Build a boat to sail around the world

at my old yacht club they get a lot of cruising yachts calling in for a few days because of the geographical location. i don't think i have seen one over 50 ft and the majority would have been around 34-38 ft. don't know if thats worth mentioning but mid 30's seems to be a very popular size for cruising couples.

 

How far have you come with my tabernacle? As soon as you are done I'll start buying lottery tickets for the big trip to down under
Until then I'll guard the Dickinson with my life, promise.
Walter

 

If you could see the amount of steel I have left in the shop, plus the plasma cutter, welders and machine shop with lathes, milling machines and support tooling, you'd stop worrying about your tabernacle! No problem once you get this far - there's a mooring out the front and one of my neighbours has a private jetty & slipway.

I've fitted 2 tabernacles to my hull as per Tom's design. No pilothouse though, the design & mast location made it all too hard. I may regret that but if I do, I own a workshop......

I'd send you a picture but that didn't work so well last time. I'm going away for a week or so to let the paint on the inside kick off properly before I get tempted to start fitting stuff inside.

The hull with bowsprit tabernacle ended up a fraction under 12m because a lot of rules change at that point. I can pivot the sprit and therefore it's legally less than 12m LOA. Rules are things made to be circumvented.

PDW

 

I agree in that 35' to 40' seems a very common size for cruising couples, but this may also just be a price point situation, as costs rise exponentially after this. Most find handling a 35' to 40' yacht manageable, particularly if they've tried a 50' more then once.

 

I found 45' (sloop) was the maximum size monohull I'd want to handle without powered winches. It was just on the cusp of being annoying, but with that lwl comes a nice ride in chop.

 

Keep it affordable

If I were your age again, I would have definitely considered a Dix 30 or Dix 33 Houtbay steel boat for a circumnavigation. It is a simple, yet spacious boat, well engineered and plans builder friendly. It even has a transom hung rudder/tiller to keep $$ in check.
Since you are only 26 years young and I presume still a bachelor, do you need more? Cheaper mast, sails winches, engine, mooring fees etc etc over a 40ft range and that adds up to a lot of greenbacks. Even if you have a lady on your side, The Dix 30/33 boat is still big enough.

During the early 90's I sold my personal Tom Thumb 24 to a youngster that did a circumnavigation in that boat over an extended period and the last I heard, she was sailing the Pacific I have to add that my TT24 had a stretched cabin top and different interior that set it apart from the stock ones.
My question. How big a boat do you really need and how much you can afford to spend?

 

The problem is the time until I can get away. But since I have chickened out and bought a used boat instead of building my own I have a headstart on you

Pictures are always appreciated!
Cheers
Walter

 

You are a smart man....................

 

Sure it's easier and faster to go off and buy one ready made as suggested, but if you are creative, boat building is hugely satisfying in its self...

What style of sailing and sailing boat are you attracted to?

For me, the detail and finish on any boat should match its style. A solid unpretentious cruising boat can look great with low tech equipment, slightly wobbly finish and basic joinery - if all is ship-shape...where as an "up-market" design just looks sad if done like that, it will need everything to match the style of the concept.

If you want shiny up-market and performance, I'd go off and buy a second hand one. It is achievable by an inexperienced amateur BUT only with enormous effort and you'll waste so much time on trying to keep the standard of finish where you could be progressing the project.

For solid and unpretentious why not look at some chine steel designs such as Annie Hill's Wylo by Nick Skeates. These are designed to be built by amateurs, look good with very basic gear and finishing and the design has proved its self. A white-wood interior with basic joinery is perfectly in keeping with the design, it is simple, cheap to build and functional.

Nick.

 

Those who are 'out-there' and remain cruising for extended periods of time, (a LIFESTYLE thing), - the smaller boats start at 24 ft, (that I have seen mucking around Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, PNG and the Queensland Barrier Reef regions - which is my regular playground), and are solo sailors or couples. These folk are always exploring...

As size increases, the boats tend to be making passage to some regional centre or particular location which is the purpose of their travel/cruise such as Darwin to Dili. - - Other organised cruises in company go to places such as Cairns to Louisades (eastern end of Milne Bay Province), or to the dive sites near Kavieng, New Ireland PNG, - and - Ghizo in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands - or - Port Vila and Santo in Vanuatu to mention just a few. - - Then there are the cruisers who independently visit speciality tourist spots like the land divers on Tannah, Vanuatu and various Volcanic, hot springs and so on throughout the region. - - Lots to keep the visitor interested, and far more than I will be able to see and appreciate fully in my lifetime...

The essence being, is to figure out where and what interests you the builder and hopefully voyager and select a design that facilitates your aspirations... The logical response being to go with the smallest design that fits, as that will mean less initial cost and more money left to extend happiness with a longer cruise.

 

You obviously haven't done much/enough of it

 

And the prime reason they are always exploring is that boats are damn expensive - especially if you don't have a job and you're cruising.

As small as you are comfortable with and as small as you can and still carry the required stores is the way to go.

 

Wise man..... provided you don't need/want to do a refit that negates the time savings anyway.

I found a boat that would have done, at a reasonable price, well after the point it was worth quitting building mine. It did need a total rebuild but still would have been quicker, I think, and cheaper. Such is life, I expected nothing else. My way I get what I want with all equipment as I decide I need it and I like building things anyway. I bought a new Bukh DV36 engine to put in so no worries about the state of the engine. I have a swaging press (big hydraulic one) so can do all my own rigging wire etc.

My boat will be in the water before Christmas. Just not sure which one ATM.

PDW

 

I don't know about "wise". The boat I bought doesn't need a refit, at least nothing big. That's the upside. But I still have second thoughts when I think about how immensely satisfying it would have been to sail a boat that I might have build myself. And don't underestimate the importance of getting the boat that you want with things exactly how and where you want them. In my case I could really live without the deckstepped mast and with a skeg hung rudder instead of a spade.
Building or buying, it's a compromise either way .

I keep my fingers crossed for the coming one!

Walter

 

Thanks everyone for all the input. One reason I have decided to build my own is the satisfaction of it. I have been reading all the posts along with books and websites. I am leaning heavily towards trimarans. I have sailed several tris and many monohulls so I understand the difference. I am lookin at the Cross 45R. Does anyone have any comments on those boats? My favorite design of tri is the Crowther 38 but those are no longer available for build. Thanks for everyone's help. It should also be noted that I only "plan" on stopping when I have arrived safely at my home port. This will be a nonstop run.