Idlewild Expedition

[Pericles]

The latest edition of Professional Boat Builder has a short article about retired Bison rancher Ben Gray. http://www.proboat-digital.com/proboat/20080203/ Page 22. I've posted it here as there does not seem to be a category that exactly suits the tale.

Here is his story. It is about building a troller yacht designed by Geo. Buehler and setting off. http://idlewildexpedition.ca/theplan.htm

Pericles

[Carioca]

I spent a hour or two yesterday looking through this very enterprising undertaking. Thanks for bringing it to our notice !

What I could not understand is why they first veered West (towards Alaska and the Bering Strait) then East again - back on the same route ? - before making their pasage through the upper reaches of the Arctic Ocean and finally into the Atlantic.

[Pericles]

Haven't go to that bit yet, but I'm going to guess seasonal sea ice.

Pericles

[Carioca]

You could be right there. Had not occurred to me.

[masalai]

Thanks for the post and sites Pericles.
Now in my favourites for further reading...

Have given recently so herewith a token of my appreciation (doubles)::::::::::

[Tad]

They went west first so that when they came across the Pacific a year later they could connect the circle (around the world) at Pt. Barrow Alaska. The voyage was a stunt and apparently they didn't really enjoy the boating part. They finished in August 2006, the boat has since sat ashore for sale in Vancouver, only $500k, silly price considering there is no market for this boat.

Tad

[SheetWise]

Originally Posted by Tad

The voyage was a stunt and apparently they didn't really enjoy the boating part. They finished in August 2006, the boat has since sat ashore for sale in Vancouver, only $500k, silly price considering there is no market for this boat.

Last I saw, it was $400k. I think there is a market -- just not a mass market. I like the boat -- I'm waiting for some interior pictures. I would then have to calculate the cost of a new build to compare (What's your guess?).

[Tad]

Sheet....

There are far, far more boats for sale currently than buyers seriously interested. Thus it is a buyers market, the bargains will move, the others will languish. Idlewild was still listed at 500k 6-8 months ago. Cutting the price by 20% shows something of the market interest. People who think they can sell a custom boat (from a relatively unknown builder) for what they have invested are mistaken.

She is a very small boat for her length. For the same or less money you can buy far more accommodation. The engine has many hours on it. I know her initial cost (ex-builder) was less than $400k, but she was incomplete.

A 30,000 boat, built to the lowest finish level, (no paint or fairing, crude interior) will take at least 8000 man hours to complete. 8000 hours at $65 is $520k in labour alone, before buying materials. New cost never compares to one "that's been driven off the lot".