Dutch Barge long distance cruisers

[FAST FRED]

The least effort on locking in the locks that are equipped with them is the floating pin.

If the boat has a midship cleat a line is simply run round the pin , and you're done.

We used this on the "Loop" last summer and it was effortless.

IF you have a midship cleat, with EZ access.

Ours was out the PH door.

FF

[Greenseas2]

Thanks Fred. I put midship cleats on every boat I've had, but your input gives it a new use. Generally before entering a slip on a windy day, I rig a line on the upwind midships cleat and throw that around a piling or dock cleat first. It and bumpers will hold the boat in position and allow you to put the rest of the lines on the dock or pilings at a leisurely pace. No muss, no fuss, no hassle.

[jprn]

Hello !
I live in France near the Canal du Midi and plan to build a Dutshbarge.
Greenseas2, please put me on your list for your plans. You told october, are they ready ?

[owkaye]

What is your current estimate of the cost of the plans you'll be selling later this fall? I don't care about an exact price but I'm sure you've given plenty of thought to how much you're going to want to get for such plans, correct?

[kengrome]

I think that many of the arguments for the proposed Greenseas2 boat make sense only for those who will be selling the plans ...

I do not believe for a moment that 'average wage earners' in the USA will have enough money or time to finish such a boat in less than a decade, and committing the vast majority of their non-employment waking hours to such a project for 10+ years is not a likely scenario in my opinion.

Then again, all you need to sell plans is a good idea and great pictures ...

Don't get me wrong, I think it is fun to imagine and design such boats, and I think you'll sell lots of plans if you keep them affordable, because it's a dream for lots of people to live on such a boat. But I'm a boat builder myself and even though I use epoxy, plywood, fiberglass, Kevlar, etc. extensively I still prefer a steel or aluminum alloy hull in my own personal live-aboard displacement speed cruising boat ...

Metal hulls are stronger, require less frequent maintenance, and can continue being used rather than 'emergency hauling' them every time the boat happens to rub against something that might have cut through the epoxy/glass sheathing and into the wood.

If all my worldly possessions are in the boat I want it to be a LOT stronger than any boat I have ever built using composite sandwich too.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Personally I love the appearance of the boat in this picture and I would much prefer one of these in steel or aluminum alloy to any live-aboard boat I might otherwise build for myself in wood / epoxy / glass:

[lazeyjack]

my dear chap, sensible posts such a s your are not welcome here)
Plans for production in Eu are underway for the above--scroll up--
i did , reply your letter, but silence

[kengrome]

my dear chap, sensible posts such as your are not welcome here

Yes I've been told this before. There is no place for facts or reality in the boating forums ... I think it ruins too many people's fantasies.

Plans for production in Eu are underway for the above -- scroll up -- i did reply your letter, but silence

It took me a while to catch up since my city trip a few days ago, but I'll be available again whenever my internet connection allows me to be online. It's not exactly predictable but at least it lets me get my email several times a day, that's the important thing.

I like your box keel. Box keels are good for efficiency, prop protection, beaching, horizontal shaft installation (maximum efficiency), lowest engine location, and more. My Tolman Seabright Skiff has one:

http://www.bagacayboatworks.com/images/seabright01/
http://www.bagacayboatworks.com/images/seabright02/
http://www.bagacayboatworks.com/images/seabright03/

... but I'm sure you've seen these pix before so this is nothing new to you.

Ten (10) year hull warranties are good, especially with alloy hulls. I'm sure the owners of your boat will have no trouble in getting insurance -- yes insurance -- this is another one of those 'practical' necessities that some people seem to forget about when talking about home built boats. I don't know too many people who are willing to move all their worldly possessions onto a boat they cannot insure, do you?

[boat fan]

Originally Posted by owkaye

What is your current estimate of the cost of the plans you'll be selling later this fall? I don't care about an exact price but I'm sure you've given plenty of thought to how much you're going to want to get for such plans, correct?

Anything new here yet ?

[rickthorn]

I am not so much looking for a builder for barges, but I am looking for a REASONABLE, competent design person. My direct interest is inquiry for plans as follows...
SEAGOING POWERED barge design, MUST HAVE 30'/9.14 M BEAM (important for outdoor gathering area/recreation), minimum 80'/24.38 M LENGTH, it will be a full time & permanent liveaboard for family & friends.
Power considerations are....TWO BIO DIESEL ENGINES, BOTH WITH TWO ELECTRIC MOTOR BACKUP, possibly small masts and sails. MAIN ELECTRICITY supplied by solar and wind generation, BIO DIESEL GENERATOR backup.
EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS AND WATER TANKS A MUST
Main concern and overall, for safety of all involved is as follows...
MAIN DESIGN MUST BE AS CLOSE TO ABSOLUTELY UNSINKABLE AS POSSIBLE, IN ANY STORMS, SELF-RIGHTING DESIGN.
Even so, barge would be piloted to reasonably safe and affordable country to live on, and other than probably one-time voyage, will probably not be at sea afterwards.
I would prefer to leave it in one ideal place, but with such world instability, (plus I trust NO government,) this would be an uncertainty. Since this would be a large, very large liveaboard, I would have a large shop area inside also. If we found it necessary to relocate, I would have complete shop for either personal repairs, or as a business at any other location. I would have to build this on my own after getting a suitable design and blueprints/plans, etc. I am retired and on limited budget, but at least it would give me something to work toward in the future if I could get all planned and drawn up competently and correctly.
I have looked at a few barge designs and the small "canal" type or "river" barges would not work and would be dangerous to attempt what I wish...I have also looked at some large barges which would be beyond cost allowances to purchase and then convert, even to purchase used.
I would appreciate constructive ideas, no flaming, etc please. If you are not a designer, you are welcome to comment also, and those who know of competent, AND REASONABLE barge designer...(both to talk to and concerning cost, etc) your comments and advice will be appreciated.
Which countries offer the best advantages (mainly cost saving), regarding complete registration and licensing, etc, of large, private recreational vessels such as described?
Costs of registration, licensing (if applicable), insurance, matter may be quite prohibitive also.

[masalai]

I saw one for sale here (Australia) http://www.yachthub.com/ - - - How the fools got this far one can only guess - not really what one would call "seagoing" by any streatch - canal maybe - fools?

[Tad]

rick....

No barge 30' by 80' will be self-righting unless it's (wild guess) about 80' tall.

[rickthorn]

I agree that barges are not designed to be "self-righting", they just appealed to me because of the large amount of space that would be available. A vessel other than a barge would be better to consider, but again cost is very much the largest factor I face.

[Pericles]

Build a catamaran http://www.sailingcatamarans.com/ and power it with http://www.omerwingsail.com/

[rickthorn]

Thank you for your reply Pericles, unfortunately I need more interior space than a catamaran can offer and I wish for minimum length to be at least 80 foot. I wish to have much, much storage area and very large area for workshop and large gathering/dining area on outside deck.

[Pericles]

Look at these, before you discount catamarans completely.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gun...ient=firefox-a

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gun...ient=firefox-a

The hulls are large and the bridgedeck is cavernous.