Van De Stadt - Design/Build queries

Hi All -
I'm reasonably new to this site and forum....Very impressed with what I've seen/read so far.
I'm putting the feelers out for anyone who may have experience in building a Van De Stadt 21 or 26. I too am looking into building this design however this will be my first 'real' experience building a boat of this size.
I see this is a project allowing my family to be involved in the process as a bit of a 'bonding' exercise, however being a little 'green fingered', I'm struggling to ascertain time/program to build such a boat and establishing such basics as a preliminary budget (for build only). I am an architect by qualification and can relate to costing/programing houses, school etc....Different kettle of fish when it comes to building a boat I'd imagine.
Hoping there's someone who can relate with my queries.

Great work on the fabulous site.

Best Wishes,

Adam
amartin@bullock.com.au

 

Don't know about those VDS designs, are they ply, aluminium or what? I assume not steel because they're a bit on the small side for that.

I'm building a steel 38' sailboat at the moment. One thing I really strongly suggest is to make sure you have somewhere out of the weather to do the building. I built my shed first and the only regret I have is, I didn't make it bigger (and if I had, guess what my regret would still be....)

PDW

 

Thanks PDW -
VDS is a timber construction (multi chine or round bilge).
Do you have any ideas on construction times? I did read somewhere that it's normally 2kg/hour......500hrs per ton Does this sound correct?

 

Welcome to the asylum Adam.

These figures are always on the very optimistic side. In most cases between far too optimistic and just insane.

VdS is not as far from reality as most of the others, but still a bit.

A weight based estimation is only as good as the weight calculation it is based on. There you have a good point, VdS gives correct figures.

Now it gets complicated.
Depending on your skills and on the quality of the interior furnishing and finish you will come out at around 1 kg/man hr and 1,5kg/hr. The latter only when your skills, tools, workshop etc. are all close to perfect.
If you have a helper you speed your build up. If you have generous space around the boat during construction, you speed up, if there is easy access to the next hardware outlet.....
and so on.

There are so many factors to consider, that it is almost impossible to calculate one special project.

I understand that the choosen design is either executed in ply (hardchine) or in strip plank (round bilge) ?

Although it seems to be easier to plank in ply, it usually is not much faster if any. I personally tend to recommend the strip planked method, especially on sailing craft. The round bilge looks nicer and has the much higher resale value.

The hull is only a small fraction of the whole task, do not overestimate any savings in time or expenses when comparing methods.

We say, that for a homebuilder the hull and deck is about 90% of the burden, the rest is another 90%.

Regards
Richard

 

12 step plan for prospective boatbuilders

1. Go to a Psychologist and find the real reason you want to build a boat.
2. See how much you can buy a similar working boat for.
3. See how much you can buy a similar hull for.
4. Figure out how long you think it will take, double or triple it.
5. Find a dry, roofed location to work in. Extremely important. make sure that it is legal to build a boat there.
6. See if your wife/Girlfriend whoever won't leave you since you are spending all your free time and money building a boat.
7. Figure out all the running gear cost and installation costs, multiple it by two. Add all the cost up and see if you can afford it.
8. Once you have all the information go back to the psychologist, priest, mother and see if they think your crazy.
9. Build a dingy, see if you have skills and patience for a greater project.
10. Go sailing on a similar vessel and see if you like it.
11. Think how it is going to effect your employment ....
12. If you are still otherwise undeterred then welcome to the elite group of crazy boatbuilders...