71 Year-Old Builds 57' Boat

[Healer52]

From 33 tons of steel...

Retiree Builds 33-Ton Sailboat in Backyard


Good for him!

[DeniseO30]

wonder if he's a stock holder in rust-oleum ?

[Vasco]

Good luck to him. I'm amused by this:

(quote) "West isn't leaving anything up to chance. Although most boats like the one West is building are constructed out of fiberglass, he's using lots of steel in order to ensure that the vessel is protected from potential pirate attacks.

"We have a steel bar across a door that they'd have to remove, and the door to the master bedroom is made of steel," he said. (unquote)

Hate to tell him that all those boats seized by the Somali pirates were great big steel boats.

[sneuman]

I am amused by the idea that fitting out below is going to take him only until spring - completely unrealistic. He's already miscalculated the time it would take to get this far by a factor of 100%.

But I do wish him luck.

[Vasco]

It's amazing that he's done so much already. Does anyone know about those cowls around the port in the topsides? What's the idea of that?

[Mimsy]

100 people on a 57 foot boat? They must be extremely friendly with one another.

[mrohr]

hi,you are locked inside your steel boat? a cup of gasoline and a match will get you out!
sorry , i like steel boats.

[beowulfborealis]

I like those gun ports. Looks like he built it for a trip around the Horn of Africa.

[Blue Stocking]

Round bilge or radiused chines? Looks clean. Waterline struck in?
Any of you 71 yr olds want to attempt this.

[DotDun]

I hope he didn't use plans for a fiberglass boat and substituted steel.......the waterline might be a tad higher than planned!

[anglooff]

Excellent!

I am sure it will "actually" add ten more years to his life. However I rather think that the hull was professionally built and he is working on the inside.

In any event a project worthy of approbation

Regards

Alan

[rebel heart]

His first boat is a 57' steel monster? What could possibly go wrong...

[Jolly Roger]

I don’t know what to think about this one. I’m 67 and just buying a 50’ schooner which I will convert to a Brigantine, but I’ve been sailing over forty years in all sorts of boats, including square riggers. This couple don’t sound like they know squat! I hope somebody has earnestly advised them to take sailing lessons, or go ocean cruising with someone for a while, because some the stuff in this interview is absolute nonsense.

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Good luck to him. I'm amused by this:

(quote) "West isn't leaving anything up to chance. Although most boats like the one West is building are constructed out of fiberglass, he's using lots of steel in order to ensure that the vessel is protected from potential pirate attacks.

"We have a steel bar across a door that they'd have to remove, and the door to the master bedroom is made of steel," he said. (unquote)

Hate to tell him that all those boats seized by the Somali pirates were great big steel boats.

... and he calls his boat 'Faith'. Ironic.

[James S]

Thats excelent...I wish him well.
Lovely looking work on the hull.