Suggestion on a custom built boat

[terrence o]

Ive been planning to build a boat 17 to 19 feet center console something that can be used in pretty good chop around Boston and surrounding harbors for striper fishing. Id like to have between a 40 and 70 horse outboard but i just need some more plans to consider to look at before i start. Any Suggestions would help.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

buy an used boston whaler.

 

[oops!]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

terrance......welcome to i boats !

i would never dissuade any one from building there own boat......
(this post assumes you have never built a boat or totally restored a boat before....if you have....then you allready know what you are getting into)

however there are a few factors that no one ever thinks about,

the expertice will come...the labor is free and its a labor of love BUT

do you have the time?....aprox 4000 hours...(yes really)...thats every evening and weekend....that means you will be away from your spouse, away from your home and regular duties.....

trust me ....its a lot of stress on other factors of your life.....lets not even mention the cost is a major factor....dont intend on spending a fraction of what a new one would cost.....by the time your resined and glassed....your 8k into it....now you need it to be gellcoated.....another 1000....and 200 hours sanding....(yes really)

td's one line comments are accurate.

if you have never done anything like this before....i highly suggest you restore an old one that you like first. that will give you an idea if you like this kind of project. if you do...and feel confident in a build......go for it !

if you choose to do this......we are here to help all we can....just make sure your home/professional life can afford the project.

cheers
oops

 

[ylop]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

oops that's about the best advice i have ever read

 

[Mark42]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

There are a few good websites offering boat plans and kits. Search on Glen-L, and read that site. Should give you some insite to what is involved. A pre-cut wood kit will run a few thousand, plus another grand or two for epoxy and glass, then another few thousand for seating, controls, fuel tank, electric system, paints, hardware (cleats, fills, livewells, etc). Then a new 70hp outboard is about 7000 or so. It adds up fast.

The cheaper and faster way is to buy a used boat and restore or rebuild it.

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

I don't know about building a boat from scatch, oops would know something about that but I would sure want way more than 40 - 70 HP for a boat that big in the ocean.

 

[terrence o]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

Wow thanks for all the imput but ive built 2 wooden kayaks and done some fiberglass work the planes i have now have a 70 hp on them but in talking to a guy thats built a lot or custom boats in a lot of sizes recomends it be only a 50 hp but i want a little more then that. Also size wise the boat will be more of a skiff with a counsol pretty much bare. I want some thing that can hit rack and dock and get scrached up and i wont care. havent bought any plans yet but any more the the glen l site

thanks for the ideas

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

Building a boat yourself is like swinging a two edged sword. Swing it in the right direction with skill and you take out your enemies with ease. Let it swing back on you and it will maim or kill.

We built the Phoenix as a family project. We cut down the trees, milled the wood, seasoned it, drew up the plans and put it together ourselves. 6 nights a week we were out on the building rack working away wile talking to each other and catching up on each others lives. We saw little TV, usually just watching the weather broadcast. Occasionally we would read to one another while work progressed.

The boat turned out with a work-boat finish. We did not want to invest the time to give it a yacht finish and it would have demanded many more years for our skills to come up to that level.

The expensive part was buying the pressure vessel for the boiler and a premachined engine. That set us back around 15K. The valving, fasteners (11,600 in the strip built hull alone) piping, propeller, etc. set us back some more. We did however save a bunch of money over having it custom built by a shop and we have used the tools we bought to do the job over and over again.

Good plans, well thought out and clearly written make a huge difference.

The project brought our family together. We have endured some rough times since and I think this project made the rough times much easier.

You pay hard or you play hard. Only you and your family can make that decision for you.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

I have built a 16' boat from plans at Glen-L and I have also built a smaller boat from plans at www.bateau.com. Both are good companies. I think Bateau has the better plans at this time mostly because the boats have designs similar to anything commercially available. Building these boats is not difficult and no special tools are required. All you need is a work place and time.

I know Oops has a ton of experience, but I have to comment that the stated costs and effort are a bit overstated for these types of plans. I think you are looking at 800 to 1200 hours of work. The costs will be $3000-$6000 plus the cost of an engine and trailer. That said, you can manage the costs yourself. Everything in the marine world can be purchased in a wide range of quality. In the end, the overall quality fo the finished product is completely up to you. It can be a functional work boat or one could go for a yacht quality finish.

I built and used the boat pictured all over Boston Harbor, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. I sold it last year and I'm now considering the next build.

Here is a link to Bateau plans from 17 to 20':

http://www.bateau.com/products.php?cat=17

I think the Outboard Skiff 19 and the Classic 19 may be a good fit per your description.

Dan

 

[MikDee]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

I have built a 16' boat from plans at Glen-L and I have also built a smaller boat from plans at www.bateau.com. Both are good companies. I think Bateau has the better plans at this time mostly because the boats have designs similar to anything commercially available. Building these boats is not difficult and no special tools are required. All you need is a work place and time.

I know Oops has a ton of experience, but I have to comment that the stated costs and effort are a bit overstated for these types of plans. I think you are looking at 800 to 1200 hours of work. The costs will be $3000-$6000 plus the cost of an engine and trailer. That said, you can manage the costs yourself. Everything in the marine world can be purchased in a wide range of quality. In the end, the overall quality fo the finished product is completely up to you. It can be a functional work boat or one could go for a yacht quality finish.

I built and used the boat pictured all over Boston Harbor, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. I sold it last year and I'm now considering the next build.

Here is a link to Bateau plans from 17 to 20':

http://www.bateau.com/products.php?cat=17

I think the Outboard Skiff 19 and the Classic 19 may be a good fit per your description.

Dan

Wow! Thats an Awesome looking boat! Clean, neat, functional lines.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

Totally agree with fishingdan, I am in the final stages of a Glen-L build. The Glen-L plans are very nice and easy to follow plus they have a forum that is more help than you can imagine. Bateau is a good site and so is Clarkcraft.com.

I ordered plans from both Clarkcraft and Glen-L, but went with the Glen-L (Aquacat). The plans are clear and easy to follow. Glen-L also sells a book on building plywood boats, a necessity if you are considering building a plywood boat. The Clark Craft plans were excellent and both companies offered similar packages, but the forum at Glen-L was the kicker along with the section dedicated to finished builds.

I would suggest going with a stitch and glue design. I have not built one, but the fairing process for a conventional plywood on frame is very time consuming and tedious, this was the hardest part of the build in terms of not walking away and getting a chainsaw or can of gasoline.

I would say go for it, you learn some skills, get a one of a kind boat, and if nothing else, you get to buy some tools!

 

[terrence o]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

WOW thanks for all the ideas and input now its time to make the desion and ill keep u guys posted thanks a ton

Terrence

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

Great looking boat “fishingdan”!

I look forward to both yours, and “terrence o's” new projects!

 

[Ned L]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

Nothing wrong with building your own boat. I would also strongly recommend checking out a Simmons skiff (N.C. design w/ plans available & a good number of home builds). I think it would be well suited for your needs. They have an outboard well so that there is a full transom (nice in open water).

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Suggestion on a custom built boat

I built from scratch and had a great time doing it. My experience, however, was much closer to that described by oops. About 4+ years of evenings and weekends and $12k+ for the whole shebang. (Hand tools, power tools, materials, engine parts, consumables and trailer - the outboard I got for free.)

A few years ago I decided to repower. I also extended the hull almost 2', added a 90hp 4 stroke and somehow managed to more than double my invesment. (I have a knack for overdoing everything.) But it's a great boat and I head offshore whenever I can match my schedule to the weather.

Your skills will build with every new task you attempt. You will need patience and money, but more than anything, you'll need persistence. Build it tough and built it strong.