General boat design for a Motor sail-boat

[rwatson]

Originally Posted by Tad

.....I don't mean to single you out Rog but of the dozens of folks that appear on this site and (always in their first post) announce their monster project (55' boat = 30,000 man hours construction time only)......100% go on to other things and rarely even get around to buying a boat let alone building one.
I don't like to squash dreams...I'm human and have dreams too....but you need to work toward these things....build experience and working capital....build a dinghy (you can find free plans) and see how it goes.....

Or just take gonzo's advice and spend $1500 on a Cal 20' and go sailing.....it will change your world.......

Originally Posted by Rogers

I don't appreciate your condescending and belittling comments to be honest with you Tad. I neither find them helpful nor are they welcome.

...... I have a decent grasp of designing, mechanics and circuit diagrams. So I could do most of it probably, it's just mainly the actual structure of the hull which I reckon I'd have a problem with designing around as everyone is making it sound so impossibly complicated!!! .....


(Once I have a better grip of understanding the hull I'll do some designing and post them then you can criticise the hell out them for being so unseaworthy!!! lol =] )

Hi Rogers-

After some years of being involved in a much less ambitious project, I can appreciate both these points of view.

Tad is 100% correct in everything he said - and with a bit of luck the umbrage he created in you will be part of the grim determination you will need to accomplish your plan. eg. Sam Devlin's famous quote "You will never finish a boat until you totally hate it!"

Re your comment "I reckon I'd have a problem with designing around as everyone is making it sound so impossibly complicated!!! "

Don't be fooled - anything past a dinghy size IS "impossibly complicated!!! " unless you have years of trial and error available to you, and I have rowed some widow-making pigs of dinghys!

All the advice provided to date is sound and considered wisdom, but I think you may find this is about as detailed as people can go until you get a bit more specific about your priorities.

I have found it very useful in starting a design process to get really, really familiar with existing boat designs that may be close to your needs, and then consider and discuss the options.

Building a small plywood tender for your 55' boat would be a fantastic way to start the process.