price of hull materials

i was wondering if someone could get me an estimate per square meter or so what the price of building a hull would be in various types of cored fiberglass, mild steel, aluminum allow, and cedar stripped plank?.. looking for average ballpark costs to estimate the cost to build a hull in various materials

 

That's a loaded question. It'll vary wildly depending on where you are and what's available. Basically marine plywood is the most cost effective material (from my experience). Foam core will be double (minimum) of plywood. Steel will be near double or more and aluminum will be 3 to 4 times the cost of plywood (depends on how much you're willing to do yourself vs. contract out). Cedar strip will be pretty labour intensive but depending on the source of the materials might be close to plywood in cost. A lot depends on how much you do yourself (or can do yourself) and a lot depends on the size and quality of the design work that went into the boat. Fit and finish will also have a big effect on ultimate cost where a "workboat" finish vs. a "yacht finish" will drive up the cost exponentially. Basically the cost to build the hull is 10% to 15% of the total cost to build a completed boat. That being a given a few hundred bucks in materials really makes a small dent on the bottom line cost of the boat. I suggest you get a spreadsheet worked up with all your materials so that you can compare them as you shop. You'll find lots of tips on sources on here but you have to do your homework and do some searching.

 

Better to consider estimates for displacement to get a bit of accuracy. Getting more reliable calcs you'll have to choose a specific boat with scantlings for the materials you're comparing.

 

well i can find the exact square footage of the hull i am looking to use by looking at the blueprints, but it doesnt tell me much for estimated costs to build the hull itself, as for the price of the rest of the boat i will be doing much the fab work myself on all interior components, and im looking to use bamboo planks for the deck, and interior flooring

 

Get Dave Gerr's book The Elements of Boat Strength. There you find scantlings for different materials and can calculate material thicknesses etc and so also the costs or pay someone to do it.. It's the only way to get an answer with more accuracy than KnottyBuoyz estimate
BR Teddy
ps Since I'm also building a boat just a word of the costs.
They tend to rise all the time and eventually to a sum which is excactly as much as you have succeeded to put aside from living etc during the process. That's valid if you not happened be in somebodys will, or made a mortage...

 

material price doesnt really seem to matter to me anyway, since im restricted to a steel hull (lots of north atlantic sailing, sometimes above the arctic circle) where i will be... umm, so yeah, steel, and for the hull design of my choice i was quoted $6k in all the steel neccessary to build the hull and deck, though i think im going to go with a wooden, or more likely bamboo plank deck and interior so... for $6k i should be able to get the hull, deck, and the interior walls and floors done, depending on how i design the 40' interior, and i still havent decided what sort of engine for auxilery power, or what sort of mast/sail plan ill use, but im thinking probably a single mast sloop or cutter, MAYBE something with a mizzen

 

If you're thinking $6k for the hull, than by KB's rule of thumb you're talking $40-$60k for the boat? As a first guess it sounds reasonable for materials, if you do the work yourself and don't go overboard on incidental gear (skip the triple 19" flatscreen radar/chartplotter/GPS/fishfinder/DVD/microwave system).

Get Gerr's book. It is awesome.

Costs generally go pretty nicely (very close to linear) with displacement for boats of similar fitout and comparable build quality.

What plans are you building from? Someone here might be familiar with the design or something similar. It would be nice to see more of what you have in mind.

 

im white in live with the dixdesign ankon 40... its a 40' steel hull only as wide as an average 30' hull, so its long and narrow, which is perfect for north atlantic sailing where there could be ice, not only will the steel add strength, but the narrower shape should allow it to squeeze through some spots if i absolutely have to, plus steel boats already built with these plans have made 12 knots... and i wont be going too overboard on the interior, ill be fabricated it myself, including the seating structures, cabinatry, the wiring.. any advice as to what sort of sail plan i should use? something with a single, or a single with a mizzen would probably be the best, though im thinking more like a sloop or cutter... another plus on the design is it is a true round bilge design

 

Opening a can of worms here but if you making yourself the sailplan (asI) maybe two masted rig gives more adjustability afterwards if not totally happy with it. Sail area divided to smaller sails are easier to handle not needing as much expensive gear like winches..