Where to build 90 feet aluminum cat economically?

[richardproeller]

Finally I sold my apartment complex and are ready to start my "Dream Cat". I have been sailing and chartering many years on my 52 feet monohull incl. 4 Atlantic crossings but that was all about 11 years ago. Since then I have always had the Idea to build a "big" catamaran for worldwide cruising and chartering.

The boat should accommodate about 12 guests and 4 crew what makes it 8 double cabins, 4 in each hull.
I'm basically looking for a boatyard anywhere in the world capable of building the hull in aluminum to my drawings and specifications at a high level of production quality and with qualified welders and workers. The rest of the construction will be done by myself together with local workers and friends to save on costs.
I believe the structure to be about 20 tons of aluminum roughly. Somebody can point me in the right direction where I could build such a boat and what I have to expect in costs for such a construction.
I reed here a while ago about prices from 6 to 10 US Dollars per kilo of structure in Thailand, is that still realistic as it sounds pretty good to me.
Any input is greatly appreciated

[Hotel Lima]

Might check some places in Vietnam, gotta watch the quality somtimes.

[Thunderhead19]

I've heard good things about Hong Kong.

[RANCHI OTTO]

Send a short specification for a quotation to :

Att. Mr. C.Y.CHUAH
mail@nnse.com.my

The shipyard is located in Malaysia and has built some my designs at low cost but working the aluminium very well.

[alpamis34]

I am a Turkish Naval Architect and I would recommend you Turkey for this type of construction.If you go through the web you will see that Turkey is the country having the place in the top 5 leading yacht builders countries.If you have any questions regarding to this subject,do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

[brian eiland]

Originally Posted by richardproeller

Since then I have always had the Idea to build a "big" catamaran for worldwide cruising and chartering.
I'm basically looking for a boatyard anywhere in the world capable of building the hull in aluminum to my drawings and specifications at a high level of production quality and with qualified welders and workers. The rest of the construction will be done by myself together with local workers and friends to save on costs. Somebody can point me in the right direction where I could build such a boat and what I have to expect in costs for such a construction.
I read here a while ago about prices from 6 to 10 US Dollars per kilo of structure in Thailand, is that still realistic as it sounds pretty good to me.
Any input is greatly appreciated

Hello Richard,
If you wish to look at SE Asia for your alum project, I might suggest you contact Bob Mott who is doing some nice 50 footers in alum. I believe he is going about with proper alum materials and welders. He is actually building in Malaysia. I met him in Thailand several years ago when he was initially looking for a builder, and I've followed his project sparingly.

http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10706

http://www.silkline-catamarans.com/

Am I to assume you already have the design you wish to build? And why are you so set on alum?

That's a pretty big cat you have in mind. What portion of the charter market are you aiming at, and what location for the charters? At the high end of the charter market you might not need so large an accomodation (vessel). Have you talked with a charter specialist? I know of one, and this one has done lots of work with large cats.

Here's one alternative idea in charter....remote area fishing groups. I once had several gentlemen talking to me about building 6 of my gamefishing cats and stationing them around the world in various prime remote big-game fishing areas in leu of a 'mothership operation' that was anchored to one location and had to be moved as a whole. They figured the cost equation was near the same at 6 of my vessels. (these guys spend big bucks to chase fish around the world)

...some more references
Gamefishing under Sail
http://www.runningtideyachts.com/gamefishing/
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-sailing-discussion/1548-gamefishing-sail-under-sail-power.html

...and should you have any interest in composite build (my preference for a number of reasons) I can send you a little report on some yards I visited in Thailand just this past Aug

[richardproeller]

Hello and thanks for all the input.
I'm currently traveling through Colombia and are only be able to check in once a while.

The Idea is to sail the cat around the world without a fixed location and making it possible for guests to join a real circumnavigation for weeks or even month. Also since I have been doing charter for some years I find it is getting some how boring to stay at the same place for long time and I believe that there is a growing market for that kind of "taking a time off" and be a "real sailor" for a while, instead of a simple charter guest. Also it is more interesting for guests to come back to the boat at a different location instead of sailing the same places every time.
Now the size 80 to 90 feet is what I think the "logical" size since it's getting easier and cheaper to use normal household applications and furniture instead of having it all custom built or using expensive boat stuff. On the other side it is very difficult to design a smaller boat where there is all the space effectively used without loosing for passages and others and having the hulls wide enough to have a good size cabin and not only a small place to sleep.
I haven't been talking to a lot of charter experts about that and it would be indeed a good thing to get some professional advice on my project first.
Basically the Idea is to have fun while going around the world and not to see it only as a business but a way of living that pays the bills.

I do not have a final design or construction plans yet but I'm working on 3 D drawings using Rhino. The drawings should then be revised by a naval architect to make sure it is ok and details and final construction plans should be drawn finally.

Aluminum is what I believe a very good material specially when it comes to bigger constructions as there is no mold required and it strong, corrosion resistant and not to heavy, while it is easy to connect whatever you want by welding or bolts, it is sometimes a pain in the butt and more expensive to do that on sandwich constructions. Also I had a small company doing all kind of anodized aluminum pipe constructions for boats and residential properties and I see it as a great plus to just weld rails and other structures to the hull keeping it all the same material.
At the end it is crucial to keep construction costs as low as possible as my budget for the aluminum structure is only about US $ 200K.

Greetings and thanks for all your help,

Richard

[brian eiland]

Originally Posted by richardproeller

....Now the size 80 to 90 feet is what I think the "logical" size since it's getting easier and cheaper to use normal household applications and furniture instead of having it all custom built or using expensive boat stuff.

....At the end it is crucial to keep construction costs as low as possible as my budget for the aluminum structure is only about US $ 200K. Richard

I might suggest you look at this posting "How Much a Sailing Yacht Cost"

And you might also look at this little cost chart I've drawn up http://boatdesign.net/forums/showpos...5&postcount=30

Is 200K your budget for the bare hull structure itself....in alum??
In many cases you can forget household items unless you wish to spend your entire time and considerable monies just in maintanence

[Frosty]

I think its becoming quite clear that the far east is the place to go. For something of that size I would go to Singapore, not only for the build but the stuff to finish it with. Sure Veitnam might be able to build it but then youve got to buy engines and all the other stuff. Sure can be imported but youve got to watch corruption and bribary to get your stuff in.