Hello Everyone,

I've built a couple of inboard power boats over the years, but my last
running one is in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont, and starting
this August I will be living in Shekou, near Shenzhen and Hong Kong,
in China. I would like to communicate with anyone in this part of
China (South China sea)..

I am finishing up 3 years living on the Mediterranean, and kicking
myself mightily for not getting SOME kind of boat on the water!

Looking on Google Earth, I see a thousand or more fishing boats and
utility boats that I estimate are from 20 to 40 feet. I'm NOT talking
about those guys over at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club :-)

I need to start to learn about the existing boats in this area of
China. I am getting a few hits and photos but not much detail yet.

I have heard that some of the best high-end yachts have been built in
Hong Kong, and that there is a long tradition of seaworthy boats built
in China, from large 'Junks' to many smaller kinds.

I would appreciate any pointers or suggestions about information on
the typical boats today in China, and any contacts you might suggest.

Regards, Terry King ...On The Mediterranean in Carthage

wrote:
Hello Everyone,

I've built a couple of inboard power boats over the years, but my last
running one is in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont, and starting
this August I will be living in Shekou, near Shenzhen and Hong Kong,
in China. I would like to communicate with anyone in this part of
China (South China sea)..

I am finishing up 3 years living on the Mediterranean, and kicking
myself mightily for not getting SOME kind of boat on the water!

Looking on Google Earth, I see a thousand or more fishing boats and
utility boats that I estimate are from 20 to 40 feet. I'm NOT talking
about those guys over at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club :-)

I need to start to learn about the existing boats in this area of
China. I am getting a few hits and photos but not much detail yet.

I have heard that some of the best high-end yachts have been built in
Hong Kong, and that there is a long tradition of seaworthy boats built
in China, from large 'Junks' to many smaller kinds.

I would appreciate any pointers or suggestions about information on
the typical boats today in China, and any contacts you might suggest.

Regards, Terry King ...On The Mediterranean in Carthage


Best wishes for your new adventures, Terry, from Frank Thoma of
Burlington IBM days!

Terry,

I have lived in Asia for the past thirty years and while certainly
both work boats and yachts were built in Hong Kong in the past those
days are long gone. But boats are being built on the Chinese mainland
a short distance from Hong Kong. Try Googling for "Seahorse". you
should come up with a builder for trawler yachts who is located a
short distance up the river from Hong Kong. I have heard that the
owner (an American) is a nice chap and you could probably get more
information from him if you e-mailed him.

By the way, don't disparage the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. It isn't
as up-market as it sounds and a visit would probably get you a lot of
worthwhile information.

I haven't priced any Hong Kong based boats recently but I'd guess that
the purchase cost wold be lower then the US and there are many vendors
of boat parts in Hong Kong.

Cheers





On 22 Jan 2007 16:18:56 -0800, "
wrote:

Hello Everyone,

I've built a couple of inboard power boats over the years, but my last
running one is in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont, and starting
this August I will be living in Shekou, near Shenzhen and Hong Kong,
in China. I would like to communicate with anyone in this part of
China (South China sea)..

I am finishing up 3 years living on the Mediterranean, and kicking
myself mightily for not getting SOME kind of boat on the water!

Looking on Google Earth, I see a thousand or more fishing boats and
utility boats that I estimate are from 20 to 40 feet. I'm NOT talking
about those guys over at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club :-)

I need to start to learn about the existing boats in this area of
China. I am getting a few hits and photos but not much detail yet.

I have heard that some of the best high-end yachts have been built in
Hong Kong, and that there is a long tradition of seaworthy boats built
in China, from large 'Junks' to many smaller kinds.

I would appreciate any pointers or suggestions about information on
the typical boats today in China, and any contacts you might suggest.

Regards, Terry King ...On The Mediterranean in Carthage


Ibid
(k4556ATinetDOTcoDOTth)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Thanks for the replies! Frank, glad to hear from you! (See some of
our recent rambles at http://terryking.us and
http://terryking.us/photoalbum)

k4556 wrote:
Terry,

I have lived in Asia for the past thirty years and while certainly
both work boats and yachts were built in Hong Kong in the past those
days are long gone ...
Great information.. I've learned more on the groups than with a lot of
Googling... I didn't mean to be too much down the nose at the RHK
club. I just had read an article about all the new Chinese Billionaires
and how they can't get dock space in HK for their new 90 footers...

I'll look for the references you made..

Are there boat 'yards' / builders up the Pearl river a way too?

Thanks!

On 23 Jan 2007 01:31:09 -0800, "
wrote:

Thanks for the replies! Frank, glad to hear from you! (See some of
our recent rambles at http://terryking.us and
http://terryking.us/photoalbum)

k4556 wrote:
Terry,

I have lived in Asia for the past thirty years and while certainly
both work boats and yachts were built in Hong Kong in the past those
days are long gone ...
Great information.. I've learned more on the groups than with a lot of
Googling... I didn't mean to be too much down the nose at the RHK
club. I just had read an article about all the new Chinese Billionaires
and how they can't get dock space in HK for their new 90 footers...

I'll look for the references you made..

Are there boat 'yards' / builders up the Pearl river a way too?

Thanks!

Terry,

I believe that "Seahorse", who builds both in fiberglass and steel,
yards are on the Pearl River a short ferry trip from Hong Kong.

While there probably are Chinese Billionaires at the RHKYC there are
also a lot of ordinary folks there too and probably worth a visit.


Ibid
(k4556ATinetDOTcoDOTth)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Jan 23, 8:12 pm, k4556 wrote:
On 23 Jan 2007 01:31:09 -0800, "

wrote:
Thanks for the replies! Frank, glad to hear from you! (See some of
our recent rambles athttp://terryking.usand
http://terryking.us/photoalbum)

k4556 wrote:
Terry,

I have lived in Asia for the past thirty years and while certainly
both work boats and yachts were built in Hong Kong in the past those
days are long gone ...
Great information.. I've learned more on the groups than with a lot of
Googling... I didn't mean to be too much down the nose at the RHK
club. I just had read an article about all the new Chinese Billionaires
and how they can't get dock space in HK for their new 90 footers...

I'll look for the references you made..

Are there boat 'yards' / builders up the Pearl river a way too?

Thanks!Terry,

I believe that "Seahorse", who builds both in fiberglass and steel,
yards are on the Pearl River a short ferry trip from Hong Kong.

While there probably are Chinese Billionaires at the RHKYC there are
also a lot of ordinary folks there too and probably worth a visit.

Ibid
(k4556ATinetDOTcoDOTth)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Ordinary folks in Hong Kong don't own a car, and even less likely to
own a boat.

Although people in Hong Kong tend to earn a good income, they spend
most of the money in housing and don't have much disposable income left
-- meaning: no boating.

Jay Chan

On 24 Jan 2007 10:13:44 -0800, "Jay Chan"
wrote:

On Jan 23, 8:12 pm, k4556 wrote:
On 23 Jan 2007 01:31:09 -0800, "

wrote:
Thanks for the replies! Frank, glad to hear from you! (See some of
our recent rambles athttp://terryking.usand
http://terryking.us/photoalbum)

k4556 wrote:
Terry,

I have lived in Asia for the past thirty years and while certainly
both work boats and yachts were built in Hong Kong in the past those
days are long gone ...
Great information.. I've learned more on the groups than with a lot of
Googling... I didn't mean to be too much down the nose at the RHK
club. I just had read an article about all the new Chinese Billionaires
and how they can't get dock space in HK for their new 90 footers...

I'll look for the references you made..

Are there boat 'yards' / builders up the Pearl river a way too?

Thanks!Terry,

I believe that "Seahorse", who builds both in fiberglass and steel,
yards are on the Pearl River a short ferry trip from Hong Kong.

While there probably are Chinese Billionaires at the RHKYC there are
also a lot of ordinary folks there too and probably worth a visit.

Ibid
(k4556ATinetDOTcoDOTth)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Ordinary folks in Hong Kong don't own a car, and even less likely to
own a boat.

Although people in Hong Kong tend to earn a good income, they spend
most of the money in housing and don't have much disposable income left
-- meaning: no boating.

Jay Chan


I don't want to get into some sort of a flame war here but there are
probably more boats per capita in Hong Kong then anywhere I've
visited. Visit any of the junk anchorages around the island, the
Typhoon Shelter, etc..

While these are hardly "yachts" they are boats and there is an entire
infrastructure to support them.




Ibid
(k4556ATinetDOTcoDOTth)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

I spent a number of years in the orient and while there, investigated many
boat builders from Thailand to Korea. Although my experience today is dated,
I believe the following observation is just as valid today as it was then.

The advantage in asia is only labor with some price differences in wood, but
nowhere as much as you would think. Please remember that the cost of the
hull is, at the very most, representative of about 25% of the total cost of
the boat. The majority of the boat cost is the fit out and the associated
machinery. Very little is made there and must be imported from Europe and
Australia. In addition, the biggest issue is the quality of the work
performed and the materials used. Futhermore, it is almost impossible to
find properly seasoned timber, unless you do it yourself. In my mind, it
makes no sense to buy a boat that you cannot afford to maintain because the
boat is falling apart while you watch. There is no such thing as a free
lunch. If building there was so much of an advantage, you would see a lot
more asian boats than you do.
Steve


wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello Everyone,

I've built a couple of inboard power boats over the years, but my last
running one is in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont, and starting
this August I will be living in Shekou, near Shenzhen and Hong Kong,
in China. I would like to communicate with anyone in this part of
China (South China sea)..

I am finishing up 3 years living on the Mediterranean, and kicking
myself mightily for not getting SOME kind of boat on the water!

Looking on Google Earth, I see a thousand or more fishing boats and
utility boats that I estimate are from 20 to 40 feet. I'm NOT talking
about those guys over at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club :-)

I need to start to learn about the existing boats in this area of
China. I am getting a few hits and photos but not much detail yet.

I have heard that some of the best high-end yachts have been built in
Hong Kong, and that there is a long tradition of seaworthy boats built
in China, from large 'Junks' to many smaller kinds.

I would appreciate any pointers or suggestions about information on
the typical boats today in China, and any contacts you might suggest.

Regards, Terry King ...On The Mediterranean in Carthage

Jay, Dan, Steve, others... Thanks for the comments and new
information!

I'm sure you're right that there's nothing magical about building
boats in China. But you probably know about the "Gotta Do Something
With Boats! syndrome!

I'm kicking myself blue for spending almost 3 years (by next May)
right on the Mediterranean near the 2000 year old ports built by the
Carthaginians and Romans and NOT getting a boat out there!

I AM getting SOME boat on the water when I move to Shekou/Shenzhen
near Hong Kong next August!

If I was going to live there 'permanently' (Whatever THAT is in the
year 2007 !) I would build a boat from scratch, using 'modern'
materials and an engine conversion. But that would take 1 to 1.5
years, depending on (Stuff).. The last boat I built (21' Cuddy Cabin,
350 GM, VeeDrive) is still running after 28 years, so I understand
about maintaining a boat. But this time, maybe I'm going in a TOTALLY
different direction.

- Really rough-built larger (30 to 50 feet) fishing boat, all wood,
indigenous materials and construction, probably going to deteriorate
badly in 5 to 10 years. Add a decent different cabin setup.
- Re-Engine in a less-than-ideal homebrew fashion.
- Add my favorite homebrew electronics (Low-end Garmin, Laptop or
MicroATX, OziExplorer, LCD display). I already have a detailed
Satellite view of Shenzhen / Deep Bay calibrated.
- Fill the picnic cooler. Run it.
- 3 Years or so later, move back to Vermont, fix my old boat in my new
Barn, maybe build a new one I have been designing for a while..

Ok, maybe that's a LITTLE simplistic. But you know what? There are
5000 boats running in that area, and I don't see any that look like
what I see in the USA. I think there only two ways to go: One is try
to afford a Westernized type boat, maybe rebuild a wreck or something,
and the other is to go all the way to the local rough boats. I don't
see anything workable in between. And I AM working on boats and
getting on the water.

So, what's stupid about this??

But this time, maybe I'm going in a TOTALLY
different direction.

- Really rough-built larger (30 to 50 feet) fishing boat, all wood,
indigenous materials and construction, probably going to deteriorate
badly in 5 to 10 years. Add a decent different cabin setup.
- Re-Engine in a less-than-ideal homebrew fashion.
For a look at actual boat building / repairing in China using the
'old' methods, see: http://www.terryking.us/photoalbum/main.php?
g2_itemId=2605
Which are photos someone kindly sent me from a year or so ago...

Love that two-man sawmill :-)