Kit boats

[Aquila]

Ive been surfing the web for a new boat.. I want something about 30 feet (no bigger n' 45 though) with a nice comforatable diesel (or twin)

Seems to me there are a lot of kit boats out there for like a 1/4 of the cost of a premade... However Im not too certain of the quality I could produce building my own boat..

I dunno..

Any other boaters out there got an idea?

 

[Saint Peter]

Save the cash. Buy a cheap boat. Get some cheap insurance while your at it.

 

[Ishmael]

Ive been surfing the web for a new boat.. I want something about 30 feet (no bigger n' 45 though) with a nice comforatable diesel (or twin)

Seems to me there are a lot of kit boats out there for like a 1/4 of the cost of a premade... However Im not too certain of the quality I could produce building my own boat..

I dunno..

Any other boaters out there got an idea?

What type of material are you looking to work with?

Ishmael

 

[Aquila]

Re: Re: Kit boats

What type of material are you looking to work with?

Ishmael

Probably fiberglass/wood mix (Composite) Im not a good enough welder to even attempt to work with sheet metal. My beads tend to look more like melted crayons mashed together than anything remotley professional

 

[RhumbRunner13]

With what material are you thinking of building the boat?

Fiberglass is a very skilled medium and from what I know from being around boats requires "vacuum bagging" in the curing process or you most likely will have blisters within a year or two. Vinylester resin (I think) eliminates the blister problem but more than doubles the cost of the hull.

Wood is a great medium but even a well built hull will not retain it's value. Too many people are afraid of dry rot, worms and other potential problems. If this would be "your boat" for life, that wouldn't be a concern.

One of the prettiest boats I ever saw was a "cold molded?" sloop down in Key West. It looked like the lap strake had been laid flush with itself then covered with clear glass resin. Might have been a West System product. The boat looked like it was made out of gold in the setting sun!

Rhumb

 

[Ishmael]

Re: Re: Re: Kit boats

Probably fiberglass/wood mix (Composite) Im not a good enough welder to even attempt to work with sheet metal. My beads tend to look more like melted crayons mashed together than anything remotley professional

With wood only you might do a passable job. Glass? Nope. Been there done that.

You need lots of room and an enclosed space. It's not a 'backyard' endeavor.

My advice is to go to the local boatyards and look for a 'fix up' special. Make sure you get a marine surveyor to check the hull over thoroughly. Then the bracings and running rigging.

One of the greatest expenses is always the power plant. If it's rebuildable, so much the better.

Familiarize yourself with the difference between the more expensive boats and the cheaper. I'm a sail guy myself so I'm talking about the difference between a Swan or Morgan vs a CC. The big difference is in the hull layup and that translates into durability and safety.

Many of the kit boats are cheaper, but can have very marginal hulls. You ARE going to get caught in a squall or 8'+ sea's. With something of that size it's going to happen eventually. That is when the lighter hull starts coming apart on you. Not a time to find the weakness in your boat.

Ishmael

 

[Aquila]

Yeah I agree ish.. Ive been a big cruiser guy for a while Ive been in my fair share of heavy seas.. but let see

150k for the boat I want prefab
compared to
30k for a kit.

 

[Ishmael]

Yeah I agree ish.. Ive been a big cruiser guy for a while Ive been in my fair share of heavy seas.. but let see

150k for the boat I want prefab
compared to
30k for a kit.

Bet you could find something in the islands in the 50K range. Another 30K and you're there.

What you haven't done is factored your time into it. And the frustration.

I helped a friend build a 54' footer in Miami. Took two and a half years. He ended up naming the boat, "Got Dem Folk In Boat". Give you a clue?

It took close to 10 'shake down' cruises before stuff quit breaking. On one we lost steerage and an engine. Talk about 'hairy' getting the sucker back home and docked!!!! And my friend was an accomplished sailor and boatman.

Ishmael

 

[Aquila]

I found a line on a 30 footer, that sank 2 grande for the hull alone.. Id have to refit her.. new engines.. you know the works.. but the hull itself is good. the idjiot just never maintained the bilge pumps and let her sink at the dock. (lots of rain)

 

[Ishmael]

I found a line on a 30 footer, that sank 2 grande for the hull alone.. Id have to refit her.. new engines.. you know the works.. but the hull itself is good. the idjiot just never maintained the bilge pumps and let her sink at the dock. (lots of rain)

If the hull is sound and of good quality, that may be a starting place.

I've found that EVERYTHING matters over the years. The way the wiring is routed, the mounting of the gen. The rigging of the binacle to rudder. Things that you think are inconsequential are the ones that bit you in the ass. You have to be able to get to everything that is essential to the safe operation of the boat.

With the economy the way it is, I'm surprised that you can't find some good deals out there. Look up north. With the coming winter they are going to have to haul their boats and pay storage all winter. Many people sell at this time..

Ishmael

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Re: Re: Kit boats

My beads tend to look more like melted crayons mashed together than anything remotley professional

Isn't that why God created power grinders?

I think you can probably find a few forums on the web dedicated to kit boat builders -- that might give you some idea of what you'd be getting into.

Fiberglas/Composite construction isn't technically all that difficult, although it is finicky work -- you'd be very good at it by the time you finished the boat. The major problem is the hazardous vapors and proper ventilation.

 

[SpiceCake]

Ive been surfing the web for a new boat.. I want something about 30 feet (no bigger n' 45 though) with a nice comforatable diesel (or twin)

Seems to me there are a lot of kit boats out there for like a 1/4 of the cost of a premade... However Im not too certain of the quality I could produce building my own boat..

I dunno..

Any other boaters out there got an idea?

I'm not a boater, but make sure it has a bed! That's my suggestion.