Building My Boat : Pros and Cons

[Rurudyne]

Maybe this is a good summary:

Which would you rather have: An old 1980's boat hull with new engines, or a new 2014 boat hull moulding with old 1980's reconditioned engines?

Those engines are way to new.

Now, a US Navy model "M" Compound, or it's equivalent ...

 

[yellow cat]

to build or not to build !

Yes, a good survey, by a very good surveyor on the use boat and the mechanic is primordial. You can always loose money and time buying the wrong boat even a brand brand new.

I build boats (35 years in fiber, carbon, wood, steel ) and I love it ( I am masochist .
I have buy and sell use boats for 20 years.
My hart is divide when I see all the results.

Thanks for all your good advice.

I am still evaluating also the pros and cons of building vs buying. (being professionnaly a chicken on trying new things, i keep ears wide open to better , easier (KIS) , cheaper ways to do things).

After visiting all types of boats , i came to the conclusion that my program constraints dont fit well with what exists. With material pricing from asia (with referrals of course) , it is possible to build for much less than buying new. (talking CM okoume/epoxy with good friends)

One must have a good idea about material characteristics and back up with a good structural engineer.

 

[WecBoat]

Maybe this is a good summary:

Which would you rather have: An old 1980's boat hull with new engines, or a new 2014 boat hull moulding with old 1980's reconditioned engines?

I will take the Riva 1980 boat with new engines and not the hunter 2014 with old 1980's reconditioned engines.

 

[WecBoat]

i came to the conclusion that my program constraints dont fit well with what exists.

Yes, sometime we HAVE to build a boat, an that is great too.

 

[gonzo]

You would have to decide between the Riva or fifteen Hunters if you were to spend the same money.

 

[WecBoat]

You would have to decide between the Riva or fifteen Hunters if you were to spend the same money.

Exactly what I mean. You have to compare apple with apple. New or old hull, is not enough. A good old boat, in good shape, is better then a bad boat, brand new.

You can always change a motor on a very good boat, but it is harder to change the hull of a very good motor.

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

There is no absolute answer to this question.

I think this question needs to be addressed on an individual basis, and on the projects being proposed.

Some projects make a lot of sense. Whilst others may not. And therefore the pros and cons are clearly project-dependent.

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

After visiting all types of boats , i came to the conclusion that my program constraints dont fit well with what exists.

I feel the same way. What I would like to construct simply does not exist as a ready made option. Therefore building it myself appears to be the only rational option available.

 

[rustybarge]

I feel the same way. What I would like to construct simply does not exist as a ready made option. Therefore building it myself appears to be the only rational option available.

What are you going to build?

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

What are you going to build?

A Modular Riverboat

I'm planning on building a modular paddle wheel riverboat using four small craft boats. Two powered "tugs" and two non-powered barges.

Trying all four together will create a single large "Riverboat" that is basically 16 feet wide by 40 feet long. But in reality these will just be four small-craft boats measuring only 8 feet wide by 20 feet long each.

Even if I could find a modular system like this new I would imagine that it would be quite expensive. Plus it would be highly unlikely to also contain the type of artistic "gingerbread" that I could build into my own modular boats.

So I'm not sure where I could even find a commercially available system like this.

In fact, where could I even find a single paddle wheel boat that's 8 feet wide by 20 feet long?

I'd need to buy two of those, and then find suitable manufactured barges too boot. They most likely would not be designed to all be tied together neatly into a single compatible system.

Nor are they likely to already have the type of "gingerbread" show that I'm seeking either.

In short, even if I bought all new boats, I would still need to redo them quite extensively to get the desired result.

I absolutely do NOT want a single large 40' long riverboat. That would be a nightmare to try to own, dock, store and transport.

So my modular design that breaks down into four small-craft vessels that can be easily launched and trailered makes far more sense.

I don't see where my proposed design could even be purchased commercially.

It's basically a custom project that will either exist because I create it, or it will never exist at all.

At least that's how I see it. Unless you can point to where I could buy a system like this ready-made?

Although, I'm quite sure that even if you do they will be asking $$$$BIG$$$$$BUCKS$$$$ for it.

 

[WecBoat]

A Modular Riverboat

I'm planning on building a modular paddle wheel riverboat using four small craft boats.

A very good example that sometime you have to build.

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

A very good example that sometime you have to build.

I agree that the idea of building a standard boat that is readily available with the sole idea of saving money is probably not going to pan out. Unless the person making the proposal has access to a really great shop, and great deals on raw resources. Other than that, it's probably not going to save money in the end anyway.

 

[WecBoat]

Just to look in an other direction, have you thing about using floating docks ?

 

[Sweet Dreamer]

Just to look in an other direction, have you thing about using floating docks ?

Yes. That seems at first sight to take care of the two barges. But there would still be the issue of the paddle wheel tugs.

There's also more to consider. Floating docks alone are not exactly dirt cheap. They would also need extensive modifications after the fact anyway.

What might be wise for my project is to simply purchase the four hulls commercially made. I probably could find suitable 8' wide 20' long hulls that are commercially made. These would basically just be barges for all intents and purposes.

But even they would need to be shaped properly.

Here is my proposed hull design:

Notice the curves of these hulls in the side view. This type of curve is necessary to facilitate a paddle wheel propulsion at the rear, and room for rudders at the front.

So yes, if I could buy commercial hulls like these already built that would be a good start for the project.

But to start with just floating docks would already introduce some much needed modifications to facilitate proper hydrodynamics at the ends. So that would end up being a large expense plus a lot of work to boot.

 

[viking north]

If you don't have the big chunk of cash to buy outright and you don't want to finance your soul then sweat equity building/re furbishing/converting is about the only choice remaining. In the old days many strange and wonderful vessels got people on the water with old ships lifeboats being aggressively sought after. It's basically how I got my start other than my painters canvas canoe and pine house siding dory. . Today while i am presently doing a conversion build if i had my time back i would seek out an unfinished project. Something I could complete within a year or so. That or re furbishing used I think would be the best bang for your buck. You still get the satisfaction of creating your own craft while avoiding the pitfalls of starting from scratch especially if you lack experience. Look around it's a buyers market big time.