The Rob Kidd Roadshow is off and running.
A master builder of boat tops and canopies on the Lower Island for three decades, Kidd has refurbished a vintage motorhome into a mobile workshop called Big Dog Boat Tops & Upholstery.
And now Kidd is driving "the dog house" to the boaters, instead of them hitching their vessels and coming to him.
"It's something I've always wanted to do and this makes things so much easier for my customers," said Kidd, who was the "marine guy" at Styles Auto & Marine Upholstery for 23 years.
Kidd acquired the 1976 LeoCraft earlier this year, stripped out most of the furnishings and laid out the interior with large tables and an industrial sewing machine. He also fastened rigging on the driver's side wall to bend tubing used in making custom boat tops. His materials are stored in plumber's tubes on the roof.
He's left the bathroom and fridge, and added a 4,500-watt generator, to be completely self-sufficient at any job site.
The motorhome is in pristine condition. It had been owned for more than 30 years by mechanic Jim Gallaugher, who runs Gallaugher Automotive, who acquired it from original owner Harry Chow, a former mayor of Colwood.
"For me going out on my own, it was cheaper than buying a warehouse," said Kidd. "With a lower overhead, I can keep my costs down for my customers.
"I'm the only mobile business like this in B.C. and I could be the only guy in Canada, too," he said.
Kidd services recreational boaters and sailors and can fashion a top or enclosure for just about any vessel, including biminis and sail boat dodgers. The split with Styles was amicable, with owner Paul Junker now referring work to Kidd. He also does jobs for marine retailers S&G Power, TroTac and Sherwood and has built a long list of private clients over the years. He also does upholstery for both boats and autos.
"Being mobile just makes it so much easier for my customers. I can pull up to their curb near their boat and do everything right there," said Kidd. "I'm usually finished and gone by the time they get home."
Kidd, 54, a father of two and a recent grandfather, said he got full support from his wife, Sherri, for the new venture. They named the new business for their three Newfoundlander dogs, including a six-year-old, web-footed monster named Murphy who is featured on his company's logo and accompanies Kidd on some jobs in cooler weather.
You can contact Kidd at 250-920-8748 or online at bigdogboattops.ca.
