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Random Quote: The longer I fish, The luckier I get!!
Okay, here's the truth, THT, and nothing but the truth. I am a native Floridian (born in Ft Myers, raised in Ft Pierce) currently living in exile in the land-locked but beautiful city of Lexington, KY. For those not familiar with FL, Ft Pierce is on the east coast, basically about halfway in between West Palm and Melbourne. At some point in the next 2-5 years I hope to return to the great state of Florida. Probably somewhere on the east coast, most likely in the Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard county area(s). If it was only up to me, I would move back tomorrow. However, there is a wonderful woman involved.
So, growing up basically on the water, I spent a great deal of time in boats. Meanwhile, my dad, who is a mechanic (retired) worked on just about everything that had a motor/engine. I, of course, tagged along. We had several boats of our own when I was growing up, from a smallish bow-rider to a 25' W/A Mako(in the mid-80's), and a roughly 26' I/O "fishing" boat. My sister and I each had our own 10' sailboats as well. For a little while we had the use of a family friends small commercial fishing boat, it was an IB with tiller steering at the stern. I first travelled to the Bahamas when I was 15 with another family friend on a rather large commercial salvage boat. Most recetly, I was in the islands on my parents 42' sailboat (it took 24 hours to get there), where I was the first mate.
The GF (the wonderful woman mentioned above) has practically no boating experience. She has been on the sailboat a few times when we have vacationed in Florida. She is willing to learn, and is reading a book about boating at this time. She is very thorough (as I am) in researching things about which she knows little. We recently spent over a year in buying a recliner!
So, by this point I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with boats and such if you are still reading that is. Well, I've posted a few times to this forum, and read a great many posts, and I find that the general attitude is friendly and helpful, and there seems to be a true sense of community. I feel as though I can depend on the information that is posted on this forum--in part because there are so many differing opinions and ideas that the "truth" can generally be seen somewhere in the middle of it all.
Anyway, during my research for a smallish boat, in the 17-21 foot range, I have come across the idea of building a boat. There is a website that offers plans and support through a forum such as this, and the "designer" actually answers questions himself. Seeing as how my current boating options are limited without a great deal of travel and expense, and the GF has limited boating experience, this seems like a great way to learn about boats and garner valuable training. The website is www.bateau.com, and the boat I would be interested in is the OB17. The GF has indicated that she would be willing to work on the boat.
Does this seem reasonable to anyone else? Or am I just missing the ocean and boating so much that I am grasping at straws? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! I apologize for the long and winding post. Thanks in advance! (And thanks to anyone who just reads the whole thing.)
It sounds like a project that will take you and your wife thousands of hours over a few years to finish. If this assumption is correct (and I don't know that it is) are you prepared to expend such an effort?
According to the website it should take only about 100-150 hours, depending on the level of finish, and the complexity of the finished product, i.e. how many extras you include. According to the tech support forum, that time should be increased by about 10%-25%.
I am quite handy, and have experience building quite a number of other things--including furniture. So, I have woodworking experience, painting and finishing experience, electrical/electronic experience, and much much more.
Hope that clarifies the situation a bit.
Thanks.
A "few" years ago I was in a very similar situation you are now in. After growing up in Jersey we moved to Wisconsin when I was in middle school. I was jonesing for a boat so bad that I built myself a 12' hydroplane. A few years later I built a 14' sailboat. The projects can be fun but be warned that it takes a LOT longer than you think it will especially if you are doing it after work and around other commitments.
It doesn't seem reasonable to me and I doubt your GF will be enthusiastic about working on a boat like that for long.
I would buy a small boat and take the time you otherwise would spend building the boat (2-3 times your estimate) to enjoy boating on lakes near you and trailer a couple of times per year to the closest saltwater.
I did a search for boats in my area and found this for $5K:
1985 FOUR WINNS 196 HORIZON SPORT, 19' ,170HP MERCRUISER, STAINLESS PROP, INCLUDES TRAILER WITH SPARE TIRE http://www.boattraderonline.com/addetail.html?37428486
I also went to the Four Winns site and found the brochure for this boat.
Does anyone have any comments or opinions?
Thanks again!
Don't pay attention to the negtive's. It's a good project. If you have a place to build it at your house! The statment 100 to 150hrs depending on finish is the trick. Triple that.
I've almost got a boat simler in size finished. My own design Stich & Glue.It's not painted yet and has lot's of extra's.
I've got 6 months in it. I have a very large shop and every tool you can think of.
There's a couple of guy's on the Fl Sportsman forum that have built Jaques's design's.
Jim13 built the 20ftr and Casy Jones built the PH16. They both took a year and did a really nice job.
Building the hull will be fast, the rest takes time. Figure on the time it takes to build the boat and double that just to do the fairing. I hop you like to sand. HeHe
What I would consider is buying a used boat that is in good shape, that you like ride and basic design, and cusomize it yourself with the options you like such as a new paint job, rod holders, storage, etc. almost like a restoration.
You can then obtain the boating knowlege you are looking and have a great personalized boat.
Despite the nay-sayers...backyard boat building is quite common and not beyond someone with basic woodworking abilities. If you can make one part to its proper dimensions then you can make two. If you can make two, you can make all the parts needed. Then comes assembly & the finish work. Pick up a copy of WoodenBoat magazine & you'll find ads for all kinds of boats you can build. Some start from plans, others will send you a kit. You'll also find ads for short-term or longer term boatbuilding courses.
for advice from fellow builders, past, present, and future.
George Buehler's book "Backyard Boatbuilding" might be a good place to start. He has a good attitude toward what to expect in a building project both good & bad. If you're up to it go for it.
You might also look into the several books by Larry & Lin Pardey...a couple who designed & built their own boat...and have been sailing around the world for the last 25+ years.
My Dad bought a 4 Winns 196 Horizon cuddy new in 1994 - owned it ever since. I grew up on that boat. Better finish than you will find on a lot of other comparable boats, and the hull is very well built and very heavy for its size - as teenagers we used to abuse this boat pretty hard (don't tell him) and other than busting open the porta potti once, the thing has held up like a rock.
Nothing has ever failed, broken, worn or come apart.
IF the boat is in very good condition, then $5k might be a fair price - last time I checked my Dad's was listed at $4,500 or so.
Performance: with a 3.8L 185HP OMC I/O, the boat cruises easily at 25-35 MPH and tops out now a bit over 40. Don't know about fuel consumption, as I was never the one paying the bills.
My 2 cents - If you want to get on the water, get a used boat, even if it needs some work. If you truly enjoy the building process, or are looking for something that simply is not availble in a production boat, then consider building your own. But always!!! figure it will cost more and take longer than you originally anticipate!
Sorry - My father's boat was an '84 Horizon 195 cuddy, not a '94!!! And OUCH!!! I just checked NADA, and they are showing retail of just over $2,000!!! Seems ridiculus, but I'd be wary of a $5k asking price on that boat.
I have been thinking of doing the same thing. At first I was thinking of building a 17-20 CC type of boat. Now I am thinking of doing a smaller 12-14' skiff of some sort that will use the same procedures. I don't see the wood work being to hard but I have never done a big project with fiberglass and I have never used gelcoat. The way I figure is that if the skiff turns out good (and doesn't sink) then I will try to build something a little bigger. That way if the skiff projects starts going south I can cut my losses and scrap the project.
As Warthog said above, I built a 16' flats skiff from Bateau.com. The designer was fairly helpful. Most help came from other builders, though, as the designer was not always willing to admit errors.
It was a great experience. I have a fully custom 16' flats skiff that I would put up against any production boat. I spent $3000 on the hull and worked off & on for 20mos. I have no idea exactly how much time it took me. I would work for a few months at a time, mostly weekends and some evenings. Then take a couple of months off. Some have completed this boat in as little as 6mos staying at it.
I didnt find any part of it hard. Time consuming & sometimes tedious, but its all part of the process.
All,
Also, thanks to eveyone else who has replied to this. I'm still trying to be patient. If my dad has his way, he will help me buy a boat--but it will be in Florida whwere he can use it instead of me!
I would also bet that the building expense will be significantly higher than you think. I would definitely opt to buy a boat just to get out on the water. That said, I have also been toying with the idea of building a boat!!
No - the NADA price didn't include the trailer. There is another guide out there that I believe is better for boats, just can't remember what it is.
Anyway, you can go to www.nada.com, go to Nada Guides, click on boats, and go from there.
I love the idea of building a boat, don't get me wrong. If I could do anything without worrying about how much money I made, I would open up a small shop on the Maine coast and build wooden boats. But I like being on the water and using them even more!
Well, if I could do anything and not worry about how much money I made, I would live on the east coast of Florida , build custom furniture, sell it at ridiculous prices and spend my free time on the water or in the Bahamas!
But who am I kidding...my student loans are killing me.
You asked for opinions if your building a boat was reasonable, not whether it is doable. I infer that your preference is for using a boat rather than building a boat.
Your post indicates this is a recent consideration. Also, one of your justifications is that you expect your GF to participate (presumably significantly ). You also don't indicate that you have ready access to the needed tools. I don't think the project is reasonable under the circumstances, although you should be able to to it if you really want to.
Go to www.boattraderonline.com and search under powerboats with the terms year 1980-1990, size 16-17, and price $2000-6000. You will turn up over 200 boats. Some will be in your area.
Perhaps you are correct sir, I would rather be in a boat and using it than build it. As for the GirlFriend working on it with me, well she did volunteer. In fact she said she thought it would be a good idea, and a good way for her to learn about boats and their associated parts. It is indeed a recent consideration. I do either have the tools necessary or have access to them. (I do build furniture, just not for a living.)
I posted earlier that I had found a 4 Winns in my area for about $5K, with a trailer. I have not yet spoken to the GF about it. We have discussed building a boat, owning a boat, etc. She isn't sure that we are quite ready to own aboat is all, and would like some more time to contemplate the issue. She may even decide that she would like to wait until we move to FL to buy one. Which, I suppose is okay. I just means that I will continue to do my research and bug the living heck out of you guys here at the hull truth and any other forum I can find.
BTW: We have been together almost 9 years, so this is not some fly by night romance that might waste away to nothing. Her opinions and ideas are valid. I would rather do it with her than without, and she is interested.
Anyway, thanks again to all who have taken the time to read and respond. It is greatly appreciated. I hope I did not come across as unthankful or pissy in this response, and I apologize if I did.
the Real skinny: boat research 
