Manie's Microcruiser

... to freedom. Never give up!

 

manie

so true what you are saying about being able to sit on boat and sleep ,it gives you the insparation to continue. Looking good and hope weather comes right for us in sa .

 

At Last

this was a great weekend
bitterly cold, my hands, back, feet, everything HURTS
as I sit here this Monday morning I can barely type my hands as so stiff
BUT the fruits of hard work is sweet
the song in my heart and head just whistles along nonstop

SHE IS READY TO BE TURNED OVER

its like a new girlfriend ready to roll onto her back
**** to think that I used to be 30 years old yesterday
oh well, back to reality, this old fart will have to stay with the boats

so as soon as I can get a crew together of 12 guys we will turn her, on the next available weekend

right in the bow is the anchor / chain & rode wet compartment - which drains to the outside
behind that is the sealed storage compartment for fuel etc. that is only accesable from the deck, so that no smells or spilage can enter the cabin
behind that is the forward cabin that is food storage that is entered via the inside
all 3 compartments have got flotation chambers underneath that will be filled with bottles and foam ( same as at the stern compartments)

this summer is going to be sweet my friends

 

Hey Manie - you can borrow my gantry of you like ..

 

Keep it going! Every boat being built before mine is an inspiration for me to keep going!

 

right now I would give my left b@!! for that workshop and gantry

 

Yeah, that's about what it takes.

I'm a bit behind you on the boat build though. Will be starting anytime 'real soon' right after I clear out the old machinery and finish the amenities installation

Seriously though, for anyone starting on a boat building project, having decent facilities is 30% of the work.

 

A tiny bit of advice for all potential boatbuilders out there

go small - go now

when I started this project TWO years ago I was never "really" sure if I would have the money to see it thru, and over the 2 years I had many many ideas on how to make it work and save enough to get it done. There were months when money was short and so there were months that I could not work on the boat. But when you REALLY have it at heart you do get back to it "somehow"
Basically its what you make of it, but you can do the job in bits, with small bits of expenditure. The project becomes part of family life and the wife and children learn to appreciate that Dad must also get "something" out of the deal. Many fathers work and ALL the money goes to house, wife, children and school. There will always be a new TV / furniture / expense if you allow it to happen. My family now accept my hobby as part of family life and expenses - and still I am last in line, but what the heck I do get my share

Then as the kids get older and the wife see's that this "boating" thing is not going to go away, you start realising that ultimately this is YOUR boat and the family is not really interested. So I know full well that I will be alone on the boat 90% of the time, oh sure they will be there for the launching, but its not really their cup of tea. They have their own interests and hobbies.

So although the "boat" and all that goes with it, has become part of the family, it remains an intensely private affair, mistress if you like
I can stare into her eyes all day long, never get bored, never get enough.

So
go and build a boat
it will change your life
some will fall in love
some will walk away
only way to find out who you are is to try

get stuck in and go for it

 

Way to go Manie, Best wishes...

To your little 'poem' add:

DO IT NOW, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE,
DO NOT MAKE EXCUSES, whilst you are 'young and fit',
ELSE you may regret all that time wasted... AS I AM ???

 

en jy sal jou gat moet roer ou maat

You better get cracking my friend, we not missing out on the coming round the island race again on end January 2012
My Lotus 7 will be ready and present to charm up the ladies for us

 

Manie how can you go now in a potential build?
Shouldn't that be buy now... go now... and buy the vessel to suit your needs

 

Unfortunately in our very small market (and possibly all small markets) there is very limited choice. Simply put what is out there is rotten. When I looked at it I was very scared that a re-build / fixer upper would be difficult. Today I am happy that I made the right choice. For us with the ZAR exchange rate buying is difficult.

One very important aspect of home building is that you don't need "gold taps" so the selling price of a reasonably good boat includes all the "features" that you don't need or want. One aspect of many production boats is that they cater for many bunks. The designs cram as much sleeping space in as they can, resulting in tiny galleys and even smaller heads. As my micro is getting closer to finish I have already started drawing my next and final boat. She is 9m long (30 foot) - mono - along the same style and lines as the micro with a lifting centerboard and bulb keel.
The major feature of this "retirement" boat is that it only has TWO BUNKS
The entire design's focus is on a big galley with a big head and gas heater hot water shower and a decent water maker. So instead of having 8 to 10 bunks on a 30 footer you only have 2 and lots of nice comfortable living spaces for two people and plenty of packing spaces.

So as I am busy with this 30 foot design at the moment AND THE COSTS -it is coming back AGAIN now that it is cheaper to build at present and I get what I want and everything is new. I keep a look out for rebuild websites and often in the time that he has ripped the interior out and fixed and cleaned it all up I could have built a new hull cheaper and faster.

As you guys know by now, the hull is the cheap and easy part, there are many many half build hulls all over the world. The reality of a boat build kicks in when you start on the interior and fitting out. That is also when the disillusionment kicks in for you and the family. Everyday you and they walk past the boat and everything looks exactly the same as the day before, only difference is it swallowed more and more money.

So to add to Mas's input I am also sorry I didn't start sooner when you have better health and physical strength. If you really want a boat the money will come, bit by bit, it takes time, BUT don't change your ideas halfway and don't give up. And very important, build a good practical boat that you can repair and maintain yourself. Always remember many women don't really like living on a boat, it will never be big enough for her. So you have to be a little selfish here and cater for your own very basic and simple need.

So there you have it, in my neck of the woods, building is still a good option

 

Well CNMD but happy, I cannot fault your arguments, except for a lack of the use of the word catamaran...
Remember this one at 30 ft? http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/cheapcat.html and the "cat-swinging space" is always appreciated by the ladies...

 

Finally updated the blog with lots of pics
enjoy

 

Big Day

Big Day

well not feeling so good today - waaaaay tooooo much red wine last night
anyway all's well and everything worked well, nerves were a bit shot, but hey, nobody on this forum can tell me that when you see two years of hard work swinging in the air that you are calm!

The next step of glassing and painting the outside will go fast because I am going to get help, it's too much to do alone.
So now there's no more sitting in the boat drinking and dreaming - better get on with this job

more pics on the blog