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Old 18-03-2013, 13:36   #1
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How long does it take to build your own boat

A long time...

see this video

BBC News - One man's eight-year effort to build a wooden ship by hand
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:00   #2
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

My father spent 20+ years building a strip planked teak yawl. It was launched about 1977. My mother and he sailed it for about 15 years in the North Channel of Lake Huron before turning it over to me. My wife, kids, and I have cruised Lake Superior with it since then.
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:07   #3
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pirate Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

I watched that on BBC World News a couple of weeks back... aint he doing a beaut job..
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:10   #4
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

I'm 3 years in, plan to splash in fall '15.
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:21   #5
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

My 32' Hartley ferro took 3 years (and about 1500 hours) to sailaway.

My 21'6" Van de Stadt Zeemin took about a year and about 500 hours to complete.

Boracay (44' steel) has already taken 5 or so years and about 5000 hours to fitout the interior and to do some additional work and may never be complete.

If I'd had the sailing skills I could have flown to the Caribbean and picked up an ex charter boat Would have been faster, cheaper and I would have ended up with a better boat.
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:26   #6
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pirate Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boracay View Post
My 32' Hartley ferro took 3 years (and about 1500 hours) to sailaway.

My 21'6" Van de Stadt Zeemin took about a year and about 500 hours to complete.

Boracay (44' steel) has already taken 5 or so years and about 5000 hours to fitout the interior and to do some additional work and may never be complete.

If I'd had the sailing skills I could have flown to the Caribbean and picked up an ex charter boat Would have been faster, cheaper and I would have ended up with a better boat.
Naah mate... thats why folk like me exist.. you deal with the pain..
We deal with the strain..
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Old 18-03-2013, 14:29   #7
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boracay View Post
Boracay (44' steel) has already taken 5 or so years and about 5000 hours to fitout the interior and to do some additional work and may never be complete.
Hey! Isn't it time for an update? Complete with photos?
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Old 19-03-2013, 14:12   #8
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

Ok, so what you get for 5,000+ hours, 5+ years and $100+k is...
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Old 19-03-2013, 17:55   #9
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

The answer to the OP's question is, "As long as you want." The other side of that is that it won't be as short a time as buying an already sailing boat that might need a few upgrades and a little bit of fixing.
kind regards,
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Old 19-03-2013, 18:10   #10
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

First Picture: Bare hull delivered to the family home - 1976.
Second Picture: Bedding Pilot house windows - Yesterday.

Some sailing has occured between photos.

Steve
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Old 20-03-2013, 08:17   #11
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

I think the more interesting question is how many boats started at home actually get completed and see the water.

I look at a 50 foot ferrocement hull that had about 10 - 15 years of part-time labor put into it and now it has sat alone for 20 years. It has a new Lyman diesel in it that is now 25 years old and has never turned over.
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Old 20-03-2013, 08:30   #12
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

Your question had to do with building a boat. Most answers had to do with building a yacht. There is a huge difference in time, money and stress. Read works by Tom Colvin and George Buehler. Steve's [ Panope's] photo of the delivery, above, is a Colvin Trinity built by a now defunct shipyard in BC. I had the identical hull, which I worked on at the yard from scratch. One year after bringing the hull home I was sailing. I have said before and will say here that unless you are enamored of building the boat [house, furniture, etc.] yourself, with your own hands, don't even think about it. If all you want is a boat, there a plastics aplenty, cheap, all over the place. The time it takes you depends on your level of skill, your expectations concerning boat vs yacht finish, expected use of the boat, etc, etc. You can build a sailaway 30' cutter for under 12k in one year if that is your desire, and it will take you around the world. [see George Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding]. That is with no engine. An engine in a 30' boat takes up a third of the interior space and triples the cost of construction, and probably doubles the construction time. But if you need an engine ... well, there are all those motor boats out there that are even cheaper ...
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Old 20-03-2013, 11:35   #13
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

George Buehler's book is a must read even if you don't build your own. Great attitude about getting out on the water inexpensively.
kind regards,
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Old 21-03-2013, 17:58   #14
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

G'Day all,

I know that this is a different situation, but it does offer the contrast of what is possible:

Our boat, ~46' OAL, strip plank and epoxy and e-glass, was launched almost exactly 18 MONTHS after starting construction. She was built by a chap (Gary McAulay) and his wife Sue. The only outside help employed was longboarding the hull and rolling her over. A few CF members have been aboard and they can perhaps attest to the quality of finish work involved, inside and out.

The difference is that Gary is a professional shipwright and works with incredible speed. Knowing what you are about and having the proper tools makes a huge difference in the rate of progress. Not making the inevitable beginners mistakes and having to redo things is another difference.

Perhaps most important is having the confidence that the project will actually come to a successful conclusion! This allows one to sleep well at night instead of worrying, and thus come to the shed well rested the next day.

I have the utmost respect for those of you who have actually completed a home-built cruising boat, but add my vote to the buying is better camp... unless you are another Gary and Sue!

Cheers,

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Old 21-03-2013, 18:21   #15
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Re: How long does it take to build your own boat

Bought a Westsail Kit boat and launched in a year. Hull and deck with caprail and engine installed but a big open bath tub inside. Launched the boat just about a year from the day we started. Hired out building the drawers and doors but installed them myself. Other than the above did all the work. I'd commissioned a couple of boats but had done no construction other than building a Sailfish kit as a kid. Boat is currently on the market by the third owner. HONU - W32

It was interesting living in a VW bus with my wife and labrador parked next to the boat. Moved aboard as I finished portions of the boat. Lost the tips of four fingers on my left hand in a table saw accident. Building the boat was a great adventure, an invaluable learning experience, and a boat that fit us like a glove. Could have bought a finished but stripped Westsail and equipped it for just about what it cost us to build the kit boat, gone cruising a year quicker, and gone cruising not missing body parts.
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