Help Help - build site on Lake Erie

I want to build a catamaran. Been looking though lots and lots of designs. Now all I have to do is find a good place to build. I live in Pittsburgh PA and want to launch on lake erie. My plan is to build the hulls then cut all the big pieces and finish the build near the lake. The problen is I need a place to finish. Does anyone know of a place? My other option is to build near the one of the rivers and float it down the rivers out to the ocean, Again Does anyone know a place I could do that?
I willing to do anything to be able to build mt dream boat.

 

Once in a while that idea comes to mind. Depends on where you feel comfortable. Two weeks ago I did a trip to Pittsburg and on the way back followed the Ohio to East Liverpool. Saw plenty of shut down factories, farms, back of businesses, and the such were a direct agreement with the owner could be worked out. The biggest problem I could imagine would be the fear some owners have of lawsuits but im sure the good old boys that would be willing to work with you outnumber the fearful .

Ditto for Cleveland, although in someplaces you could be a mile away. Could easily think of several places down in the flats right on the river where it would be easy. Just build it and move it if you have to, thats what the roads were built for, they are public-free for all. Once in while I work with a guy that moves houses and slightly hampers traffic, no big deal, there are alternate roads to avoid delay and some people actually enjoy watching men at work.

 

If you ever start i would enjoy checking it out. Today I looked at a catamaran I designed and if i ever begin to build it, it could be built with the two hulls, two beams, engine, rudders, keel already built and quickly assembled onsite. Being near steel city there are an abundance of affordable crane companies and you can finish the rest of build in the water. What design are you thinking of building?

 

I was thinking about building k-designs pelican. I have a small budget to us year to year so it will be a slow process. I wish I could find a design that could be built in three piece and then assembled at the yard even if the final assemble to all day I would be cool with that. I have to have a boat with enough room for me my wife and three kids. I also want it to be big enough to do some open ocean cruising. Maybe someone has a design they want to share I could pay if the design price is reasonable. The one design I am wanting to build cost about 1000 to me that is reasonable.
Thanks

 

Have some plans for a Crowther Spindrift 37 mkIII.

 

I built a 50' mono hull from scratch next to my home and then using crane & semi hauled it to a marina for final assembly. Building a cat increases the difficulty in transporting the 130 miles from Pittsburg to Erie because of the cat will be too wide for hwy restrictions. It takes so so long to build a boat that one should build it next to home for convenience of working on it or you would most likely never finish the project. I reccomend to build as much as possible at home or sell your home & move to Erie to build your cat. I don't know if you can work out the logistics for hauling the parts to Erie but give it some thought. Finding a marina that would allow you to do the final assembly on their property should not be an issue. The move only cost me $2000.00 for loading crane, trucking and unloading w/travel lift. That is so much cheaper than trying to rent a building for 5-10 years. Good Luck!

 

After much debate and looking we feel that building a MonoHull that will fit are Family. Like it was said we can do the complete projrct at home and ship it. If someone knows of a great design that will fit a family of five and has a beam of less then 14ft please let me know. Thank you

 

Have you and your family done any cruising? If you haven't it would be a good idea to try it out and see if you like it. Many families end up breaking up or worse on boats.

 

We have not done anything long then a few days as for cruising. We have done alot of camping. We also plan on sailing on the lakes for a year to get use to it. If living onboard for a few weeks doesn't work then we will just enjoy the boat on weekends and holidays. If worse I will sell it and I will then cry. My kids are getting excited about the build and my to oldest girls and I have been reading blogs of cruising families but we will see what happens.

 

Here is an excellent design: wood epoxy 434 at www.bruceroberts.com The photo of the white boat next to the garage is my build, launched in August of 2011. We made approx 1000 miles on her last year in the Great Lakes.

 

I think I have

I think I have decided. Just wabt some input what do people thing between the bruce robert434 and glen-l 36 dephin? Or een Glen-l 44? Thoughts please.

 

Why not buy a used boat? It will save you years of construction and a lot of money.

 

reason to build

Ok so this question is an easy one. I want to. Its that easy I love building things. I know I can buy what I want but I feel my children will learn and respect something they had a hand in. Plus I have a child that is much too young to go sailing with. even if it cost me 100.000 usd to build and 10 years to build everyday we wor on it is a good day with my kids.

Plus I think I might be crazy LOL

 

Here are estimates on the time required. A 40 hr a week job comes out at 2,000 hrs per year. A 25,000 lb boat comes out to 2 1/2 - 3 yrs full time for an ambitious amateur.
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/fi...ing/estimate-man-hours-build-yacht-25530.html
There are probably other threads dealing with the cost required to build a boat. You can add X years of rent, utilities, heat etc. to the cost. Plus inflation.

 

So let me explain I am 37 and I got plenty of time. I need money either to build or buy. I look at the sizr boat I want and if I buy it will cost over 150000 usd plus intrest plus refitting to fit my needs plus stprage fees. If I build it, It cost 200000 USD and I get excetely what I want and there is no payments till I put it in the water.
I know this sopunds like I am a jerk but I get tired of people telling me that I should just buy. why can't someone good luck if you need some advice let us know. And if I don't eer finish then all you other people will bw able to say i told you so.
I am not buy cause I want to build plus my children are to young 7,6 and 2. Fun ages but not responsable enough to enjoy sailing or boating or even fishing.
thank you for all you support.