A Third Option Has Presented Itself - Thoughts?

[CatBuilder]

You know, every time I think I have something figured out, new plans present themselves. I guess I'll take this one as an opportunity. However, I need some logistics ideas...

Options:

1) I can build the Kurt Hughes still, starting over, out of foam/glass. This gets me a $400K boat doing three years hard labor, my wife doing three years hard labor.


2) (New Option):

I have a new 2nd option. A very interesting one, if I can work it out. I have finally found some hulls I like in a half completed state. They are as follows:

• Hulls Built and Faired
• Bridgedeck Built and attached to hulls
• Crossbeams Built and Installed
• Yanmars sitting around with saildrives.
• Boat has decent hulls shapes and size for chartering.

Difficulties:

• Located a few miles from water. Need to haul on truck in one piece through towns and take out stoplights, street signs, etc...
• Or... could cut up the boat, ruining cross beams and bridgedeck and truck it in 3 trucks to somewhere. It won't fit in my FL building because the dimensions are slightly different than my Kurt Hughes project.
• Current owner needs the boat out of where it is. He is paying rent and can't finish the project.
• Boat is located here in the Northeast. Winter is coming.
• There are no decks on the thing and no glass on the inside of the bridgedeck yet. The hulls are glassed inside though.

Questions:

1) Knowing my situation, is there a way to get this already pre-built set of hulls and bridgedeck to work?

2) Any ideas for transporting it? Do I truck it to FL where it doesn't fit in my building? Do I truck it to a local marina where it is very cold (snow) in the North?

3) Can anyone think of ways to work on this boat outside?

4) Any other ideas about this new idea as compared to the Kurt Hughes build I have to start over from scratch in foam/glass?

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by CatBuilder

1) Knowing my situation, is there a way to get this already pre-built set of hulls and bridgedeck to work?
How much interior is done so far??
2) Any ideas for transporting it? Do I truck it to FL where it doesn't fit in my building? Do I truck it to a local marina where it is very cold (snow) in the North?
How about heli crane
3) Can anyone think of ways to work on this boat outside?
If you can get a deasent location you can build a tent or shed on over it.. Boats have been built outside for ages so it's not a problem either. With complete hulls you can cover and warmup only the part you are working..
4) Any other ideas about this new idea as compared to the Kurt Hughes build I have to start over from scratch in foam/glass?
If the price is right you save a lot of time, and if it's a bargain alot of cash too

Thumbs up!

[Petros]

I like the Heli crane idea, not as costly as you might think. Here in the Pacific Northwest they use them for logging remote areas. It saves building roads, getting grading permits, and they move many very large logs to a suitable loading area in minutes. It actually saves money.

If the hull you are consider is what you would like to own, I would find a way to make it work. Building a larger all-season tent with heavy tarp type skin and lumber frame can be done for only $3-4000 worth of materials. In most jurisdictions you should not need a permit for a temp tent structure. Also, building small tarp tent just for the area you are working on is not a bad idea either, though somewhat of a hassle to keep moving it around the boat.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Petros

I like the Heli crane idea, not as costly as you might think. Also, building small tarp tent just for the area you are working on is not a bad idea either, though somewhat of a hassle to keep moving it around the boat.
Good luck

Concur! As I do with Teddy´s comments!

The heli is by far the better way than cutting the structure, or expensive road transport.

The tent will not be perfect in winter but what else is available where you can build her to completion?

This might be a cheap solution:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/ope...tml#post410089
see previous posts also.

Regards
Richard


http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/ope...tml#post410089

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by apex1

Concur! As I do with Teddy´s comments!

The heli is by far the better way than cutting the structure, or expensive road transport.

The tent will not be perfect in winter but what else is available where you can build her to completion?

This might be a cheap solution:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/ope...tml#post410089
see previous posts also.

Regards
Richard


http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/ope...tml#post410089

So do I agree with both Teddy and Apex. Petros too.

[CatBuilder]

Ok, this is unanimous! Thanks! I was thinking the existing boat would be best as well. It's a little bit bigger than what I was looking for, but a fine hull design and the work done so far was done well, by a pro boat yard.

One thing though, guys: Have any of you ever priced out a helicopter or air crane before? I'm guessing none of you have.

The cost to move my Kurt Hughes 3 miles from an open field to the sea was $88,000. You think that's bad, right?? No!

EVERY SINGLE BUILDING in the flight path has to be 100% evacuated as well. I wonder what that costs?

I'll try to get this to work. The sellers are a bit higher than I want to pay (or can afford), but I'm going to try to work and see if we can come together on price. If not, it's down to FL to build in foam.

[CatBuilder]

Teddy: To answer your question... there is no interior done. It is simply a shell, partially complete. It is:

2 hulls, bridgedeck attached and faired (still needs glass inside bridgedeck) and that's it.

What would you think that's worth?

[Petros]

Post pictures, pictures, pictures!

[wardd]

can it be floated and if not can it be finished to the point it can be towed

Well,

I wonder who made the boat? If that was professionally done, there must have been a plan to launch that thingy finally. I build 25km from the next shore, and have to transport even our largest craft (46m LOA) about 40km to go there. But we did know that when building the factory.
If these people did not, I doubt their peofessionalism. But at least you have a rocksolid argument to reduce the price dramatically.

The Heli cost seems to have a few zero´s too much. I have not done Heli transport with my boats (see above), but a friend owns a Forest in Switzerland, and has them every other year or so, to get the logs downhill. When I recall right, the hr was about 2000 SFR in 2008. (that is about equal with a US$) Yours is a bit more demanding to transport, due to the size / windage, but should not be more than maybe 5000k$.
Of course the flight path has to be planned clever, because one cannot fly over buildings with such cargo.
But did they build that thing in the city centre?

Be sure you get this one for a song or leave them with their problem. (they will come back)

Yes, pictures!!!

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by wardd

can it be floated and if not can it be finished to the point it can be towed

It isn't ready yet. It has no bulkheads and no deck. The hull isn't well enough supported to be moved or floated.

I have to put in bulkheads and at least temporary bracing to get it over to the water. Also have to put the diesels in to move it anywhere.

I have found a way to get it to the water and am awaiting pricing, but she's got some time left before she's able to be moved.

How long would you guys think it might take to vacuum bag and put in 8 bulkheads (the ones in each hull, the connective ones are in already) and put on a deck (vacuum bagged sandwich deck)?

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by apex1

Well,

I wonder who made the boat? If that was professionally done, there must have been a plan to launch that thingy finally. I build 25km from the next shore, and have to transport even our largest craft (46m LOA) about 40km to go there. But we did know that when building the factory.
If these people did not, I doubt their peofessionalism. But at least you have a rocksolid argument to reduce the price dramatically.

The Heli cost seems to have a few zero´s too much. I have not done Heli transport with my boats (see above), but a friend owns a Forest in Switzerland, and has them every other year or so, to get the logs downhill. When I recall right, the hr was about 2000 SFR in 2008. (that is about equal with a US$) Yours is a bit more demanding to transport, due to the size / windage, but should not be more than maybe 5000k$.
Of course the flight path has to be planned clever, because one cannot fly over buildings with such cargo.
But did they build that thing in the city centre?

Be sure you get this one for a song or leave them with their problem. (they will come back)

Yes, pictures!!!

Well, we only have one kind of helicopter company in the States that can move something as heavy as a large, 48 foot catamaran. This is the company:

http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/

They quoted me $88,000 to move the Kurt Hughes build 3 miles. This is a real quote I got from them this year.

The people have a plan to move the hull, I have found out. They have proper trailers and clearance with the city and a path to the water. They have already moved a smaller catamaran they built. I think their work is very professional. The hull is all bagged and done well, from what I can tell. I will inspect further if we can arrive at a price.

I can't post pictures or any specifics yet, as I would like to be the only buyer.

I'll post pictures when I buy the hull.

I do plan to make an offer that will fit the same budget I am working with on the Kurt Hughes build. If they will not meet the same price (of overall project), I will proceed with the Kurt Hughes in foam. I will let the numbers do the deciding.

After many years on boats, I am (thankfully) not emotional about this stuff. Logic all the way.

[srimes]

Why not have them install the bulkheads and bracing as part of the deal? At least see what it would cost.


+1 on this vs. starting from scratch.

[Submarine Tom]

Are you nuts?!?!? I got an estimate to move my 8000 pound (3500 kg) houseboat two blocks from the ocean to a house I was considering buying and it was going to be $8000 US each way!! Plus the roof damage to the neighbouring houses, plus permits that likely wouldn't be granted, plus the fact that if anything went wrong, they'd have to cut it loose (drop it) in order to save the helicopter and crew.

Not a good option.

-Tom

[TeddyDiver]

You have to consider all the moving costs to reduce the price (- some 40% more for). If you can find a dirt cheap building site with water access but limited by road (isle, bridge buildins in a way etc) heli crane looks much better.. and there are insurances for the move and believe it was also included in the quote.
In PNW it's a bit different.. they are "loggers" and they really don't have an idea how to handle with care but they are cheap..

ps You can allways make a counteroffer for those heli folks, say $20000 or whatever you think it's worth, never know they may take it..