What compels you to build your own boat? Student looking for help

[LMcDermot]

My name is Logan McDermot. I am a industrial design student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I looking for anyone to who is willing to respond to this thread names will not be used.

What compelled you to build your own boat?

What is the hardest part of boat building?

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?


If you could please answer this thread it would be much appreciated. It would also help me in the completion of my senior thesis.

Thank you,

Logan

[Frog4]

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

What compelled you to build your own boat?

Needed to fill my time with anything but daytime drama television designed to rot your brain.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

What is the hardest part of boat building?

Opening my wallet to all the greedy retailers who prey on boat builders. Just because you put a label stating "marine" on your product, doesn't mean we should pay you 200x the price.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)

a lot of the parts are pre-manufactured. engine, chrome, plumbing, wiring etc

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?

The building is the passion. Sailing/boating is the product.

[CatBuilder]

A fun survey. You should end up with a lot of different answers. Here are mine, in red.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

My name is Logan McDermot. I am a industrial design student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I looking for anyone to who is willing to respond to this thread names will not be used.

What compelled you to build your own boat?

A lack of comparable boats on the market, also being a catamaran, a lack of similar boats under $700K.

What is the hardest part of boat building?

Going out there every single day and doing the physical labor. Being exposed to toxic chemicals for thousands and thousands of hours. Procuring supplies is also very difficult and time consuming.

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)

For a catamaran: Hulls and cross beams, as well as possibly a bridgedeck would be a nice way to get started. Doing the rest (deckhouse, putting on hardware, doing interior) is more satisfying and rewarding work. Doing hulls just sucks.

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?

Sailing, 100%. I would have never built if I had found a used catamaran of the same quality that I could afford to buy. I was forced to build to get a good catamaran at a price I can afford.


If you could please answer this thread it would be much appreciated. It would also help me in the completion of my senior thesis.

Thank you,

Logan

[cthippo]

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

What compelled you to build your own boat?

Several things. One is cost. I build kayaks and the cost to buy is far greater than my cost to build. plus, if I buy one I have to have all the cash at once instead of being able to buy materials when I have money. The boat I'm working on now is based on a $5000 carbon fiber boat I paddled at a demo day last spring. The boat I'm building is made almost entirely from wood I salvaged from a house that was being remodeled and my only real costs are in the fiberglass supplies and consumables.

Another reason is getting a boat that fits me. I'm 6'1" and 260 lbs and the vast majority of boats on the market are simply not large enough for my to get my size extra-fat ass into. The boats I build are designed from the outset to fit my size and weight.

What is the hardest part of boat building?

Patience. Having the patience to wait until I can get the right materials for a particular task, or waiting for the glue or paint or epoxy or whatever to dry all the way before I start the next step. On my last boat I would get stuck for weeks waiting for good enough weather.

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)

My biggest challenge is finding the tools I need for certain tasks. they're either way way too expensive or, more often, simply don't exist. Many of the parts are available commercially, but whenever possible I prefer to make my own from recycled materials.

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?

Both, but probably more the building. I certainly spend more time working on my boats than I do paddling them. It takes less effort to go out to the shop and work on the boat for a couple of hours than to load it on the truck, figure out where I'm going, climb into my wetsuit, drive to wherever etc etc. I can work on the boat for an odd half an hour, using it is more of an ordeal.

Interesting. vBulletin doesn't recognize anything within the quotes as being a new message.

[Frog4]

Originally Posted by cthippo

Interesting. vBulletin doesn't recognize anything within the quotes as being a new message.

you have to split the quotes up using the wrap/quote button: Shaped like a balloon in the message window ...

[Dirteater]

price and the getting the boat I really wanted.

[Wavewacker]

I don't mind answering your marketing survey...

What compelled you to build your own boat?

1. The fact that I can't find the boat that I preceive as meeting my needs. (IT may exist, I just haven't found it, some are close)

2. That I can have someting that was specifically built for my needs, a custom.

3. That I should have (lol) more pride in ownership as having built it myself.

4. I will know what is in there, in each nook and cranny, how it's built, how strong it is, how to get at everything that might be hidden as opposed to a production boat that I would have no idea what's behind that wall.

What is the hardest part of boat building?

1. Finding the right one for my skill level (it's a first)

2. The bow and compound curves or angles.

3. Flipping the hull. I'm wanting about a 24 to 32 footer and having a strong back and flipping the hull will be a major problem for me.

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be?

Really I don't want a parts puzzel, I hate putting furniture together.
If the package really opened up and the first piece on top was the first piece that should be placed and the instructions were...now take #2 piece and connect to #1 at "A", and it was marked.."this side forward"...maybe so.

I realize that having machine punched pieces might be a good idea, but doing it economically, in my mind, can't be done.....I know what some of that equipment costs, so you'd really have to crank out kits at my price to make it profitable.

What I have seen from the kit projects is that the kit costs way too much for what I feel I'm getting. Sure, it may save time, but to a retired guy that has nothing better to do, what's that worth? Not much. And, I have no option of making small modifications without buying more materials.

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?

The build will be done, hopefully quickly, so the real pleasure will be in using it.


Good luck!

[Petros]

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

What compelled you to build your own boat?

I like the creative process, it makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile. Though since there is no rational reason to own a boat at all, nor to build one since it is far less costly to just buy one, so I think it is just a form of mental illness. Do not attempt to rationalize it, you will not like what you find.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

What is the hardest part of boat building?

finding time to actually work on the boat, time that wife and family will not resent or make demands from.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)

Parts that actually save time and money from making it yourself. If I scratch build most componets it can save a lot of building cost. But many items are cheaper to buy than make.

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?

Yes. They fill different needs, I think I actually like the creative process of building more, watching raw materials take shape. Building can be done in short blocks of spare time in the evenings, early morning, etc. almost year round. Sailing is also nice, but a lot effort even for a short sail so it really needs large blocks of free time to enjoy, so not very often.

[tunnels]

Had always had a fasination with boats and the water .
I used to draw and sketch power boats .I remember the first boat book i ever got was 1959 ChrisCraft Catalog next came the Mercury catalog of the same year 1959 and after that lots more even after all this time those books are still packed away in a box carefully . as origanals they are probabaly worth somethin to a collector .
I made model boats and fitted small electric motors with the old phone batteries but they were heavy . I left school and started work and collected all the beautiful box wood and stored in in the garage at home then bought sheets of plywood and packets of screws an d small boxes of copper nails . My first xmas holidays from work i had drawn up plans from a model i had made and decided it was what i was going to make so i just made it .
I put all my own ideas into it
The motor was in the back and i manufactured a Vee drive i used a old car drive shaft with universal joints and had i shortened to the right length . i worked in a ford garage so bought all the gears and bearings and seals and took then to a engineer and he made the actual vee drive gear box with tangs for mounting . I was into cars so fabricated my own set of matched pipe exstractors exhaust system with matched pair of morris cooper S, SU Carburators and used the same motor as i had in my little old car .
Come launching day i told no one!, just myself and my girl friend went to a local river and put it in water Turned the key and away it went . Was one of the proudest moments of my whole life . I have been hooked on boats ever since and the passion and excitement has never died one little bit . I travel to parts of the world and work making boats i have worked for many companies and each one i learn something new .
Yachts became a big part of my life and i owned a 22 foot trailer sailer for a while but it was never my thing !!,taking hours to get from one place to another and then even longer to get home some times .
I ended up fitting a 25 long shaft mercury outboard and became the fastest trailersailer in my part of the harbour , Mast down and lashed to the cabin top and sails stowed away drop keel up and rudder stored away I could plane it up the channel and pass most launchs because of the shallow daft went straight across the shallows in 18inchs of water .
Now i own a old 14 foot semicabin boat with a vee 4 115 hp yamaha motor almost twice the hp it should have but has been modified to take it and goes like stink
Its fast !! and i love early morning runs on the harbour when its like glass and shiney smooth .
Boats and boating is my life as long as it floats dont care what its like .

[gonzo]

I am shipwright and as the saying goes "If you want it done right, do it yourself"

[pdwiley]

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

My name is Logan McDermot. I am a industrial design student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I looking for anyone to who is willing to respond to this thread names will not be used.

What compelled you to build your own boat?

Stupidity & arrogance.

PDW

[Wayne Grabow]

1. What compelled you to build your own boat? Although an amateur, I design every boat that I build (seven so far) because I enjoy the mental challenge and the creativity involved. I also enjoy the exercise.
2.What is the hardest part of boat building? Finding the time. Life has many demands/interests. Of the specific tasks involved, I would say that sanding with a long board to get a perfectly smooth finish is hardest.
3. Premanufactured parts to assist in the building process: I don't care to build my own engine or boat trailer. Also deck fittings, lights and controls.
4. Is the build your passion or is it sailing? Actually the design is my passion. The build proves that you are more than just a dreamer, and the use of the boat proves that it is practical. Now that I have a better shop, the build is becoming more of a pleasure.

[rberrey]

1: Cost ,knowing it,s done right , higher quility standards, knowing your boat in and out. Finding a design that better fits my needs and wants, than a production boat.
2: Time to build.
3: Dagger board , rudder.
4ont know yet.

[Charly]

Originally Posted by LMcDermot

My name is Logan McDermot. I am a industrial design student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I looking for anyone to who is willing to respond to this thread names will not be used.

What compelled you to build your own boat? Hi Logan. Cost. I simply could not afford anything close to what I wanted in a boat without building it myself.

What is the hardest part of boat building?Patience

If one could purchase pre-manufactured parts to assist in the building process what would that be? (specific parts, or pieces that are a problem to build)Boards and rudders

Is the build your passion or is it sailing?Both, but in different ways


If you could please answer this thread it would be much appreciated. It would also help me in the completion of my senior thesis.

Thank you,

Logan

good luck

[gonzo]

Most hardware, fasteners, plywood, paint, electrical equipment and wiring, sails are some of the ready made items I buy