Comments on: Captain Ashley Simmons Launches Water Taxi

By: Fruity

Fruity — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:38:03 +0000

Ditto!

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:22:25 +0000

No permit cost. Just like first taxi permits. No protection from competition either. Anyone with a licensed tourboat & skipper can jump into the business.

By: Speed

Speed — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:10:22 +0000

Not true at all. Inboard diesels have been raced for years in bat boats state side.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:47:59 +0000

And it is lightly loaded

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:45:45 +0000

Yeah, & with the efficient diesel he sacrifices speed.
No win.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:41:36 +0000

No nails in any taxi drivers coffin. No permit cost either other than tourboat license fee based on passenger capacity. He has an old, but refurbished boat that has more money put into it than the cost of any new taxi.

No comparison to taxis

By: Pugi

Pugi — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:23 +0000

Congrats Uncle ASh bro

By: The Ombudsman makes a statement and

The Ombudsman makes a statement and — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:03:16 +0000

i will most definitely be taking taxi rides just for the fun of it!! well done and i wish you much success

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:46:49 +0000

Your concept is good but, I don’t believe the “Taxi” has enough free-board There not much protection from spray nor the foul weather you’ll, (without a doubt) encounter from time to time, when heading up-wind. So maybe take those point into consideration when expanding your fleet…

By: Gas money

Gas money — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:35:47 +0000

Not unless you want to pay a small fortune.

By: Black Soil

Black Soil — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:21:29 +0000

Best of luck…but foul weather is going to be your nemesis.

By: Buy stock in rubis

Buy stock in rubis — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:22:46 +0000

He is eligible for a duty relief on fuel as long as he carries a commercial license which he is required for fare paying passengers. Unfortunately even with the fuel rebate, those two stroke yamahas are going to clean him out.. Add on that the insurance, wear and tare, breakdowns and a crew member, can’t see how he’s gonna make it.. Good luck though. Maybe his next boat should be an old navy boat with a single diesel, then he may make a dollar.

By: my view

my view — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:08:36 +0000

To my long time friend from yester year, all the best to you mate I shall call you soonest and give you congrats .People should know that is a taxi that can go a bit faster then 35k. I love it .Taxi

By: President

President — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:00:14 +0000

@TD would be good to know how much he paid for the taxi permit.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:56:03 +0000

And we have been waiting over 20 years for a promised dock at our airport so that guests can go from plane to boat avoiding the mayhem on the roads to get to hotels with docks.

Still waiting.

By: Novel idea

Novel idea — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:49:44 +0000

If we get really lucky, this won’t turn into a tourist only taxi. Been down that street already with too many of these taxi drivers.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:45:11 +0000

Is Bernews financially viable? Seen any advertising to pay the people who make Bernews happen on here?

Nothing is free.

By: Hmm

Hmm — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:45:10 +0000

Great Great Great! Love it. Now when your business grows in leaps and bounds, I hope i can get my trusty scooter on your next boat purchase. I’d gladly prefer to hire you to Dockyard than ride on most days. Sure am rooting for you.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:38:49 +0000

In the past 20 years at least 6 single operator tourboat /transport business have come & gone. Most met their demise during the disastrous PLP years.

Tourism is not there anymore. Cusomers drive business not emotion. Cruise ship passengers do what the cruise director tell them to do. He promotes what the ship gets 30+% Commission for. No small operator can afford that

Only fishermen get a fuel break. Mr Simmons will pay taxes on everything. Some of that tax money will get used to subsidize the ferrys that he is competing against.

Nothing against Mr Simmons. Don’t know him. No emotion. Just plain unpleasant facts.

By: President

President — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:27:18 +0000

Interesting…. Bernews it would have been good to find out how much was paid for him to have a permit for such a license. While running a taxi on the road cost 95,000.00 for the permit then you have to buy the car. Whats the cost for his permit? Does he get subsidized? If he’s running a taxi does he set his own prices or is he regulated? Yet true taxi drivers can’t make any headway whatsoever. Another nail in the taxi drivers coffin. All were asking for is equal treatment and consideration.. Nothing else.

By: Cboradman

Cboradman — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:10:27 +0000

Well done Mr Simmons. In Fort Lauderdale water taxis is an awesome way to get around plus they talk to you about the area as you pass by, I see the same personal touch he’s doing that a tourist would really appreciate.

By: mixitup

mixitup — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:48:11 +0000

Yes!!! now I can hail a taxi up to non-mariners..

By: Chris Madeiros

Chris Madeiros — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:23:32 +0000

Best of luck to Ashley Simmons. You deserve a break on your fuel if you’re not already getting it. Others get it.

By: Second

Second — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:14:42 +0000

Congratulations! Great idea ! All the success in the world!

By: Pickup

Pickup — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:37:41 +0000

Funny you should compare NYC fares to Bda fares. 20 minute ride from airport to my home in Bermuda $22. 20 minute ride from JFK to Manhattan hotel was $55. Miami, Atlanta and Dallas which I also travel to frequently are not much better for a 20 minute ride. They pay less for licensing, fuel etc. Who is ripping off who?

By: SoMuchMore

SoMuchMore — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:20:44 +0000

Piss off the biu lol. Chris can’t call a strike on this lol

By: swing voter

swing voter — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:16:52 +0000

TD I usually ignore yur sarcasm but yur pissin into the wind M8…. Entrepreneurship and small upstarts is what will make this island tick again, not only the big old money boys (you obviously run with that crew)have business sense, Just ask Glen Smith (you do know Glen’s background don’t you)?

By: Duane P. Santucci

Duane P. Santucci — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:13:31 +0000

I would like to also say that when Bernews.com first began they had many critics and nay sayers that said it wont last and those behind it was waisting their time trying to compete with the royal gazzette and Bermuda sun,but look at Bernews now.

They are the first that we look for in the morning and all through out the day and the last that we go to at night,all because they offer an up to date to the minute reporting and accurate reporting.

I dont see them going no where anytime soon and were else can you express yourself all day ,everyday with current affairs.so hats off to Bernews that even make our day by reading opinions from all sectors of the country and is not bias to none but will correct you if you try and give false information,now that is integrety and a darn good business venture that works.

By: Duane P. Santucci

Duane P. Santucci — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:06:33 +0000

The idea is very creative and with all the visitors that we are expecting this season,I say it is right on time and you should not be so negative towards something that is very possitive.

bermuda ferrys offer a service but not a personal tour guide enroute,one of the main reasons why Bermudian business dont succeed is because we are so ready to pull down our own before we give them a fair chance.

This could work out to be profitable to the point more can be added and jobs be establish putting Bermudians back to work.so to Mr Simmons I say well done and just let the nay sayers be who they are because if they had any great ideas they would be doing it. so it shows how intellegent they are.

By: AHL

AHL — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:01:40 +0000

15gallons/hour each is being tame mate!

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:52:41 +0000

Yeah, Good luck. He is going to need plenty of that.

How can he compete against heavily subsidized Government ferrys? Those 200hp motors are capable of burning over 15 gallons per hour EACH! That is near $300 per hour going at a good clip!!!

The gas is only a small part of the business costs. There is the boat cost, the insurance, the dock use fee, boat maintenance & yes, the skipper deserves a wage at least as much as a Government ferry skipper who does nothing but drive the boat.

Nope, not going to last. That’s OK. Let’s see how many, who have no clue of boat operation costs actually support him! Talk is cheap on a blog.

By: berr

berr — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:33:07 +0000

What a GREAT idea! Nice to see this here, Boston (Logan Hotels) have water taxi’s and it is a nice change of scenery and change of pace to go by water. Awesome, best of luck.

By: Looking ahead

Looking ahead — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:02:23 +0000

Congratulations Captain….a long awaited initiative come to fruition.
Hope you are really successful.

By: Alcoholic

Alcoholic — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:50:05 +0000

Wish you were workin later bra, then I could go Snorkel and catch u back town!

By: ashtuck

ashtuck — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:43:41 +0000

how much was the license for this operation? GPS required?

By: blackberry

blackberry — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:42:51 +0000

GOOD STUFF!!!!

By: Joey-Bag-O'doughnuts

Joey-Bag-O'doughnuts — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:40:39 +0000

Boy, this ought to piss off the BIU! Congrats sir. Instead of sitting around for something to happen you made something happen. Best of luck and good fortune for you and your family.

By: Bernews

Bernews — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:09:06 +0000

Some more info added above…12 can fit, and one taxi as of now

By: Sunshine

Sunshine — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:47:16 +0000

Great Idea,and finally someone getting on with it and not blaming Govt!! Congrads and much success!!

By: AHL

AHL — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:17:20 +0000

Great initiative but I don’t think it will last very long knowing the expenses that come along with boats. Hopefully he proves me wrong, I’m certainly rooting for him and will happily eat my own words if this does succeed! At the very least somebody is injecting this island with fresh ideas!

By: Chezmae15

Chezmae15 — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:13:08 +0000

GREAT IDEA!!!!!

By: Caffeine free

Caffeine free — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:01:53 +0000

This sounds fantastic – hopefully he’ll get so busy he’ll have to buy more! I’d much rather spend $40 for a family of four to travel on his taxi that $60 for a taxi ride, or even $20 for the fast ferry!

By: Amazed

Amazed — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:41:16 +0000

Great idea! How many does he have?

By: Bernews

Bernews — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:28:46 +0000

Number posted…

By: 40 acres no mule

40 acres no mule — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:42 +0000

Great idea .best of luck to you.More sunny days than rainy days in beautiful Bermuda. Ignore the nay sayers.
Taxi 60bucks to Hamilton.JFK toManhattan less. Stop robbing visitors.

By: bir

bir — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:04:10 +0000

yes congrats to you for asssiting our tourist

By: Way

Way — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:01:40 +0000

Awesome job! looking forward to using your services.

By: here's a thought....

here's a thought.... — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:59:55 +0000

brilliant. i’ll be calling him. please post the number!!!!

By: Lion

Lion — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:51:57 +0000

Four strokes would have saved a lot on gas!

By: SoMuchMore

SoMuchMore — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:47:14 +0000

good job and idea… how many people can fit and how many will be in the water?