October 7, 2025 • 18 mins
Ready to steer a boat for the first time—at walking pace—past Parliament House and the War Memorial? Greg sits down with GoBoat Canberra co-owner Amy Wetherby to unpack how an electric picnic boat venture won locals’ hearts, turned casual staff into leaders, and kept sustainability at the centre without losing sight of cash flow and safety. This is a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at building a small tourism business that feels personal, responsible, and genuinely fun.
Amy shares how she moved from weekend shifts to running the whole operation, what changed when she signed on as co-owner, and why the real magic is watching guests return to the dock with a new sense of pride. We dig into what makes GoBoat accessible—no licence needed, simple tiller steer, calm speed—and how thoughtful upgrades like sun canopies and an 800-watt motor setting improve comfort without chasing speed.
We also get practical about the hard stuff: winter lulls, spring winds, and the judgment calls that balance safety with guest experience. Amy talks sustainability beyond electric motors—lake cleanups, local grazing boxes, and relationships that keep value in Canberra. If you’re curious about tourism, small business ownership, or how to grow through community feedback and lean innovation, this story offers clear tactics and generous inspiration.
Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the Canberra Business Podcast on your favourite platform, share this episode with a friend who loves local stories, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:15):
Hello and welcome to the Canberra Business Podcast.
I'm Greg Harford, your host fromthe Canberra Business Chamber,
and today I'm joined by AmyWetherby, the co-owner of
GoBoat.
Amy, welcome to the podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (00:27):
Thank you so much for having me on today, Greg.
SPEAKER_01 (00:30):
Great to have you here.
SPEAKER_00 (00:40):
Yeah, of course.
So Go Boat is like an electrichire boat rental.
We're just on Lake Billy Griffindown here in Canberra.
So our customers will bringtheir own food, drinks, have a
bit of a picnic out on thewater.
They're eco-friendly and they'reelectric boats.
We really specialise in helpingpeople who have never driven a
boat before.
(01:03):
Just get out and like have areally good time out on the
water.
So people can, yeah, bring theirown food, drinks, have a nice
time.
They don't go very fast, so theygo about a walking pace.
So they're really like a leisureboat to get out and explore
Canberra in a different,different manner.
SPEAKER_01 (01:18):
Yeah.
And when we're talking boats,we're talking about boats that
you steer with an engine, right?
Not rowboats.
That is correct.
SPEAKER_00 (01:24):
Yes.
We've got a tiller steer on theback of the motor, so they're
all electric, and we teach thecustomer how to use them, how to
drive them.
Um and it is like a little bitof fun, something a bit unique
for Canberra.
SPEAKER_01 (01:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and how many boats do youhave out on the water?
SPEAKER_00 (01:38):
Great question.
We do have 13 boats in total.
Um, and on a weekend or asummer's day, you definitely see
all of them sailing out pastlike Lake Um past Parliament
House, the War Memorial, thingslike that.
You get really good sights outthere.
SPEAKER_01 (01:51):
Yeah.
Um, do you find customers areconcerned about coming to
customers who haven't driven aboat before?
Are they worried about sort ofdriving a boat?
Is it or is it relatively easy?
SPEAKER_00 (02:03):
It is very easy, but for a lot of people, especially
being in Canberra, like we don'thave a lot of waterways out
there, so it can be a little bitintimidating at first,
especially if you've neverdriven a boat before.
Um, so I think I find a reallygood sense in pride in being
able to teach people how to likeuse the boat.
Um, you don't need a license, sothat's like a barrier that we
(02:25):
get to overcome a little bitthere.
And I just love seeing people goout on the water and they come
back with this like massivesense of pride.
Like, hey, I actually did that.
I've never been on a boatbefore, but I got to go out
there, I got to drive it, I wasthe skipper.
And I think that's like I don'tknow, it just makes my day when
people come back and they loveall that.
SPEAKER_01 (02:44):
Yeah, cool.
Now you're you're relatively newas a as a business owner or a
co-business owner.
Um, when did you come into thebusiness and and how have you
found that that transition?
SPEAKER_00 (02:55):
Yeah, so I started back in, oh, it must have been
like 2017 now.
Um I just picked it up as like acasual weekend job working at
GoBoat.
Um, I loved the idea.
I used to go down the southcoast a lot as a child.
So I really loved the idea ofgetting into a job where I
didn't have to be stuck behind adesk.
It was a bit of a weekend job,and I slowly sort of progressed
(03:18):
my way up.
So I started just workingweekend shifts here and there,
um, working my way up tobecoming assistant manager for
probably about a year or two.
I think I was an assistantmanager, and then I became the
manager.
Um, so in total working, I wasthere for about five years, and
then the opportunity to become abusiness owner sort of popped
(03:39):
up.
Um, so Nick, he is my currentco-owner of the business.
He is looking into like a newchapter of his life and all
that, so he was ready to sell,and I guess the opportunity came
up where I was like, Yes, thissounds like a really good
opportunity.
There's not much more I canprogress as like a manager, but
being a business owner wassomething I was always
(04:00):
fascinated about.
But it was a very big like Ifound it a very big step up, and
I was a little bit scared ofthat step.
And I think just having thoseconversations with him and being
co-owner just felt a little bitmore comfortable, still a
massive jump, but I personallythought that was a little bit
easier.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
So, how have you found the experience?
You're what a couple of months,three or four months into being
the co-owner of the business aswe're recording this.
Um has it has it gone well foryou?
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
It's definitely been a big challenge.
I didn't realize so.
First thing I was like, oh, weneed to get some new like kids'
life jackets, we need this, weneed that.
Um, but now actually seeing likethe bank and everything, and you
just sort of gotta think aboutthese and you've got to like
stage it in certain things,which I think Nick always had a
very good handle on thosethings, and he would always rein
(04:52):
us in with all these really coolideas.
Um, but now being a businessowner, I really want to just
keep growing it.
Um, but it's yeah, it's verymuch like you've got to just
watch these things, you've gotto help the business grow, um,
but do it in like a sustainableway as well.
Being winter, probably not theright time, but very, very soon.
SPEAKER_01 (05:14):
Yeah.
So, what are your goals for thebusiness in the short term and
the long term?
SPEAKER_00 (05:18):
Definitely in the long term.
Um, I think some of the biz likesome of the different ideas that
we come across is doing maybesome different events.
Um just listening to theCanberra community, I think, and
listening to what they want.
Like we have been around for oh,Govert's been around for like
seven years now.
(05:39):
Um, so I think just listening tothe Canber community, listening
to what they enjoy, um, and howwe can better enhance those
experiences.
I really do love seeing likefamilies going out.
Um, we've had a lot of proposalsout there.
Um, so how can we better enhancethose experiences for people?
How can we make them better?
SPEAKER_01 (06:00):
So, what is a typical day look like for you as
a business owner, and how doesthat differ from your previous
role as manager?
SPEAKER_00 (06:08):
Yeah, so the hours have definitely gotten a little
bit longer now as businessowner, but um it's been really
fun.
So I am currently the only oneworking down there full time.
So my current day will be likegoing down on site, helping all
my guests and customers out onthe water, um, double checking
all of our maintenance andmaking sure we're up to scratch
(06:30):
on all of those and all of oursafety and compliance there.
Um, but then it's going home,going over the emails, going
over the zero accounts, likejust making sure all of our
accounts are up to date, all theinvoices have been like put into
the system, all the receiptsreconciled, and just making
sure, yeah, we're on top of it.
So the days have definitely goton a little bit longer lately,
(06:50):
but that's okay.
I'm definitely enjoying the newchallenges.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
So, who are your customers?
Are they mainly Canberrans orare they tourists coming into
the city?
SPEAKER_00 (06:59):
Um, I think we do get a good mix of both.
Um, our core business willdefinitely be our locals, and I
love seeing people go out thereum getting to celebrate
birthdays and um show theirfamily and stuff that are
visiting Canberra, so they getto show people around.
Um I think our customer base isquite a wide one, actually.
(07:21):
So I think it's very it's verydiverse.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
And anyone can drive one of these boats.
SPEAKER_00 (07:29):
Yeah, definitely.
Anyone can have a go at drivingthem, they're super easy for
them to use, and people dodefinitely enjoy it.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Yeah, and I guess that helps you helps you broaden
your market, right?
SPEAKER_00 (07:38):
Yeah, we would have a very wide market.
SPEAKER_01 (07:40):
How how do you go about promoting the business?
SPEAKER_00 (07:43):
Um, we try a few different things.
I think it's one of those sortof events where it's very
Instagrammable.
So people love going out there.
Word of mouth is word of mouthis massive for us.
Um, and definitely with ourlocals, we see people going out
on weekends, and then if they'reworking in an office, they might
go back um to the office andjust be like, hey, this is what
(08:04):
I did on the weekend.
So word of mouth is massive forus.
Um, Instagram, Facebook, all ofthose sort of things is is
super, yeah, yeah, cool.
Vital.
SPEAKER_01 (08:16):
Um now you began, so you've got some part-time
employees at the moment.
Um, you began yourself in thebusiness as a part-time
employee, uh, transitioningthrough to manager and then then
uh to co-owner of the business.
How does how do your experiencesas a worker in the business, how
is that translated into the wayyou manage your team?
SPEAKER_00 (08:37):
Yeah, so we've got um a small base of casual
employees that work over theweekends.
Um, I think for myself, I I'llbe completely honest, I didn't
have any boating experience.
Like, yes, I went down the coastwith my parents and stuff on the
weekends, um, and my pop lovedfishing, but I had never really
driven a boat before.
I hadn't, I didn't know how totie up the lines, I didn't know
(09:01):
all the terminology.
Um, so I was given a really goodopportunity, and I had a really
good manager at the time whotook the time to actually show
me how to dock a boat, um,taught me all of these things.
So I really do take thatapproach into when I'm teaching
my casuals, um, and I don't lookfor the boating experience.
Like, bottom line is wearingCanberra, so if we can just get
(09:23):
people who are willing to work,they want to be out there,
they're happy being outdoors,I'm willing to put in the time
and the energy to help them andtrain them.
Um, and people really do findthat sense of pride in their
work down there, and I see thatall the time.
Like with our casuals, no twoemployees are the same.
Um, and I really try not to seethem as employees, like we're
(09:43):
all part of a team.
I would never ask them to dosomething that I wouldn't do
myself.
So we're all in it as a team,we're all down there scrubbing
boats.
Um, but customer service isdefinitely our number one
priority down there.
SPEAKER_01 (09:56):
Uh and how easy do you find it to find employees?
Is there a good pool of talentout there or is that a challenge
for you?
SPEAKER_00 (10:03):
It definitely depends.
Um, so I found this season Iactually put a post up on
Facebook Notice Board and I wasoverwhelmed with the amount of
people that responded back toit.
So within, yeah, my post beingup for an hour, I already had 20
people trying to like apply forthis role that I was in past
(10:24):
years I've actually struggled tofind people for.
Um, but this year, a lot ofpeople in like year 11, year 12
were applying for these rolesand they just wanted weekend
work.
They said that hospitality issomething that they're looking
to get into, but they'restruggling to find people who
will hire them with noexperience, where I've never
(10:44):
been one to hire for experience.
Like I work in a boatingindustry in Canberra, like I
don't know where you're going tobe.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
It's not a big pool of talent, right?
SPEAKER_00 (10:51):
Exactly.
Like, I don't know where you'remeant to find people with
experience.
So I'm more than happy.
Like, for me, it's not about aresume, it's about a
personality.
And if I get along with like theperson, they're willing to put
in the effort and they want tolearn.
That's all that matters to me.
Um, and I think, yeah, I'vefound an amazing pool of staff
(11:12):
for this season.
So I'm really excited to havethem all trained up and for the
public to meet them and comedown and experience our great
customer service down there.
SPEAKER_01 (11:20):
Fantastic.
Well, we'll have to get down andhave a have a look.
So, where are you where are youactually physically located?
SPEAKER_00 (11:25):
We're physically located down in Kingston
foreshore.
Um, so most of our customers domake a booking online before um
coming and visiting us, um, butwe're super easy to find just
down on the foreshore inKingston.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
Um now innovation is really important in businesses
to kind of keep things fresh andnew.
Um, how do you go about drivinginnovation in the business?
SPEAKER_00 (11:51):
Yeah, so we're always constantly looking at how
we can like better improve ourservices.
Um, so one major thing that weupdated on our boats was when we
first started, we didn't havelike a sun canopy, and it was
listening to our customers andthe feedback that we sort of
receive, like our customers havebeen really great.
Like, I there's never been a daythat I've come into work and I
(12:14):
haven't had a great interactionwith the customers, like they're
always out there to celebrateand do good things.
So they're typically very opento talking about how we can
better improve our services.
So by adding a sun canopy ontothem, when we first started the
boats, um, they were programmedat 500 watts.
We've slowly increased that upto 800 watts, so that just helps
(12:37):
us get through the wind a littlebit faster.
Um, I'm not saying that they'respeed boats by any kind of
means, but um, yeah, justupdating those like slowly and
just by hearing differentpeople's feedback is definitely
helping us with the innovationand how we can better like
better provide for what people'sneeds are.
SPEAKER_01 (12:55):
Yeah.
So so for the non-technicallyminded who might be listening to
this, and those perhaps whodon't understand boating, what's
what is the difference between a500-watt and an 800-watt power
rating?
How how fast do the boats go?
SPEAKER_00 (13:08):
Um, they only go about a walking pace, so I'd
only say about four kilometres,really.
Um it's just that little bit,just to help a little bit more
with the wind, um, so that wedon't have to restrict the boats
as much, or yeah, just just sothey just go that little bit
faster.
SPEAKER_01 (13:25):
Yeah, excellent.
Not that Canberra's that windy,I have to say.
As coming from Wellingtonoriginally myself, where you
know the w gale blows throughthe city uh endlessly.
Um, you know, Canberra'sactually quite quite calm most
of the time, isn't it?
Or is the wind an issue for youout on the lake?
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
Yeah, the wind is definitely a major issue for us,
um, especially being springtimeat the moment.
Um we definitely feel thosenorthwesterlies coming straight
through on the lake.
Um but by the time summer comesaround, hopefully it's a little
bit nicer out there.
I do find the mornings and theafternoons so much nicer though.
SPEAKER_01 (14:01):
Yeah, we'll keep our fingers crossed for uh the wind
dropping and better weather overthe window.
For a good season, yes.
Um now you talked aboutsustainability a little bit
earlier.
Um how how do you focus onsustainability in the business?
SPEAKER_00 (14:15):
Yeah, sustainability is a massive part of our
business.
So being eco-friendly,definitely.
Um the boats are fully electric,so no petrols, no fumes there.
We always try and go out andlook after our lake.
So our lake is the key of ourbusiness, really.
Like that's what we operate on.
So going out there, just makingsure um that we can do rubbish
(14:36):
collections as possible.
Um, yeah, really just trying todo the best we can for the
environment is like our biggestsustainable like factor.
Um, but also reusing things, um,trying to shop locally as well.
Like we've got really good localpartners down here.
So Bean and Tave will do ourgrazing boxes for us.
(14:59):
Um, and yeah, just trying to buylocal products.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
So um, so three, four months into being the
co-owner of the business, what'swhat's been the biggest
challenge you've encounteredalong the way?
SPEAKER_00 (15:12):
So far, biggest challenge is I have started in
the middle of winter.
So Canberra, winter, as we allknow, isn't the most pleasant
out there.
It can get very cold, thosetemperatures, and especially
this winter.
Um, so I think the biggestchallenge that I've definitely
encountered so far on the wayhas been the weather challenges
with yeah, cold weather, andcurrently I'm actually battling
(15:34):
with the wind.
So right now it's quite windyout there.
This weekend, particularly onSaturday, isn't looking the best
for boating.
Um, so it's really just tryingto get like a really good safe
balance between the safety andenjoyment of our customers and
being able to like operate.
SPEAKER_01 (15:52):
So if you were talking to someone else who
wanted to come on and own abusiness or start a business up,
what what advice would you beoffering them?
SPEAKER_00 (16:02):
I think definitely to just enjoy what you do.
I wouldn't be able to do this ifI didn't enjoy it.
Um working down there for thelast five, six years, there's
definitely goods and there'sbad.
Like there's a good and bad ineverything.
And if you don't enjoy what youlove, there's never going to be
that passion behind you.
And the passion is what drivesme.
(16:22):
Like, I don't mind if I'm downthere working a 12-hour day, a
14-hour day.
Like, that does not bother me inthe slightest.
As long as I'm doing it for theright reasons and I'm making
people's day, I'm making surethey're having a good time out
there.
That's really what drives me themost, is like seeing our guests
go out there and have like sucha good time.
(16:43):
And yeah, if you didn't enjoyit, I know I couldn't, I
couldn't be doing it.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:50):
Some good advice there, I I think.
Um, if you I guess just to wrapthis up, if you could take a
celebrity out on one of yourboats, who would who would you
most want to be out with?
SPEAKER_00 (17:01):
Oh, a celebrity.
That would be, you know what, wehave had Hamish Blake go out on
the boats, and that was like amassive highlight for me.
We were in a tourism campaign,and having him go out, actually,
that was that was really cool.
SPEAKER_01 (17:16):
Um so you've already you've already been there.
SPEAKER_00 (17:19):
Yeah, we've we've had Hamish Blake out there.
That that was, yes.
I very much enjoyed that one.
SPEAKER_01 (17:26):
Excellent, excellent.
Um, Amy, it's been great havinga chat.
Thank you so much for coming onon the podcast.
Um, I look forward to gettingdown to Kingston for sure and
checking out the boats at somepoint in the near future.
Um, but really appreciate yourtime.
Thanks for coming on.
SPEAKER_00 (17:40):
Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_01 (17:41):
Yeah.
Um, don't forget you can followus on your favourite podcast
platform, so don't forget to dothat to catch up on future
episodes of the CanberraBusiness Podcast.
I'm Greg Harford from theCanberra Business Chamber, and
I've been joined today by AmyWetherby, the co-owner of Go
Boat.
Thanks very much.
Hello and welcome to the Canberra Business Podcast.
I'm Greg Harford, your host fromthe Canberra Business Chamber,
and today I'm joined by AmyWetherby, the co-owner of
GoBoat.
Amy, welcome to the podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (00:27):
Thank you so much for having me on today, Greg.
SPEAKER_01 (00:30):
Great to have you here.
SPEAKER_00 (00:40):
Yeah, of course.
So Go Boat is like an electrichire boat rental.
We're just on Lake Billy Griffindown here in Canberra.
So our customers will bringtheir own food, drinks, have a
bit of a picnic out on thewater.
They're eco-friendly and they'reelectric boats.
We really specialise in helpingpeople who have never driven a
boat before.
(01:03):
Just get out and like have areally good time out on the
water.
So people can, yeah, bring theirown food, drinks, have a nice
time.
They don't go very fast, so theygo about a walking pace.
So they're really like a leisureboat to get out and explore
Canberra in a different,different manner.
SPEAKER_01 (01:18):
Yeah.
And when we're talking boats,we're talking about boats that
you steer with an engine, right?
Not rowboats.
That is correct.
SPEAKER_00 (01:24):
Yes.
We've got a tiller steer on theback of the motor, so they're
all electric, and we teach thecustomer how to use them, how to
drive them.
Um and it is like a little bitof fun, something a bit unique
for Canberra.
SPEAKER_01 (01:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and how many boats do youhave out on the water?
SPEAKER_00 (01:38):
Great question.
We do have 13 boats in total.
Um, and on a weekend or asummer's day, you definitely see
all of them sailing out pastlike Lake Um past Parliament
House, the War Memorial, thingslike that.
You get really good sights outthere.
SPEAKER_01 (01:51):
Yeah.
Um, do you find customers areconcerned about coming to
customers who haven't driven aboat before?
Are they worried about sort ofdriving a boat?
Is it or is it relatively easy?
SPEAKER_00 (02:03):
It is very easy, but for a lot of people, especially
being in Canberra, like we don'thave a lot of waterways out
there, so it can be a little bitintimidating at first,
especially if you've neverdriven a boat before.
Um, so I think I find a reallygood sense in pride in being
able to teach people how to likeuse the boat.
Um, you don't need a license, sothat's like a barrier that we
(02:25):
get to overcome a little bitthere.
And I just love seeing people goout on the water and they come
back with this like massivesense of pride.
Like, hey, I actually did that.
I've never been on a boatbefore, but I got to go out
there, I got to drive it, I wasthe skipper.
And I think that's like I don'tknow, it just makes my day when
people come back and they loveall that.
SPEAKER_01 (02:44):
Yeah, cool.
Now you're you're relatively newas a as a business owner or a
co-business owner.
Um, when did you come into thebusiness and and how have you
found that that transition?
SPEAKER_00 (02:55):
Yeah, so I started back in, oh, it must have been
like 2017 now.
Um I just picked it up as like acasual weekend job working at
GoBoat.
Um, I loved the idea.
I used to go down the southcoast a lot as a child.
So I really loved the idea ofgetting into a job where I
didn't have to be stuck behind adesk.
It was a bit of a weekend job,and I slowly sort of progressed
(03:18):
my way up.
So I started just workingweekend shifts here and there,
um, working my way up tobecoming assistant manager for
probably about a year or two.
I think I was an assistantmanager, and then I became the
manager.
Um, so in total working, I wasthere for about five years, and
then the opportunity to become abusiness owner sort of popped
(03:39):
up.
Um, so Nick, he is my currentco-owner of the business.
He is looking into like a newchapter of his life and all
that, so he was ready to sell,and I guess the opportunity came
up where I was like, Yes, thissounds like a really good
opportunity.
There's not much more I canprogress as like a manager, but
being a business owner wassomething I was always
(04:00):
fascinated about.
But it was a very big like Ifound it a very big step up, and
I was a little bit scared ofthat step.
And I think just having thoseconversations with him and being
co-owner just felt a little bitmore comfortable, still a
massive jump, but I personallythought that was a little bit
easier.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
So, how have you found the experience?
You're what a couple of months,three or four months into being
the co-owner of the business aswe're recording this.
Um has it has it gone well foryou?
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
It's definitely been a big challenge.
I didn't realize so.
First thing I was like, oh, weneed to get some new like kids'
life jackets, we need this, weneed that.
Um, but now actually seeing likethe bank and everything, and you
just sort of gotta think aboutthese and you've got to like
stage it in certain things,which I think Nick always had a
very good handle on thosethings, and he would always rein
(04:52):
us in with all these really coolideas.
Um, but now being a businessowner, I really want to just
keep growing it.
Um, but it's yeah, it's verymuch like you've got to just
watch these things, you've gotto help the business grow, um,
but do it in like a sustainableway as well.
Being winter, probably not theright time, but very, very soon.
SPEAKER_01 (05:14):
Yeah.
So, what are your goals for thebusiness in the short term and
the long term?
SPEAKER_00 (05:18):
Definitely in the long term.
Um, I think some of the biz likesome of the different ideas that
we come across is doing maybesome different events.
Um just listening to theCanberra community, I think, and
listening to what they want.
Like we have been around for oh,Govert's been around for like
seven years now.
(05:39):
Um, so I think just listening tothe Canber community, listening
to what they enjoy, um, and howwe can better enhance those
experiences.
I really do love seeing likefamilies going out.
Um, we've had a lot of proposalsout there.
Um, so how can we better enhancethose experiences for people?
How can we make them better?
SPEAKER_01 (06:00):
So, what is a typical day look like for you as
a business owner, and how doesthat differ from your previous
role as manager?
SPEAKER_00 (06:08):
Yeah, so the hours have definitely gotten a little
bit longer now as businessowner, but um it's been really
fun.
So I am currently the only oneworking down there full time.
So my current day will be likegoing down on site, helping all
my guests and customers out onthe water, um, double checking
all of our maintenance andmaking sure we're up to scratch
(06:30):
on all of those and all of oursafety and compliance there.
Um, but then it's going home,going over the emails, going
over the zero accounts, likejust making sure all of our
accounts are up to date, all theinvoices have been like put into
the system, all the receiptsreconciled, and just making
sure, yeah, we're on top of it.
So the days have definitely goton a little bit longer lately,
(06:50):
but that's okay.
I'm definitely enjoying the newchallenges.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
So, who are your customers?
Are they mainly Canberrans orare they tourists coming into
the city?
SPEAKER_00 (06:59):
Um, I think we do get a good mix of both.
Um, our core business willdefinitely be our locals, and I
love seeing people go out thereum getting to celebrate
birthdays and um show theirfamily and stuff that are
visiting Canberra, so they getto show people around.
Um I think our customer base isquite a wide one, actually.
(07:21):
So I think it's very it's verydiverse.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
And anyone can drive one of these boats.
SPEAKER_00 (07:29):
Yeah, definitely.
Anyone can have a go at drivingthem, they're super easy for
them to use, and people dodefinitely enjoy it.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Yeah, and I guess that helps you helps you broaden
your market, right?
SPEAKER_00 (07:38):
Yeah, we would have a very wide market.
SPEAKER_01 (07:40):
How how do you go about promoting the business?
SPEAKER_00 (07:43):
Um, we try a few different things.
I think it's one of those sortof events where it's very
Instagrammable.
So people love going out there.
Word of mouth is word of mouthis massive for us.
Um, and definitely with ourlocals, we see people going out
on weekends, and then if they'reworking in an office, they might
go back um to the office andjust be like, hey, this is what
(08:04):
I did on the weekend.
So word of mouth is massive forus.
Um, Instagram, Facebook, all ofthose sort of things is is
super, yeah, yeah, cool.
Vital.
SPEAKER_01 (08:16):
Um now you began, so you've got some part-time
employees at the moment.
Um, you began yourself in thebusiness as a part-time
employee, uh, transitioningthrough to manager and then then
uh to co-owner of the business.
How does how do your experiencesas a worker in the business, how
is that translated into the wayyou manage your team?
SPEAKER_00 (08:37):
Yeah, so we've got um a small base of casual
employees that work over theweekends.
Um, I think for myself, I I'llbe completely honest, I didn't
have any boating experience.
Like, yes, I went down the coastwith my parents and stuff on the
weekends, um, and my pop lovedfishing, but I had never really
driven a boat before.
I hadn't, I didn't know how totie up the lines, I didn't know
(09:01):
all the terminology.
Um, so I was given a really goodopportunity, and I had a really
good manager at the time whotook the time to actually show
me how to dock a boat, um,taught me all of these things.
So I really do take thatapproach into when I'm teaching
my casuals, um, and I don't lookfor the boating experience.
Like, bottom line is wearingCanberra, so if we can just get
(09:23):
people who are willing to work,they want to be out there,
they're happy being outdoors,I'm willing to put in the time
and the energy to help them andtrain them.
Um, and people really do findthat sense of pride in their
work down there, and I see thatall the time.
Like with our casuals, no twoemployees are the same.
Um, and I really try not to seethem as employees, like we're
(09:43):
all part of a team.
I would never ask them to dosomething that I wouldn't do
myself.
So we're all in it as a team,we're all down there scrubbing
boats.
Um, but customer service isdefinitely our number one
priority down there.
SPEAKER_01 (09:56):
Uh and how easy do you find it to find employees?
Is there a good pool of talentout there or is that a challenge
for you?
SPEAKER_00 (10:03):
It definitely depends.
Um, so I found this season Iactually put a post up on
Facebook Notice Board and I wasoverwhelmed with the amount of
people that responded back toit.
So within, yeah, my post beingup for an hour, I already had 20
people trying to like apply forthis role that I was in past
(10:24):
years I've actually struggled tofind people for.
Um, but this year, a lot ofpeople in like year 11, year 12
were applying for these rolesand they just wanted weekend
work.
They said that hospitality issomething that they're looking
to get into, but they'restruggling to find people who
will hire them with noexperience, where I've never
(10:44):
been one to hire for experience.
Like I work in a boatingindustry in Canberra, like I
don't know where you're going tobe.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
It's not a big pool of talent, right?
SPEAKER_00 (10:51):
Exactly.
Like, I don't know where you'remeant to find people with
experience.
So I'm more than happy.
Like, for me, it's not about aresume, it's about a
personality.
And if I get along with like theperson, they're willing to put
in the effort and they want tolearn.
That's all that matters to me.
Um, and I think, yeah, I'vefound an amazing pool of staff
(11:12):
for this season.
So I'm really excited to havethem all trained up and for the
public to meet them and comedown and experience our great
customer service down there.
SPEAKER_01 (11:20):
Fantastic.
Well, we'll have to get down andhave a have a look.
So, where are you where are youactually physically located?
SPEAKER_00 (11:25):
We're physically located down in Kingston
foreshore.
Um, so most of our customers domake a booking online before um
coming and visiting us, um, butwe're super easy to find just
down on the foreshore inKingston.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
Um now innovation is really important in businesses
to kind of keep things fresh andnew.
Um, how do you go about drivinginnovation in the business?
SPEAKER_00 (11:51):
Yeah, so we're always constantly looking at how
we can like better improve ourservices.
Um, so one major thing that weupdated on our boats was when we
first started, we didn't havelike a sun canopy, and it was
listening to our customers andthe feedback that we sort of
receive, like our customers havebeen really great.
Like, I there's never been a daythat I've come into work and I
(12:14):
haven't had a great interactionwith the customers, like they're
always out there to celebrateand do good things.
So they're typically very opento talking about how we can
better improve our services.
So by adding a sun canopy ontothem, when we first started the
boats, um, they were programmedat 500 watts.
We've slowly increased that upto 800 watts, so that just helps
(12:37):
us get through the wind a littlebit faster.
Um, I'm not saying that they'respeed boats by any kind of
means, but um, yeah, justupdating those like slowly and
just by hearing differentpeople's feedback is definitely
helping us with the innovationand how we can better like
better provide for what people'sneeds are.
SPEAKER_01 (12:55):
Yeah.
So so for the non-technicallyminded who might be listening to
this, and those perhaps whodon't understand boating, what's
what is the difference between a500-watt and an 800-watt power
rating?
How how fast do the boats go?
SPEAKER_00 (13:08):
Um, they only go about a walking pace, so I'd
only say about four kilometres,really.
Um it's just that little bit,just to help a little bit more
with the wind, um, so that wedon't have to restrict the boats
as much, or yeah, just just sothey just go that little bit
faster.
SPEAKER_01 (13:25):
Yeah, excellent.
Not that Canberra's that windy,I have to say.
As coming from Wellingtonoriginally myself, where you
know the w gale blows throughthe city uh endlessly.
Um, you know, Canberra'sactually quite quite calm most
of the time, isn't it?
Or is the wind an issue for youout on the lake?
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
Yeah, the wind is definitely a major issue for us,
um, especially being springtimeat the moment.
Um we definitely feel thosenorthwesterlies coming straight
through on the lake.
Um but by the time summer comesaround, hopefully it's a little
bit nicer out there.
I do find the mornings and theafternoons so much nicer though.
SPEAKER_01 (14:01):
Yeah, we'll keep our fingers crossed for uh the wind
dropping and better weather overthe window.
For a good season, yes.
Um now you talked aboutsustainability a little bit
earlier.
Um how how do you focus onsustainability in the business?
SPEAKER_00 (14:15):
Yeah, sustainability is a massive part of our
business.
So being eco-friendly,definitely.
Um the boats are fully electric,so no petrols, no fumes there.
We always try and go out andlook after our lake.
So our lake is the key of ourbusiness, really.
Like that's what we operate on.
So going out there, just makingsure um that we can do rubbish
(14:36):
collections as possible.
Um, yeah, really just trying todo the best we can for the
environment is like our biggestsustainable like factor.
Um, but also reusing things, um,trying to shop locally as well.
Like we've got really good localpartners down here.
So Bean and Tave will do ourgrazing boxes for us.
(14:59):
Um, and yeah, just trying to buylocal products.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
So um, so three, four months into being the
co-owner of the business, what'swhat's been the biggest
challenge you've encounteredalong the way?
SPEAKER_00 (15:12):
So far, biggest challenge is I have started in
the middle of winter.
So Canberra, winter, as we allknow, isn't the most pleasant
out there.
It can get very cold, thosetemperatures, and especially
this winter.
Um, so I think the biggestchallenge that I've definitely
encountered so far on the wayhas been the weather challenges
with yeah, cold weather, andcurrently I'm actually battling
(15:34):
with the wind.
So right now it's quite windyout there.
This weekend, particularly onSaturday, isn't looking the best
for boating.
Um, so it's really just tryingto get like a really good safe
balance between the safety andenjoyment of our customers and
being able to like operate.
SPEAKER_01 (15:52):
So if you were talking to someone else who
wanted to come on and own abusiness or start a business up,
what what advice would you beoffering them?
SPEAKER_00 (16:02):
I think definitely to just enjoy what you do.
I wouldn't be able to do this ifI didn't enjoy it.
Um working down there for thelast five, six years, there's
definitely goods and there'sbad.
Like there's a good and bad ineverything.
And if you don't enjoy what youlove, there's never going to be
that passion behind you.
And the passion is what drivesme.
(16:22):
Like, I don't mind if I'm downthere working a 12-hour day, a
14-hour day.
Like, that does not bother me inthe slightest.
As long as I'm doing it for theright reasons and I'm making
people's day, I'm making surethey're having a good time out
there.
That's really what drives me themost, is like seeing our guests
go out there and have like sucha good time.
(16:43):
And yeah, if you didn't enjoyit, I know I couldn't, I
couldn't be doing it.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:50):
Some good advice there, I I think.
Um, if you I guess just to wrapthis up, if you could take a
celebrity out on one of yourboats, who would who would you
most want to be out with?
SPEAKER_00 (17:01):
Oh, a celebrity.
That would be, you know what, wehave had Hamish Blake go out on
the boats, and that was like amassive highlight for me.
We were in a tourism campaign,and having him go out, actually,
that was that was really cool.
SPEAKER_01 (17:16):
Um so you've already you've already been there.
SPEAKER_00 (17:19):
Yeah, we've we've had Hamish Blake out there.
That that was, yes.
I very much enjoyed that one.
SPEAKER_01 (17:26):
Excellent, excellent.
Um, Amy, it's been great havinga chat.
Thank you so much for coming onon the podcast.
Um, I look forward to gettingdown to Kingston for sure and
checking out the boats at somepoint in the near future.
Um, but really appreciate yourtime.
Thanks for coming on.
SPEAKER_00 (17:40):
Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_01 (17:41):
Yeah.
Um, don't forget you can followus on your favourite podcast
platform, so don't forget to dothat to catch up on future
episodes of the CanberraBusiness Podcast.
I'm Greg Harford from theCanberra Business Chamber, and
I've been joined today by AmyWetherby, the co-owner of Go
Boat.
Thanks very much.
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