Build or BuY

[bru401]

Hi, I appreciate all the advice I can get on this I am getting close to building an 18 to 20' aluminum boat. I have narrowed down a few designs I like, but am between cnc cut parts and building a jig, but thats not the question.

I found a boat that is close to what I want to build that was a home built. It has some damage and I am confident that I could repair.

What is the value of a home built in relationship to factory or name brand?

less more?
My concern is that I will not recover my investment in the repair boat
The boat is priced @ about 3.00 a pound and looks to be fair to well built

Am I better off taking on my own set of problems than somebody elses?

thanks

[kmorin]

bru401,

first, NC cut materials are often tacked up on a jig? so I may have missed the intent of your remark there?

next, home-built may be good quality work and it may be lower than the market wants to buy? You'd need to make some much more detailed comparisons before any rational basis for the value of that boat can be assigned.

Suppose the home builder were a knowledgeable and experienced welded skiff builder? the value might be very good. On the other hand, if someone wanted to sell you their "learning skiff" that might not be as good a way to spend your money?

How are the welds in appearance? Uniform? Were the starts and stops apparent? or are they hard to find? If they're hard to find that's better than if you can see them all, and it tells a lot about the home builder. Did he/she cut out the tacks and the ends of each weld? This indicator 'tells' on the builder's skills and experience and can reflect on the boat.

If you look at Munson, built in Edmonds, just on the mainland from you, I think?; they're clean and the welds look like they began at one end of the boat and kept welding! [but we know they didn't.]

Are the sides and bottom of the boat you're considering fair? or "hungry" and wrinkled from welding and design? Are there tanks or console or cabin? How are the details welded? Is there a TIG bead for small tight corners and are the beads left unfinished? If the answer is yes then the boat may have been well built by someone with enough skill to produce a 'saleable' hull.

What type of hull are we discussing? Is this an open skiff, center console with an outboard? If so, how are the mechanical details? How does the console look in regard neat clean and wrinkle free? If any of the [many] details are not well done then I'd tend to avoid the boat and build from sheet.

I have no idea what the Puget Sound market is like for welded skiffs and can't discuss costs versus value for that area. The reasons full time builders' boats are worth more are three. [#1] They're better designed than most home builders will afford, [#2] they're better built by full time craftsmen/women; practice may not make perfect but it beats learning by a mile, and [#3] they look better because the builders have learned that feature sells and they want to keep building so they conform to the market forces.

It is common for home builders to buy a MIG torch and a pile of sheet and declare "I can do as well as that outfit, and afford to buy the metal and machine in the bargain!" Then the learning curve inverts violently on the ambitious student of welded metal boats' head, and the results occupy countless trailers and back yards around the entire N.Western coast from Oregon to Pt. Barrow.

What you've asked is impossible to answer without seeing the skiff in question and some comparison to your skill level???? The first could be done with a series of photos and the latter by posting images of other boats you've built or some example of other trade related work you already do????

I don't mean in any way to be rude about your inquiry, and I have no idea of your skill set or building experience, my remarks are intended to help you to make a TRUE evaluation of the question posted. [Please don't take offense, I assure you, none is implied or meant.]

What about asking if the owner will split a marine surveyor's cost with you?

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

[Manie B]

My concern is that I will not recover my investment in the repair boat

boats never will give a return on an investment of any kind of boat ever

you do it for the fun of it (build or repair)
enjoy it - or dont do it at all
boat = hole in water in which you pour money

[bru401]

Kevin, Thanks for your input there were a few things you brought up I hadn't thought of. I think I have decided to repair the boat and then I will gain more experience for the time I build my own.

Hopefully this will get me out on the water sooner. I think I might try some addons and this will help me with welding skills.

Then later I might try an 18' skiff from cut files, will see or do you think a first project should be smaller.

I am skilled in just about everything, but by no means an expert at any one thing.

Thanks again for the input and no you weren't rude -much appreciated.