people coming back, but unfortunately it wasn't the case at all. I was set up right by the booth where they have to pay the owner to launch their boat, so it wasn't because I was in a bad spot either. I watched tons of people walk right past the cart to the booth, pay their fee and launch their boat. The heat was pretty unbearable too. I left a little after 5pm. I could have probably stuck around another hour and maybe sold a few dogs but I was already melting from the heat and all, so I just called it a day.

It's not really a big fishing thing either, most just go out on the boat for the fun of it, though there are fishermen out there too.

Oh well, was worth a try. Live and learn I guess :(

Methais


It actually ended up being a gigantic waste of time. I sold maybe a dozen dogs if even that much. I got there around 10:00 and traffic was steady in and out throughout the day, but nobody wanted a dog. I think it's cause most if not all the boaters pack their cooler with stuff to eat, so they don't want anything on the way out, and are probably full from eating it by the time they get back in. I was hoping that after hours of nothing, I'd get a rush later on of people coming back, but unfortunately it wasn't the case at all. I was set up right by the booth where they have to pay the owner to launch their boat, so it wasn't because I was in a bad spot either. I watched tons of people walk right past the cart to the booth, pay their fee and launch their boat. The heat was pretty unbearable too. I left a little after 5pm. I could have probably stuck around another hour and maybe sold a few dogs but I was already melting from the heat and all, so I just called it a day.

It's not really a big fishing thing either, most just go out on the boat for the fun of it, though there are fishermen out there too.

Oh well, was worth a try. Live and learn I guess :(

Don't feel bad I had the same thing happen to me Friday and today. $38 sales yesterday and $50 today. I had my cart parked at a car wash and I was giving the location a try. I might give it one more Saturday then I am going to move to a better location. That's the beauty of the cart. Just pick it up and go.
 
I am 86ing chili off my cart when I do pemanente locations. I have not sold 1 chili dog and it's not worth the time or money. I will keep it for my catering gigs if they request it.
 
Keep searching and you will find that sweet location.

Methias....

I had my 1st day today.....here in port dover....I also have alot of competition now 300 feet away i am in competition with the Arbour which has been around for 80 yr's......Thats a hell of along time for a place that just started out selling hotdogs....They still sell ft longs and i stood infront of my cart with not one soul till around 3.00pm while the arbour was busy.......Am i going to pack up shop?  Hell no....I know i have a very good product and not everyone knows i am where i am yet...But they will.....Are you the first person to ever have a cart set up at this marina?  The reason i ask is because if people do not know your there then of course they are going to pack up lunches.....People need to know you are going to be there on a regular basis.....Tomorrow will be crazy busy with bikers here in town it is going to be a stinking hot day and that allways brings the bikers to dover....I am going to give out free small samples of both my dogs and sausage to some bikers tomorrow and let them know where i am.
I have two very large and well known Restaurants i am competeing with now......Let people know your there once they know many will probably stop by for a bite too eat instead of packing a cooler....

Good luck .....

Nauti.

Actually tried to post to this thread a couple of days ago & the post somehow got lost in cyberspace...decided not to re-do it since what I had to say was negative.

I set up at a large local marina the weekend after Memorial Day. The reality could not have been more different from my expectations. I think I understand the reasons why (timing and location)...but not sure if it would have been much different no matter what.

I have a BBQ concession trailer and if I were to do it again I would insist on setting up in the parking lot near the boat ramp. I would be there early with breakfast sandwiches, coffee & pastries...then try and catch them again on their way out with the BBQ.

FWIW...it was so bad the first time (only time I have ever set-up and lost money), that when the marina owner called a few days ago requesting that I set up on the 4th of July...I respectfully declined. Possibly a mistake, but it won't be the last one:-)

Methais


 I think it's cause most if not all the boaters pack their cooler with stuff to eat, so they don't want anything on the way out, and are probably full from eating it by the time they get back in.

How about that?
 
By the way, they usually stop to grab some breakfast before heading for the launch ramp.

Nautidog


American fisherman must be alot different to Canadian fisherman when it comes to eating habits....lol...Being a avid fisher woman myself  i know many guy's here would love to see a cart at more of our marinas so they could actually grab a quick bite before heading out on the water.....& not having to wait all day ....There up early anywhere between 5 & 6 AM  SOME EVEN EARLIER.....Don't know many that take the time to have hearty breakfast at home before the head out so early for a day's fishing on the water....& This grl knows alot of fisherman....


Nautidog.

I'm only familiar with Canadian fishermen I see in Canada and the U.S., but the ones I see, just like anglers in the U.S., usually stop for a big breakfast before heading out to fish. As a matter of fact, just a few days ago I stopped for breakfast at 5:30 a.m. in a little place near Port Clinton, Ohio before heading out for a day of walleye fishing and there were fifty or so anglers having breakfast before going out on Lake Erie to fish, including a couple of charter-loads of guys from Ontario.

I have to agree with Mr.Hoffman...having traveled the waters of Lake Michigan for years.We always stopped for breakfast, and always packed a cooler of food( and beer).We had great days of salmon fishing, and upon returning to the marina, we always had a dinner place in mind. However, when the marina had a special event, we absolutely frequented the food carts. It may not be your best venue early in the day.Just my opinion and experience...

Well my Location was not at a boat ramp i was out front of a bait and tackle store.......Many times i heard the guy's tell me they would have loved to seen a cART AT ONE OF THE THREE Marina's in Long point...I know they loved the cart there outside the bait and tackle store and many of the guy's i fish with don't do breakfast in the restaurants..Before heading out on the lake.....They don't want to sit to be waited on then order food then to have it served....;);)/Long point only has one sit down Restaurant and it gets busy.

that's the neatest hot dog stand I've ever seen ...  I love it!