I want to build a class lightning

So basically what my title says, I wanna build a lightning I can race. The reason for the build is to be my senior project for school next year. I'm 17 an been sailing pretty much all my life and now want a boat I built myself and not just bought. What would be the first step to this project?

 

Start with

Sparkman and Stephens

http://sparkmanstephens.blogspot.com.es/2011/03/lightning-design-265.html

Lightning class

http://www.lightningclass.org/classRules/documents/lightningSpecifications.asp

The boat is a bit big and expensive for a school project

 

Ya but my dad is gonna help me out a good bit, he built a snipe when he was my age so he still kinda knows how to go about everything and he will help funds lol. Are there any kits to buy that I start off with or just get the plans and go.

 

Best to contact the Lightning class.

They might have useful information for home builders.

 

How could I go about doing that? And it's not just gonna be a school project I wanna race it, I've raced JY 15's for years an I think it's time to move to bigger an not dead fleet that I can do for a long time.

 

Start with a Google or Bing search for "Lightning Class", then go to the Lightning Class website. The store has plans for building both fiberglass and wood Lightnings, and several booklets on building wood Lightnings. There is also a page of contacts.

 

I just shot the class president an email asking how I need to get started. Does anyone know of anything I can do?

 

Order a set of plans and the booklets from the association.

 

Why a Lightning?

Is your heart set on a Lightning? Big, heavy, expensive, sailed with 3.

The Fireball has active home builders and would be a higher performance alternative that goes together with less hours and less $$

http://www.fireball-international.com/

 

First you need to find out if you have a local fleet.

Fleets are always happy to encourage new members.

In the perfect world , you could get a trashed out Lightning hull and rig for free , then build you new boat side by side with the shipwreck and then perhaps transfer the rigging or foils or trailer to your new hull.

A shipwreck could be valuable

 

Are there any boats that may be a easier undertaking

 

Oh ya there is a local fleet. I live ten minutes from the lake and were members at the sailing club there. My heart is kind of set on a lightning but I'm open to all other options.

 

http://www.lightningclass.org/marketplace/store/plans/index.asp

You were probably expected to search a little bit for your self, if you are going to have the work ethic to get this built. There is a set of pictures on building a boat.

There is probably a forum dedicated to Lightnings, didn't find it for you. You will probably want to get an estimate of the cost. It might be a fair amount.

Good luck.

 

You really have no choice but to choose a design that has a local fleet.

Locally our fleet is Snipe. Great boats. Very active class, top class sailors.

http://www.snipeus.org/classic-snipes.asp?scp=53



I believe that homebuilders build snipes and that wooden snipes are competitive.

http://www.clarkcraft.com/cgi-local...3514&cart_id=d3225fdaea3e09cc359cd59a79576f40

http://www.harken.com/onedesign/snipe.php

 

Do the lightning, you won't regret it, I had a wood lightning, that I sailed with only one other helper, that thing hauled, about my funest small boat.