Boatbuilding

[ThomWV]

Its cold and I'm stuck at home. Just thought I'd share some pictures taken in a friend's barn:<br /><br />

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<br /><br />Hope you enjoy them.<br /><br />Thom

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Boatbuilding

Good Lord, I don't even want to know how they are going to flip that thing. Pretty cool though, thanx for posting them...

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Boatbuilding

Good question.<br /><br />Once the hull has been sheeted and glassed the hard work begins. All of those bulkhead frames you see will be removed, every one of them. Then two permanent bulkheads will be built and glassed in. Then the good part. Four holes will be drilled in the sides of the hull, two on each side, one about a third of the way forward of the transom and the second set about a quarter inch aft of the bow. Four very lare Eye-Bolts will be put through the hull at those places.<br /><br />From there the hull will be jacked up and a trailer (you should see that thing) will be backed under it. The hull will be taken out of the building and then a mobile crain will be connected to the bolts. From there, over the course of about an hour, the hull will be flipped. It will then be laid back down on the trailer and backed into the other side of the barn (you might notice another boat being finished next to it) where it will be finished. This hull is 57 feet plus a couple of inches by the way. Don't recall the beam, something around 18 feet would sound about right though.<br /><br />By the way, and this may be of some interest to a good number of folks. The epoxy used throughout that boat, for glues and for laminating, is all West System.<br /><br />Thom

 

[crab bait]

Re: Boatbuilding

what was this guy bored,, or what..??.!! <br /><br />wanted a little hobby ..occupy alittle time..<br /><br />must be 1/2 a millionaire... gotta be..<br /><br />heck,,, i couldn't afford the wood clamps,, let-lone the garage..

 

[CCrew]

Re: Boatbuilding

Man... that is ons SERIOUS boat! And when it's done, are the animals going to line up two by two?? <br /><br />Tell that guy in the shorts to stop scratching his behind in public! <br /><br />Better yet, hope there aren't any low bridges around when leaving!<br /><br />-Roger

 

[ob15]

Re: Boatbuilding

I need a bigger garage!

 

[Stefan Schmitt]

Re: Boatbuilding

OMG! Really..must be unemployed and wealthy! <br /><br />Where did you get the plans for that? How do you plan to power it? What's the inside going to look like?

 

[rjarreau]

Re: Boatbuilding

Man that is one big whopper!!! They must do this for a living. You have to admire the kind of people that do this. In a world of Mass production, where twenty boats or more are shipped on a daily basis this is most impressive!!!! <br />Hell i cannot afford a new Mass Production center console boat made by Ranger. I can only imagine what this thing cost!! But ohh the pride of shipping one of these knid of boat you guys must have !!!! GREAT job and love the pics!!!!

 

[bh357]

Re: Boatbuilding

Project boats and Backyard YACHT Building Good name for the forum? That is one beast of a boat. Please keep the photos coming.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Boatbuilding

I really should point this out - those pictures are not of a home builder. Those were taken at Johnson Boat Works, which is a very small company in Wanchese North Carolina. The builder is Captain Dean Johnson, one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Dean buids 2 boats a year +. its takes about 5 months to turn one out, sometimes longer, sometimes sorter. They are all simi custom in the sense that there is some standarization of the hull, but that's about as far as it goes. By the way, I don't know how familiar you all are with the Carolina boats but Buddy Davis builds his about 100 yards away from where these pictures were taken.<br /><br />I've got quite a few more in further stages of completion of anyone wants to see any of them.<br /><br />Thom

 

[lcrayne]

Re: Boatbuilding

Amazing!!! And here I am worried about installing a floor in a 1976 Galaxy. See you are using West Marine's Epoxy. Do any of you guys have any opinion about West Marine's Boater's Resin?

 

[rjarreau]

Re: Boatbuilding

Wow I love it !!! Yes please email ME or post more !! I love to look at and read about Custom Built Boats and yacts. Always been a dream to Build A 21 Footer Myself , but Never time or money so I settle for Store bought. !!! Good luck my friends!!

 

[Mark.24]

Re: Boatbuilding

Absolutely fantastic.<br /><br />All I need now is to win the lottery and set-up my own boat business. I wouldn't be to bothered about making masses of profit, just the satisfaction of running such a firm<br /><br />

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Boatbuilding

I'm still looking around for the pictures of the building of the cabin, the mounting of the engines, building of the decks, flybridge, all that sort of stuff.<br /><br />More than anything I should be thanking Captain Johnson for letting me roam around and take pictures and such in his barn. I was just driving by one rainy day and his barn was open and a crew was in the process of bending the first layer of plywood over the frames. I stopped and walked in and just started acting questions. These guys were so nice and willing to explain what they were doing. I didn't even know that one of them was the owner of the company. That was a couple of years ago and since then every time I'm in the area I stop by and chat, take some pictures, and have dreams of my own. So, once again, even thought there is almost no chance he will ever see this; Thank you Captain Johnson.<br /><br />Thom

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Boatbuilding

One guy, with friends, 26-ft junk, from lofting in the living room to pouring his own 2-1/2 ton lead keel.<br /><br /> http://www.nauticalfollies.com/ <br /><br />Feel free to send him emails of encouragement.