Chapter 180
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Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 180
They stepped out of the bangka and walked to another station. The two men looked at the boats they passed until they stopped in front of another slightly larger bangka.
"This bangka is 10 meters long with 100 horsepower, a solid mid-sized build."
"What's the brand of the engine?" Brandon asked curiously, glancing at the engine box.
"It's a Yamahay, sir."
Brandon nodded in approval. Yamahay was one of the well-known brands and had a great reputation. Furthermore, replacement parts were easy to find.
They stepped into the bangka. Aside from the slightly longer deck, it had the same design as the earlier boat... Every bangka had the same design, anyway.
The 10-meter bangka featured an engine box and a roof. Sometimes boats had a small cabin, but since they returned every day, they didn't need a room to guard against the cold and wind. Besides, a cabin would take up too much space.
However, something caught Karlos's attention. "What is this equipment attached to the post? Is this a radio?" Karlos asked.
"It's a fixed-mount VHF radio."
"I see." Karlos inspected it. He had heard about them, but he wasn't sure if a fixed-mount VHF was safe to leave in the bangka without protection. It could be stolen or broken depending on the situation. The equipment looked expensive and completely different from his ordinary tools.
"As much as I want a VHF radio, I'm afraid it will break if I leave the bangka on the beach every night. It's exposed to the weather and strangers' hands."
It was different from the engine box, which could be protected by a lock and chains. The radio was just attached to the post.
"Are you perhaps from the southern part of the town, sir?" Dantes asked.
"That's right."
"Well, we can detach the equipment instead and subtract it from the price. It's a practical compromise."
"How about a handheld VHF radio instead? I'm more comfortable with that, it's something I can keep close," Karlos suggested.
"Of course, we can do that. A handheld VHF radio is cheaper than the fixed-mount one." Dantes nodded and calculated the adjustment.
Karlos looked at the bangka and was satisfied. This was far better than his older, smaller boat. "So, how much for this boat?"
"Minus the fixed-mount VHF radio and swapping it for a handheld instead, that would be 425,000 pesos, sir," Dantes replied, keeping his tone steady and respectful. But deep inside, he was ecstatic. If he closed this deal, he would earn a bonus!
The initial price of the bangka was 435,000 pesos, but it was cut down to 425,000 pesos. The difference between a fixed-mount VHF radio and a handheld one was 10,000 pesos. A handheld one needed charging, while the fixed-mount drew power from the vessel. For ordinary people, that was a huge price difference.
"I see." Karlos paused, letting the number sink in. "How about you, Brandon? Do you have anything to add?"
"You give freebies like nets and styrofoam boxes, right?" Brandon asked.
"Yes, sir. Everything is brand new and free. We also include one-year insurance," Dantes confirmed without hesitation.
"Can we do some test runs?" Brandon pressed.
"Absolutely. If you find anything you don't like, we will fix it immediately," Dantes replied confidently.
"Before that, I want to know, why is this boat not sold? Did something bad happen to the customer?"
Superstition was not a simple matter in a world where magic once dominated. Karlos wanted to know if the boat carried bad luck. What if the customer had died? Would it affect the boat he ordered?
"No, sir," Dantes quickly shook his head. "The customer decided to upgrade his order and bought a commercial trawler boat instead."
"That's allowed?"
"He paid in cash."
"I see. I assume he paid a down payment, what happened to that?"
"Since he didn't take the bangka, the down payment was ours to keep. It's written in the contract."
Karlos sat down next to the steering handle and held it, imagining himself driving the bangka.
He then took a few laps in the water to test-drive the boat and confirmed nothing bad.
"... We will take it. Although, I want to repaint the hull blue and white. Also, I want to name it Alejandro."
Karlos had thought of naming the boat 'Wave Slicer,' but his wife probably wouldn't like it.
"Naturally." Dantes grinned and shook hands with Karlos and Brandon. He was happy to close the deal.
The bangka had been near completion when the original customer decided to change his order. He didn't fight for the down payment and decided to pay cash for a commercial trawler instead... The name of that customer was Antonio.
Anyway, Karlos and Brandon went to the office to settle the account. Karlos read the papers before signing his name and paying in cash. They had already deposited the cheque from Mr. Chubby at the bank earlier that morning before heading to the shipyard. Karlos withdrew 700,000 pesos to pay for the boat and to settle Zaldy's account later.
Yesterday, Brandon had expressed his intention to shoulder 5% of the payment, but Karlos disagreed. He explained that he intended to hire another fisherman and give him a 5% profit share. It would be unfair if Brandon paid for a portion of the boat and received the same profit share as a new hire who paid nothing.
So, Karlos decided to buy the bangka with his own money, but he promised Brandon that his 5% profit share wouldn't disappear as long as he worked for Karlos.
After thinking it over, Brandon agreed. He had actually considered buying his own bangka since he had the funds, but he let go of the idea. He understood how fishing worked, and it wasn't easy. There were times when a boat didn't earn anything at all.
Only someone like Karlos seemed to get a steady income from this profession. So, instead of gambling on his own luck, Brandon decided to keep following Karlos. He wanted to return the favor for everything Karlos had done for him.
"Give us three days, and your bangka will be available," Dantes promised. Karlos's requests for a repaint and the radio swap would take a few days, depending on the weather.
"For now, sir, here is your VHF radio." Dantes showed a box to Karlos and opened it. Both men curiously inspected the equipment as if it were a brand-new toy. Dantes explained how the radio worked, and Karlos and Brandon listened intently, memorizing the important buttons.
[Illustration I found from Google. Credits to the owner.]
They stepped out of the bangka and walked to another station. The two men looked at the boats they passed until they stopped in front of another slightly larger bangka.
"This bangka is 10 meters long with 100 horsepower, a solid mid-sized build."
"What's the brand of the engine?" Brandon asked curiously, glancing at the engine box.
"It's a Yamahay, sir."
Brandon nodded in approval. Yamahay was one of the well-known brands and had a great reputation. Furthermore, replacement parts were easy to find.
They stepped into the bangka. Aside from the slightly longer deck, it had the same design as the earlier boat... Every bangka had the same design, anyway.
The 10-meter bangka featured an engine box and a roof. Sometimes boats had a small cabin, but since they returned every day, they didn't need a room to guard against the cold and wind. Besides, a cabin would take up too much space.
However, something caught Karlos's attention. "What is this equipment attached to the post? Is this a radio?" Karlos asked.
"It's a fixed-mount VHF radio."
"I see." Karlos inspected it. He had heard about them, but he wasn't sure if a fixed-mount VHF was safe to leave in the bangka without protection. It could be stolen or broken depending on the situation. The equipment looked expensive and completely different from his ordinary tools.
"As much as I want a VHF radio, I'm afraid it will break if I leave the bangka on the beach every night. It's exposed to the weather and strangers' hands."
It was different from the engine box, which could be protected by a lock and chains. The radio was just attached to the post.
"Are you perhaps from the southern part of the town, sir?" Dantes asked.
"That's right."
"Well, we can detach the equipment instead and subtract it from the price. It's a practical compromise."
"How about a handheld VHF radio instead? I'm more comfortable with that, it's something I can keep close," Karlos suggested.
"Of course, we can do that. A handheld VHF radio is cheaper than the fixed-mount one." Dantes nodded and calculated the adjustment.
Karlos looked at the bangka and was satisfied. This was far better than his older, smaller boat. "So, how much for this boat?"
"Minus the fixed-mount VHF radio and swapping it for a handheld instead, that would be 425,000 pesos, sir," Dantes replied, keeping his tone steady and respectful. But deep inside, he was ecstatic. If he closed this deal, he would earn a bonus!
The initial price of the bangka was 435,000 pesos, but it was cut down to 425,000 pesos. The difference between a fixed-mount VHF radio and a handheld one was 10,000 pesos. A handheld one needed charging, while the fixed-mount drew power from the vessel. For ordinary people, that was a huge price difference.
"I see." Karlos paused, letting the number sink in. "How about you, Brandon? Do you have anything to add?"
"You give freebies like nets and styrofoam boxes, right?" Brandon asked.
"Yes, sir. Everything is brand new and free. We also include one-year insurance," Dantes confirmed without hesitation.
"Can we do some test runs?" Brandon pressed.
"Absolutely. If you find anything you don't like, we will fix it immediately," Dantes replied confidently.
"Before that, I want to know, why is this boat not sold? Did something bad happen to the customer?"
Superstition was not a simple matter in a world where magic once dominated. Karlos wanted to know if the boat carried bad luck. What if the customer had died? Would it affect the boat he ordered?
"No, sir," Dantes quickly shook his head. "The customer decided to upgrade his order and bought a commercial trawler boat instead."
"That's allowed?"
"He paid in cash."
"I see. I assume he paid a down payment, what happened to that?"
"Since he didn't take the bangka, the down payment was ours to keep. It's written in the contract."
Karlos sat down next to the steering handle and held it, imagining himself driving the bangka.
He then took a few laps in the water to test-drive the boat and confirmed nothing bad.
"... We will take it. Although, I want to repaint the hull blue and white. Also, I want to name it Alejandro."
Karlos had thought of naming the boat 'Wave Slicer,' but his wife probably wouldn't like it.
"Naturally." Dantes grinned and shook hands with Karlos and Brandon. He was happy to close the deal.
The bangka had been near completion when the original customer decided to change his order. He didn't fight for the down payment and decided to pay cash for a commercial trawler instead... The name of that customer was Antonio.
Anyway, Karlos and Brandon went to the office to settle the account. Karlos read the papers before signing his name and paying in cash. They had already deposited the cheque from Mr. Chubby at the bank earlier that morning before heading to the shipyard. Karlos withdrew 700,000 pesos to pay for the boat and to settle Zaldy's account later.
Yesterday, Brandon had expressed his intention to shoulder 5% of the payment, but Karlos disagreed. He explained that he intended to hire another fisherman and give him a 5% profit share. It would be unfair if Brandon paid for a portion of the boat and received the same profit share as a new hire who paid nothing.
So, Karlos decided to buy the bangka with his own money, but he promised Brandon that his 5% profit share wouldn't disappear as long as he worked for Karlos.
After thinking it over, Brandon agreed. He had actually considered buying his own bangka since he had the funds, but he let go of the idea. He understood how fishing worked, and it wasn't easy. There were times when a boat didn't earn anything at all.
Only someone like Karlos seemed to get a steady income from this profession. So, instead of gambling on his own luck, Brandon decided to keep following Karlos. He wanted to return the favor for everything Karlos had done for him.
"Give us three days, and your bangka will be available," Dantes promised. Karlos's requests for a repaint and the radio swap would take a few days, depending on the weather.
"For now, sir, here is your VHF radio." Dantes showed a box to Karlos and opened it. Both men curiously inspected the equipment as if it were a brand-new toy. Dantes explained how the radio worked, and Karlos and Brandon listened intently, memorizing the important buttons.
[Illustration I found from Google. Credits to the owner.]