Originally Posted by PAR  Iceman, the first thing you need to do is honestly access your skill set. Your wood working skills aside, how much sailing experience do you have? How are you with long term projects, especially those that don't have instant gratification? With these assessments in hand, ask you wife if she agrees. Ask her if she thinks your a nut job.
Armed with a new found knowledge of your REAL skill set, what areas need improvement? I mention this because your questions and requests aren't unusual and are heard often here and with designers. I'll venture to guess you have limited sailing experience and think you need more boat then you actually do. This is also common and not unusual for novice builders with limited blue water experience. I'm not trying to put you down, just pointing out these are common desires for novices.
About plans. Glen-L has a large array of types, styles and offerings, though most are dated and few, particularly in the sizes you're interested, are taped seam (stitch and glue is a technique, taped seam is the build method). The styling of these design can be updated to a degree, but changing or updating build methods will take some level of experience, which you obviously don't have.
The build method is dependent on many variables and only you can truly access them. Taped seam building can be neat, easy and fast, but it's also high in goo factor, itchy fabrics and toxic chemicals. Building in 'glass also has this disadvantage, but even with this in hand, most can find a set of working procedures that avoid most of the discomforts associated in them. If you're like most, you'll learn this the hard way and eventually develop good ways to work around the draw backs and uncomfortable aspects.
Traditional build methods have none of these issues (though they can if you want). You can build a boat with no epoxy, no 'glass work and just screws, nails and plain old house paint. Typically you have more pieces to make and install, but some find this a rewarding way to go, especially if sensitive to solvents, goo's and other more modern materials or techniques.
The hardest part about selecting a design is fitting your needs and desires with your skill levels, in both build and sailing preference. Take your time, as you can build a boat that you'll hate to sail, just as easily as one you'll love.
Lastly, as has been previously mentioned, you should build a small boat first, maybe a dinghy for your mother ship. Preferably using the same build method. This way you'll get your feet wet and can decide if this is the thing for you, before taking a second mortgage out on your house, to pay for materials on a 40' yacht.
My advise is to go sailing. Get on as many different types and sizes of boats as you can. Beg, borrow and steal rides with friends, crew down at the local yacht club, whatever it takes to get some "sea time". As your sailing skills grow, so will your desires and opinions about what is what and where it should live aboard your dream boat. |
11-30-2011, 01:29 AM
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