Car Carrying Box Boat?

[ShadowGyrlBrice]

Hello everyone.
I've been kicking around an idea despite its high likelyhood of being completely absurd, and I'd like to get the thoughts and input of people who have designed and built some boats in the past.
At some point within the next few years I plan to move onto the water, with no particular home port in mind, except maybe for Seattle. Ultimately, I'd like to go to Europe and that's where this concept probably won't hold water. Bad pun, I know. The need is for a flat-bottom sailing boat that could cruise rivers and shallow areas. It would have a double berth, galley, head, all those nice things to have for living aboard. What I would like to try to incorporate is this; I'll need to take my car along too. I have some specific models in mind, namely the Fiat 500, SmartForTwo, 1st generation VW Bug, or the M36 Willy's MB.
What I am picturing at the moment is something a bit like a WW2 Higgins boat, enclosed on the top with a deck, and a sailing rig of some sort. Figuring 15' for the garage bay, I'm looking at around 35' LOA. The design would be rather 'Bolger-esque'. Not pretty or fast, but all I'm looking for is something that will float for at least a one-way trip to Paris.

So, my questions are fairly straitforward. Is it possible? What challenges will I need to overcome in the design?

[justwaiting]

Hi welcome aboard
i would tell you what chalanges you face but must admit that i am lost for words.

[ShadowGyrlBrice]

I'll admit that it sounds like the ravings of a dockside lunatic. I guess I'm looking for the Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of boat design who could think of what it would take to work.

[skipmac]

Reasons why this is not a good idea.

1. To hold even a small car you will need a really big boat.

2. To buy a really big boat you will spend way, way, way more money that you would spend renting a car at your destination.

3. Big, flat bottomed boat will probably have stability and other safety issues for an ocean crossing, unless you have a really, really big boat.

4. In the US not a problem but if you go overseas you will start getting into import issues and very different safety requirements.

I could go on, but maybe this is enough.

[captainKJ]

can I have some of what you are smoking

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by ShadowGyrlBrice

I'll admit that it sounds like the ravings of a dockside lunatic. I guess I'm looking for the Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of boat design who could think of what it would take to work.

Not saying that this could not be done. It could be done easily with a huge bag of money. Just saying that it would not make sense, at least for the reasons you state, to do it.

Figure at least 60-70' boat, a big, fat, custom made boat, to hold a car. Custom build a 60-70' sailboat for carrying a car figure several million US$.

Buy a 40' very nice sailboat for $150,000 - $500,000 - $1.000,000(depends on how nice and how new you want it) and buy a Mercedes in Paris for $100,000.

Savings, $5-10,000,000.00

[DeepFrz]

Here ya go...you could store the car on forward deck, helicopter on top deck.
Used TRINITY 2006 for sale in Antibes, France

[sailcruiser]

How about compromise to something like a centerboard 30-40' boat drafting somewhere in the 3-4' range and a scooter, electric assist bike or something like a Segway? Otherwise you need a pile of money. SC

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Here ya go...you could store the car on forward deck, helicopter on top deck.
Used TRINITY 2006 for sale in Antibes, France

Don't be silly. Draft is over 10' Never work on the EU rivers.

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Don't be silly. Draft is over 10' Never work on the EU rivers.

put it in the yard and have a retractable keel put on it

[Bash]

I can see where such a scheme might be attractive in LA or Montana, but I doubt you'd be so car-dependent in Europe, especially not in canal areas. I'm always amazed at how easily I can get around in the UK without a car.

Maybe a scooter? Better yet, a bicycle?

[hellosailor]

Gyrl, if you plan to cruise inland waterways, canals, rivers, then you want a canal boat and there's a reason they use ENGINES not SAILS.

Anyone with sailing experience will rapidly concede the point.

So now your problem goes away, because flat-bottomed sailing ferries are a painful thought. What you want is a military surplus landing ship of some type, and those are indeed available in sizes and configurations similar to the canalboats you'd find in Europe already. Start looking for a surplus landing ship either in the US or the EU, and remember that if you buy it here, you'll have to ship it there.

Not to be cruel, but either pass the bong or temper the "needs" with reality.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

. What you want is a military surplus landing ship of some type......

Such a solution could suck the romance right out of the canal system.

Buzz kill?

[hellosailor]

"suck the romance right out of "
Nah, you paint it paint and put unicorn heads and peacock feathers on the bowsprits. Bash, you just don't know how to dress up and party! A bucket of glitter, a flocking gun, you too can roll in Mardigras!

[JonathanSail]

This doesn't have to be so expensive. Instead of putting the car in the boat just make the car a boat. There are some examples using vehicles that you listed:

Half-Safe: Across the Atlantic by Jeep

Famous Floating VW Commercial - TrashCars.net

And on a more serious note this group has done more thorough prototyping and testing:

Top Gear - Car-Boat Challenge - BBC - YouTube