Boat design... I want to build one, so I did a little leg work...

the SOR is a real problem for many of us--me in particular...

watch this vid - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enS6hXjPT1k

you'll get an idea of how hard it is to get exactly what you want--

the rule of thumb is- "every boat decision is a series of chess moves which eventually end in YOU being checkmated..."

there is no perfect boat--i have spent years looking for it... it just doesnt exist...im just in denial still...

an SOR should be an SORC: " statement of reasonable comprimises..."

why not build something like what you were out on?..btw looks like a small "diesel duck"???

building a boat is not always cheaper-- buying used almost always guarantees as much "work" and $$...period

most times thbis means almost having to rebuild it anyway...

when you build you save big bucks...could you buy that kijiji 44 Georgian bay cruiser for 7500.00? yea--sounds like a deal--until you start to see what needs to be done to replace/repair/ redo

--trust me ive looked at used options for years and almost invariably- it is better money spent building your own custom boat-- its new and you know what your getting..,.

my looneys worth!...

 

So - have you got yours finished yet?

Mine isn't but I haven't really taken it seriously for the last 5 months or so. Getting back into it now.

I agree that you can't have it all and also if it looks like a bargain, double check everything because you've probably overlooked something expensive.

PDW

 

nawww- I have the engine- aquamet 22 shaft, bearings, four blade props(2)
stuffing box(brand new) which picked up over the last 5 months but this summer was a write off--- Illpick up in the spring--Ill save all winter and -tentatively have my hull done by summer...hopefully...we just got nailed with that hurricane--not as bad as the coast but the GL's are churning up a froth...It wouldnt surprise me if we lost some boats on the GL's here...
this is the kind of hurricane weather that sunk the fitzgerald. and yes ive seen true gales. they come on the lakes starting in late sept and last till around freeze up--some of the worst weather you can imagine...'the gales of november remembered" is a tribute line to the severity of this god forsaken weather...

cant wait to see you launch her--you did a fine job.

your must be coming into build season just now?

 

Yeah. Might post a bit more soon. Don't want to hijack this thread really.

For parkland, a steel barge would be good I think. A future whimsy of mine is a houseboat using a steel barge as the starting point, then live on it. 2 diesel BOB drives. No more council rates etc just $70 pa for my mooring and I could park it on the tidal flats. I wouldn't be thinking of trailering it though.

PDW

 

How could you moor for 70$ ?

I wouldn't trailer it either, if I could find a place on the lake to keep such a large unit.

I wish I had 250,000$ laying around for some waterfront property.

 

ok im game to get into a barge/skow type platform for a houseboat/cruiser thread...how about the perfect ??... you lead we follow... mines 30'x10' flat bottom jon aluminum, monstrosities included as to not high jack this thread.

Cheers
EDD

 

Sure I posted this before,if I were to build a live aboard type vessel this would be it. Only thing i'd change is to make it more rectangular for more interior space.

http://www.mooseislanddesign.com/scowboat.htm


As for SOR I am 99% happy with what I have: have sacrificed an open top deck-which I love for evening drinks under the stars- for sleeker looks ( no plastic tops nor windows) and a more practical interior. Other than that it's perfect for me.

 

Last bill I got for the mooring out the front of my place was $72 for 12 months. It's gone up from $60 pa 12 years ago.

I've got waterfront (well nearly, 20m to the high tide line) and I didn't pay anything like $250K for it when I bought it. Which was a fair while ago.

Not really interested in building a house-barge as yet, got to finish my 12m sailboat and play with it enough to get bored first.

I downloaded these off of Duckworks site a long time ago, no copyright or owner notice on them so I'll post them here but if it becomes an issue, they'll disappear. Food for thought; I've built a shack on my country place to these dimensions.

PDW

 

Parkland--i got bored wth the same old scenery when i was growing up on a huge lake in ontario (muskoka lake!)

also I lived on three houseboats year round here in ontario--no one owns the water--i had the same issues with my boat niggling into others minds, that I didnt pay taxes or mooring fees,and somehow i was getting away with something--evenb though- the people who hated me had large 50 ft boats with the same berths, WC's and such as in my houiseboat...

but the laws are the laws--and since no one owns the water, no-one or no government can force you out--marina's have advantages..like shelter from storms i.e. breakwaters...

At one point in my adventure, the MNR phoned me up and told me to move--"that it belonged in a marina and other people didnt like it" I was anchored at the time and asked why? the mnr guy stated" they owned the land under the water"..so i asked how long i was allowed to camp on crown land- the reply was 28 days- I then asked how far i had to move to be "legally moved" he explained- 100 ft... i said--thank you very much and hung up the phone-never to be hassled again!...

btw your houseboat designs will not be very seaworthy on that lake- there will be good sized swells--and it becomes very worrisome in a gale...you wont like the ride at all..
I like the glen-l bearcat converted to a liveaboard as someone suggested.

this advice is from a long time, year round liveaboard --even in solid ice on the lakes with the sleds running by at 70 mph...it was awesome...