Looking for information about building a catamaran

Hi guys,
So I've recently gotten it in my head that I want to build an aluminum hull catamaran around 40 to 50 feet, with 4 cabins sleeping 8 ppl, to be used mainly for parties with me and a few other couples to and from the gulf coast and Bahamas and possibly light blue water sailing. I have experience in machine shop, auto mechanics and industry mechanics as well as a shop that's large enough to start in; but wont hold the entire ship fully built because I dont gave doors that large. So I feel like the technical part of building a catamaran besides welding aluminum witch I'll have to brush up on, I can handle.

My question is. Where do I find good plans? I can find loads of plans but I don't know if any are good, and zero reviews of the catamaran.

Also, how are the aluminum welds handled because aluminum dosnt wekd particularly strongly in my experience so I'm a little concerned about that, but the ease if maintaining it us too attractive to turn me off if they claim yo have solved that issue.

What are the ballpark numbers we are looking at cost wise? I know it would be cheaper to buy used but I'm also looking for a retirement time sink now that I am retired, but still young enough to work. Like im 36, I need something to do or I'm gonna go crazy.

Is there anyone/ a youtuber etc who has built something like a Bruce Roberts eurocat 1300 or a dix 430 that can offer wisdom and real world experience.

 

Cats have changed with time. They used to be very much performance oriented at the start and have now become floating condos. If too short and too heavy, they will be dogs.

Go to Kurt Hughes Multihull Design - Catamarans and Trimarans for Cruising and Charter http://multihulldesigns.com/
Kurt Hughes website/ blog and read it. His philosophy is to build it light and simple. You can email him and he usually responds in a few days.

Aluminum is pretty expensive and its too heavy for a performance cat. Pvc foam and high modulus reinforcement are what you should use, not only for the hull, but anything where one might usually use plywood. Or if funds are limited, you use fiberglass and plywood for the hull using Kurt Hughes "Cylinder mold" method. He helps customers in the US build their hulls too, read his blog.

 

search Mumby 48 catamaran - Tim Mumby did sell plans and he/others will build as well.

 

Hi,

I started to build EuroCat 1300 by Bruce Roberts about 18 months ago. The latest update you can find here
Waldek Urbanski https://m.facebook.com/groups/1620056458221395/permalink/3035796026647424/