Your chance to own the Padstow to Rock water taxi

A piece of the crossing between Padstow and Rock has come up for sale, and it is not just a boat. It is a running business with its own route, repeat customers and a five figure sponsorship deal already in place.

What is for sale

Wavehunters has put its water taxi Mary Marie on the market, along with the Padstow to Rock route she works. The company describes the crossing as an ancient link between the two villages and says the time has come to sell the vessel on.

Andy at Wavehunters said the business has always run on a “go for it” mentality. This time, though, he sat down and made a plan for the future, and that plan is to pass Mary Marie on to someone new.

The sale is being offered as a going concern. The buyer takes on a working operation rather than starting from nothing.

What is included

The package covers:

• The vessel Mary Marie
• Her CAT 3 r coding, which allows for night work and light commercial work
• All safety equipment
• A refurbished heavy duty trailer
• The extensive repeat business
• All the training the new owner will need

The boat herself

Mary Marie was built right here in Rock and is maintained to the highest standard by the same local yard that built her. She is coded by the YDSA under Cat 3 r and is cleared to carry 12 passengers and 2 crew.

Where the money comes from

The taxi does far more than ferry people back and forth. Income comes from the regular Padstow to Rock service, a night ferry that runs outside normal ferry hours, daytime tours and river trips.

There is light commercial work such as filming, and the boat acts as a safety cover vessel for events like the Padstow swim. Private charters cover ashes scattering, picnic trips and family fun.

It also takes on special operations, including the Padstow Christmas fayre and the Cornwall 100 mile challenge, when it ferries people across the estuary all night. On top of all that sits a sponsorship deal worth £10,000.

Who can take the wheel

There is a catch for anyone already picturing themselves at the helm. The minimum qualification to skipper the water taxi is an advanced power boat ticket, and it must be commercially endorsed.

The new owner also has to pass a local knowledge pilot test and get sign off from the Padstow Harbour Commission.

Anyone interested can email Andy at Wavehunters on [email protected].