As stated on our home page, our project is centered around Grand Illusion's extraordinary design, engineering, construction, layout and outfitting - which together provide an excellent platform for a wide variety of activities. At the top of the list of activities is fishing - one of the "secret magic ingredients" in our recipe for an extraordinary successful operation.
In fishing, as in real estate, the three most important factors are location, location and location. The above mentioned features, which make Grand Illusion an excellent platform for actual fishing activities, also make her an excellent vehicle for transporting our guests, quickly and comfortably (in "magic carpet" fashion) to and from the most productive fishing locations - even in quite boisterous sea conditions.
Fishing is a rather extraordinary activity. On the one hand, "commercial fishing" is ranked as the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the world. On the other hand, "sport fishing" is one of the most popular (ranked #4 in the U.S.) and, quite often, among the highest priced, recreational activities in the world.
Most importantly, perhaps, to our operation, (as well illustrated in the film "One flew over the cuckoos nest" - for those who are old enough to remember) "fun fishing" provides an extraordinarily effective tool for converting a disparate group of individuals into a harmonious unit - without the need for copious amounts of liquor and / or "drugs".
Naturally, should it turn out that "The sky really is falling" - or "The ice caps melting" - or that old ticking "Population bomb" (or nuclear "suitcase bomb") finally going Boom!, the most important function of fishing, on our "New and Improved Panama Extreme Survival Adventure Tours", will quickly revert to the historic one - - - namely, that of securing food and bartering goods.
There has been an ongoing battle for some time now - between "Commercial fishing" interests and "Sport fishing" interests. Emotions often run very high on this "battlefield" - which is one reason why we are endeavoring to keep this aspect of our operation somewhat secretive. As it happens, we feel little affinity with either of these multi billion dollar industries.
Our affinity lies with the traditional "subsistence fisherman" - fishing from a modest boat, possibly along with a few family members, catching a few fish with a few simple tools and, no doubt, having a bit of fun in the process. However, the main purpose of their activity remains catching fish - for their own sustenance and to barter for the few other essentials required for their humble lifestyle. In our operation, we intend to emulate, as closely as possible, this timeless example of harmonious coexistence with our environment.
Grand Illusion is specifically designed and laid out to provide "fun fishing " for everyone. We will, by no means, be targeting the marketing of our tours towards hardcore "Sport Fisherman". However, it is very likely that, on the majority of our tours, fishing will turn out to be a very popular activity with our guests. By providing the twin attractions of single minded focus and gambling (coupled with our, by no means common, ability to provide the excitement of actually catching fish), fishing will inevitably convert many of our gusts into bono fide "fishing fanatics".
This being the case, and having arguably "the best fun fishing boat in the world" in Grand Illusion - operated by very talented and experienced personnel - in one of the top fishing areas in the world, we will inevitably catch a fair bit of fish - certainly, significantly more than our guests and our staff will be able to consume. The "bartering" or marketing of this surplus fish (ideally through our own restaurant(s) in nearby David and/or Boquete, will provide a significant additional revenue stream.
The "fun fishing" aspect of our tours (and the resulting revenue stream) will be significantly enhanced by Grand Illusion also serving as an excellent and productive fishing platform in the evenings - while at dock at our home base. There is no question that "kids" of all ages will be drawn to this activity. The resulting, quite substantial, total revenue stream will likely serve to purchase the better part of the few other "essentials" - required for "the humble lifestyle" of our small community.
This, in turn, will enable us to offer extraordinarily deep discounts on our tour prices - leading to extraordinarily good value for our "product" - thus providing an extraordinarily high level of customer satisfaction - thereby leading to extraordinarily high occupancy levels - resulting in extraordinarily handsome profits - and ultimately, making our investors look extraordinarily clever.
Notes on the numbers
The relevant numbers are available on the spread sheet linked below. The numbers on this spread sheet are, no doubt, rather extraordinary. The average investor, who has had the good sense to avoid crazy, radical "get rich quick schemes" such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft or Apple, will likely be accustomed to an annual return on investment or "yield" of anywhere from say 4% down to zero.
As such, whether their current investments be in McDonald's, Coca-Cola or some other super secure "Blue Chip" stock - such as Enron, Bear stearns, Global Crossing or, (closer to home) CLICO, they will clearly find our projections incredible - in other words, not to be believed, fraudulent, a big fat lie.
One reason for the emphasis on "extraordinary" throughout these web pages has been to prepare and persuade the reader to consider these numbers dispassionately and rationally and to thoroughly investigate both the numbers and the underlying rationale on which they are based. In this regard, one also needs to keep in mind that we happen to have, at our disposal, an "alchemy machine" - capable of "turning lead into gold".
In other words, we are asking the reader to resist going along with the usual tired "knee jerk" reaction that "If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is". As we have emphasized repeatedly throughout these web pages, everything about our venture is extraordinary and there is clearly no reason to expect our financial projections to be any different.
The pricing of our surplus fish, is currently set at a level designed to produce (at the minimum) a break even operation for our restaurant(s). It should also be noted that from January, 2012 or earlier, discounted prices for our tour packages will be allotted on an ostensibly arbitrary case by case basis.
In fact, however, all decisions, in this regard (as in regard to any and all aspects of our operation) will be very carefully considered and focused on providing the greatest benefits for our shareholders - both short term and long term.
"Make a nice chunk of change"
"Subsistence/Fun fishing"
