Expariance with home build Cats ?

[xtobbenx]

Looking for someone with expariance with home build Catamarans. I got some questions. Please PM me if you do thanks

[Redreuben]

So ask your questions so we may all learn something. It's a forum not a free consultancy.



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[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by Redreuben

So ask your questions so we may all learn something. It's a forum not a free consultancy.

Good point Red, well raised.

This thread could have potential, so i'll start the ball rolling.

Theres good homebuilds, and theres nasty homebuilds.

The hard part can be telling the two apart.

A plywood Easy built with cheap nasty ply can be difficult to distinguish from quality marine ply once painted.

Many quality designs like Schionnings may be stuck together by amateur home builders with little idea of what quality glass work actually is, and then it all gets hidden when they call in the professional fairing /painting team to hide a multitude of their sins, with the finished product looking like a million bucks.

It really is a case of buyer be where, Some people just shouldn't build boats.

[Redreuben]

When I built boats for a living one of the things that regularly popped up was overbuilding. So many amateurs think they know more than the designer or just want to add something to their build to skite about, many reasons I guess but 12mm instead of 9mm, 600gm instead of 450gm, 5 coats instead of 3 an extra tape around the bulkheads all adds up to an overweight boat which has no payload and sails like a dog.
If buying a homebuilt have a chat, ask about the specs and any "extra strength" and look at those waterlines !

[KJThomas]

Conversely there are home builds, where the builder has had the time and patience to build to an extremely high standard, which would cause a pro to go bust because he would have to charge too much.

[KJThomas]

And, The worst with overbuilding are professional engineers.

Which is reassuring when in an earthquake, not so much on a cruising boat design, where there is already a large margin.

[SV DestinyAscen]

Originally Posted by KJThomas

And, The worst with overbuilding are professional engineers.

Which is reassuring when in an earthquake, not so much on a cruising boat design, where there is already a large margin.

Maybe civil engineers

Architectural engineers would understand heavier structure means larger tuned damper, more steel, heavier and deeper foundation for no volume or actual safety gain

[KJThomas]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Maybe civil engineers

Architectural engineers would understand heavier structure means larger tuned damper, more steel, heavier and deeper foundation for no volume or actual safety gain

My brother is an architectural/structural engineer. His house extension for our parents could double as a bomb shelter.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

Good point Red, well raised.

Some people just shouldn't build boats.

Of course. And some people just shouldn't own boats. I notice you no longer claim to....

Having built a boat, worked on a few home built boats, and had a good look at a lot of others, my impression is that the vast majority of home built boats are built to a much better standard (of construction, not necessarily finish) than most mass produced boats.

Very few people, building a boat they intend to take their family to sea on, will skimp on materials. The fact is, buying cheap ply compared to good quality ply would only save a small amount of money. Similarly buying an ester resin compared to epoxy.

For a production builder every dollar saved is profit. For a home builder a couple of thousand extra for epoxy and decent materials doesn't really make much difference.

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Maybe civil engineers

Architectural engineers would understand heavier structure means larger tuned damper, more steel, heavier and deeper foundation for no volume or actual safety gain

+1 for civil and structural engineers overbuilding. We mechanical engineers, with automotive and aerospace backgrounds aim for high specific stiffness, durability and graceful degradation for failure modes.

The problem with one offs is the inability to identify latent defects. This implies that new one offs are likely more of an issue than boats that have had some miles under their belt.

Visual inspection and a tapping survey of the hull and structure will identify major structural issues such as voids, cracks and delamination.

I always go for the engine room first. If that is clean, well maintained and well layed out I'll look further. It it's dirty, lacking maintenance and a wiring and hose nightmare I wouldn't bother looking any further.

After inspecting over 125 boats globally in 2012 / 2013 we found only 3 boats worthy of consideration for purchase. (Only ones with good engine rooms) We purchased the one owned for 21 years by an obsessive compulsive aircraft mechanic.

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[Redreuben]

As the racers say, "if it doesn't break it was too heavy, if it does break then it was too light" !


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[paxfish]

So.....

What was the original question(s)?

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

Good point Red, well raised.

This thread could have potential, so i'll start the ball rolling.

Theres good homebuilds, and theres nasty homebuilds.

The hard part can be telling the two apart.

A plywood Easy built with cheap nasty ply can be difficult to distinguish from quality marine ply once painted.

Many quality designs like Schionnings may be stuck together by amateur home builders with little idea of what quality glass work actually is, and then it all gets hidden when they call in the professional fairing /painting team to hide a multitude of their sins, with the finished product looking like a million bucks.

It really is a case of buyer be where, Some people just shouldn't build boats.

And some people shouldnt comment, I able able to identify the issues you say can be hidden, and there are many more people more qualified than I. I suspect you have little experience in this area.

[siamese]

ha ha...you guys are doing a great job of carrying this thread without the OP ever having asked a question.

We don't need no steenking question.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Maybe civil engineers ...

My. Mechanical Engineer, friend & employer used to say:
"When I make a mistake, the room gets stuffy.
When a structural engineer makes a mistake, people die"

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, xtobbenx.