35 to 40 foot power cat kit

All

I have been looking around for someone who could help me with a design of a 35 to 40 foot power cat that I can kit build and who would be willing to supply the necessary specs or files for the kit to be cnc'd here in the US. I talked with one designer who's designs I really liked but they are outside the US and I would have to import the kit which will add some substantial cost to the project.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

 

1 40 foot box is not that expensive. They can come complete, engines the lot.

 

Several years ago when I was importing machinery a 40 was running me between 4 and 6 thousand if I recall correctly. I'd rather put that towards something else on the project. Nobody has any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

The problem with what your asking, is how does a designer know that you wont distribute the digital files, modify them, or otherwise compromise them? If you buy from someone inside the states, you can get protection by signing disclosure statements, copyrights etc... but from outside the states, nobody can be bothered pursuing this type of thing across international borders and judicial systems etc and so its too risky to do this kind of business.
my take on it anyway...

IMHO, youd have to find someone inside the states, who would then ask you to sign a bunch of legal stuff before supplying the files.

Apart from that, you can buy paper plans from heaps of designers across the globe. Then you simply need to transpose the drawings into CAD files to use for cutting (im not sure if this is legal btw). This would take some time, or if you paid someone to do it, cost some money.

Either way, 4-6grand in the cost of a 40fter is practically nothing. Precut Kits here in australia for a 40ft fibreglass powercat, cost around $100-140k for the shell. Then you still have to do the fitout and buy engines etc...

http://www.fusioncats.com/kitcatamarans/ these guys started in australia, now they have agents worldwide, including the USA... nice boats...

 

Its really funny how boat designers will send you the full detailed plans, but not the cnc files.

Once you have the plans, its not a big job to input the co-ordinates into cad, and generate cutting files. Sure, most plans come with the condition you dont do it, but there really is no real protection.

If I was a designer, I would just charge another $400 for the cnc files, knowing that failing to provide them is just a couple of grand away from the builder getting them done themselves.

 

I have looked at the fusion cats and they are very nice but with them from my reading you are talking about 2 to 3 containers. I realize that the shipping is really a small part of the overall cost but one of the reasons I am looking to do this is to save money. If I had an extra half mil laying around I probably wouldn't bother building my own

I also completely understand why designers out of the country would not want to give up the cnc files. I poorly posted my original post. I would like to find a designer in the US to work with but it seems that most of the cat designers that I have found are outside the US. So if anyone has any names or web sites it would be greatly appreciated

Thanks for all your help

 

Fusion cats have an agency in the USA, not sure if they still have to freight all the parts from australia or whether the kits are put together in the US..., youd have to ask them and the contact info is on their website i posted earlier. All i can tell you is the price for the 40ft powercat kit is $140k australian dollars here.

Heres a website that details building of the kit, goes together pretty quick and happens to be in my home town...
http://www.cruisingnorth.com.au

 

This site will give you a shipping quote. For the best rate pick the largest port possible.

http://www.globalshippingcosts.com/

 

I see no problem to give CNC files; the only issue we have a) almost no stock designs and b) we design them for temporary molds.

 

It's nothing. Your holding costs will be more than that. You'll spend that on rags and gloves and papertowels and dustmasks building a 40'er. You could spent that on light and heat during the build.

Depending on the material, if if the kit comes from the east, it is probably made of materials mfg in the east and the scrap will be recycled in the east.
If the kit is cut in the US from material shipped from the east and the scraps are shipped back to the east for recycle, where do you see the savings potential? You are paying for maybe 40% more transport.

 

Rinker:

Maybe you know this...suppose you like that Aussie kit cat.
-The shell is $140k.
-considering all the other goodies and finished inside better than painted plywood and lawn chairs...what...$400k?

Then depending on how much money you make,take into account the money lost in not working your career for 2 years plus any labour help you need.
Add that to the total. What....$500k++???


There's near new 43' power cats on yachtworld for $400k...and depending on what you want to do,you can get 10 year old 43' Lagoons for $200k.
It's a buyer's market.

Refresh yourself with Masalai's epic tale of woe.

 

No, the fusion kit was put together by 3-4 people, and finished ready to launch in 47 days...

The kit is made up of finished, gelcoated, molded parts that are mostly glued together. Theres some taping to do, and only have to fair out some of the tape join strips.

 

There are two Fusion Cats being "built" in Sarasota FL USA. Pretty cool, the parts are not put together the way one might expect. For instance, I would have thought the hulls would be as one piece, not.
And Groper is right, the joint strips are few and in such areas that are pretty much hidden.

Steve

 

I looked at the site...didn't see they were in such big pieces...looking closer-bloody hell that IS the way to go.

$140k,IMO even at $200k it would be a bargain over those duflex strips.

A few years ago was looking into power cats-an Aus. company had a 40' and with those duflex strips IIRC it was 6500 hours to complete but not overly nice..
The 50' was 7500?

If they had a 50' it would be sorely tempting to me,but the better mpg over my 50' mono that is now worth just over $200k,it would take me 100 years or circumnavigating twice to make up the price difference by saving fuel.