Glenn Ashmore wrote:
I don't think either would be a particularly good choice. The Bombigher
will take you 10 to 15 years to complete and I get an email at least once a
month from desperate half finished BR builders looking for either advice on
systems or some leads on unloading it. As an amateur you will need ongoing
support through to completion and you are not going to get much on either of
those.

Look for some plans that use contemporary methods that you feel you can
master fairly quickly and a designer who will work with you to completion
without charging an arm and a leg.


Glenn, you've been a big help in my obsession with the future possibility of
a boat project, thanks. The problem is that I really like the "pirate ship"
style. They are the only only ones that I could spend a decade working on
and still really enjoy. If I don't love the boat the moment I start building
I will be just another home builder that never completes his dream. I think
that's how you did it. You really looked into what you wanted and didn't
settle for less. I think that its the trick to sticking with it. That and
being really stubborn. I also really like building things and the idea of
building my home that can take me all over the world is a bit irresistable.
My Grandfather built the house he lived in and there is a big streak of him
in me. If anyone out there has another designer to recommend that actually
designs "classic" style schooners then I am all ears but I haven't found any.
I do hear what you are saying about the BR design and given that I think it
is out of the running. He does sell a number of books on boat building I may
buy, along with the books you recomend on your site. I have a long way to go
before I am ready to do this.

As for the Bombigher, I haven't checked ino the availability of support yet.
The site is run by a designer that was a friend of his so that may prove
helpful. If not, the designs come with a 1000 page manual that supposedly
covers every screw and process involved in the entire build. As for the time
I have two options. Option one is two go with the 42' boat with a build time
of 10,000 to 12,000 hours rather than the 49' with a build time of 14,000 to
18,000 hours. Option two is to build as much as is needed for it to be
livable in the water while not neccessarliy sailable then move onto it and
work on it over the years finishing cabinetry, decking, and staterooms that
aren't critical as a liveaboard. Of course I am still open to other
designers and I will definately keep lookig into them as well as building
methods that ensure a strong hull and deck as well as a strong seal between
the two. I realize there are about a million other things I need to learn
along the way. You, as well as many others have proven most helpful.

Thanks.

P.S. If anyone out there has any recommendations about a designer that
designs "classic" style boats, let me know. While fast is nice it isn't the
most important thing to me. I plan to live on this boat and I would like to
come home every day and be in awe of my own boat moreso than any other boat
in the marina. I guess I have a sentimental heart after all.

--
Message posted via http://www.boatkb.com

Well one sure piece of advice. NEVER move into it before it is finished. I
made that mistake building my house. When you have to go to it, work on it
and then go home, it is a project. When you are living in it you HAVE to
work on it and it becomes a chore. Projects are a lot more fun than chores.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn Ashmore wrote:
Well one sure piece of advice. NEVER move into it before it is finished. I
made that mistake building my house. When you have to go to it, work on it
and then go home, it is a project. When you are living in it you HAVE to
work on it and it becomes a chore. Projects are a lot more fun than chores.


Good tip. Also since it is a boat it will need a lot of maintanence and
doing that while building may be a bit overwhelming.

--
Message posted via BoatKB.com
http://www.boatkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/build/200611/1

scbafreak via BoatKB.com wrote:

I have two options. Option one is two go with the 42' boat with a build time
of 10,000 to 12,000 hours rather than the 49' with a build time of 14,000 to
18,000 hours. Option two is to build as much as is needed for it to be

I'm going to go on for a bit. Please excuse the ramble.

1) The average person in the US, if they work full time @ 40
hrs/week, less some stat holidays, etc. is working 2000 hours a year.
So if you work on the 49' boat full time, 5 days a week, #2 will
take at least 9 years of solid labour. That's way too long. Both are
too long IMO. First time builders usually hit or exceed the longer
range of construction time estimates by the way.

2) Don't move into a project that is underway. Your productivity
will go way down when you have to unstick the cereal box from the
freshly varnished cabinetry.

4) Buy a boat instead. It's far more rational.

http://www.theyachtmarket.com/static...chooner_1.html
Here's a bunch. Some maybe in your price range.


5) I'm currently on a rebuilding project of a 40' catamaran. Much
smaller project than building a whole boat, though still significant.

I probably only have 700 hours (bit of a WAG) into it so far, because
I have a family and a young daughter who I want to spend time with
just as much as I want to build the boat. Timelime so far:

Winter/Spring 2005 - prefabricating composite cabin panels.

Summer 2005 - haulout for 1 month. Chainsaw out old middle
bridgedeck. De-step mast, new carbon fiber mast beam, install new
diesel, new bridgedeck cabin sole, cockpit sole. Cabin panels
screwed/some glassed into position. Mast restepped and back in the
water. Lots of help from friends that month

Summer 2005 - taping external seams/fairing

Fall 2005 - taping internal seams/fairing/painting inside cabin

Winter 2005/6 - fabricate bridgedeck cabin furniture

Spring 2006 - carbon fiber chainplates, install windows & hatches

Summer 2006 - fairing, fairing, more fairing

Fall 2006 - starting to paint exterior

Winter 2006/7 - new galley cabinets, install stove, sinks, cabinetry
[do you call it cabinetry if it's made of carbon fiber/Nomex?]
- redo electrical system

Spring 2007 - install deck hardware, finish painting, finish building
dinghy

Summer 2007 - go sailing for a change

Fall 2007 - install some systems (hot water heater, cabin heater,
pressure water, watermaker)

Winter 2007/8 - fabricate and install carbon fiber radar arch/dinghy
davits/solar panel stuff

Spring 2008 - buy the electronics, install, more lockers in cabins
etc. etc. etc.

Summer 2008 - just leave 'cause it will never be finished anyway


You may begin to get the idea of how long this sort of project will
take if you are not working on it full time. Progress can be measured
in decades and there are many busted dreams along the way.

I'm a naval architect/marine engineer so designing the cabin structure
and dealing with mechanical systems is simple to me. It's also not my
first boat. We have a clear vision of the steps needed, the timeline
and budget required, and the goal (leaving for offshore cruising
summer 2008). Good luck with your dream.

My boatbuilding blog: www.maiaaboard.blogspot.com

Evan Gatehouse

If you like the idea of building in steel, Thomas Colvin has some nice
designs. I just finished reading his two-part book, "Steel
Boatbuilding", and while I've never worked with steel outside of
welding class, his instructions seem clear and straightforward. The
books use a "pinky schooner" design as an example. I'm no schooner
expert, but it's a handsome 42-footer, to my eye. His website is:
http://www.thomasecolvin.com/

He's run his own yard and build his own designs, so that's some
guarantee that he thought of the builder when he drew it.

Best of luck on your project.

-Maxime Camirand

snip
P.S. If anyone out there has any recommendations about a designer that
designs "classic" style boats, let me know. While fast is nice it isn't the
most important thing to me. I plan to live on this boat and I would like to
come home every day and be in awe of my own boat moreso than any other boat
in the marina. I guess I have a sentimental heart after all.

--
Message posted via http://www.boatkb.com