I'm a beginner.

[ziband]

Hi everyone I'm new to the fourm! Now you might consider me crazy, but I recently got the idea that I wanted to build a sailboat! I havent been able to get it out of my mind since! I was wondering. where is a good place to start? I've been doing research, and whatnot. but I seem to be getting no where. do you have any pointers for me? and good books to pick up? about how much would it cost to build a 30'-35' sailboat? and were could I find somewhere to build it? I know I have alot of questions. if you can't anwser all, please try to answer the ones you can. i thank you all so much for takeing the time to read this, much love.
aspireing boat builder.
-Nick

[Skippy]

Books

Do you want to make your own design, or buy plans and build that?
Just go to your local library and read everything you can find on boatbuilding. There are also books dedicated to individual methods or boat types. One of the best ways to start is with a plywood rowboat. It's simple and easy, and if it comes out well, you can use it as a yacht tender. Then you can build a dinghy or daysailer, which is a lot of fun to sail. After that you'll have a better idea of what boatbuilding is like, how much you enjoy it, and how you might do with a larger project.

[D'ARTOIS]

As you are a beginner - there are a few practical matters to settle before you can even start thinking;

The first question is, do you have the required skills. Building a boat requires requires a jack of all trades - e.g. you must know about materials, their handling and their properties.
If you can answer these two in a positive wa, there remains another barrier and that is money, budget.
A 35' professionally made will set you back a good $ 100.000,-- or more.

Sailing boats are very cheap in he US and Canada, and in your situation I would not even think of building my own boat with so many good and cheap 2nd hand boats available.

Boatbuilding is a very complicated job when you want to carry it out in a professional way. Some take years to build and beginners mistakes are easy made.

I know that there are practical classes in the US and if you are serious about your project, follow one of them and make sure that you posess the required technical skill.

Good Luck

[Tim B]

The Gougeon Brothers published a good book in the 70s (I think) "Wooden Boatbuilding" or something similar (I don't have it here). I suspect it's out of print now, but that would be my suggestion. There might be a copy in a library somewhere.

Good Luck,

Tim B.

[testaverde]

hi,
im also a beginner like u n have been workin in boat company here for few months..there has been some magazines that helped me out like "woodenboat" n "professional boatbuilders"..im sure u can find more magazines there than here..also take a look to books of "janet groene"..it helps to understand slick,chic lingo of designers..gOOd LuCk

[ziband]

thank you all for your help.. yeah 100,000 dollars. i don't have anywhere near that kind of money, so I guess its a project for later on in life then? I do bileve I will try to make a smaller one. a row boat as skippy sugested. thank you all for your time!
-Nick

[jspeedboatb]

I'm new to the forum. I NEED HELP! I am designing a new type of speed boat. I was hoping to get information on good resources to help my designs, including inexpensive (free) speed boat design software.

Thanks,

JspeedboatB

[Bergalia]

Have a look at:
http/www.svensons.com/boats/
There some nice oldies here - and step by step constructio plans... for FREE.
Good luck - Oh, and welcome to the club

[jag459]

www.Glen-L.com is a good resource for books and other info on building boats with wood and other materials. They have been have been providing plans and information on boat building as long as I can remember.